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Q: Dejan, a lot of positions are coming together for the Pirates. One exception is third base. What do you think the Pirates will do to address this problem?

I would prefer the Pirates trade some of the pitching prospects for a quality and proven third baseman such as Eric Chavez from Oakland. Dave Littlefield has said since he got here that he was going to use the minor-league pitching depth -- which is finally here -- for some proven position players.

Freddy Sanchez is a good backup middle infielder, but not an everyday third baseman. Rob Mackowiak is a tremendous supersub but, once again, not an everyday third baseman. Ty Wiggington and Bobby Hill have shown they are not everyday third baseman. The only other guy is Jose Bautista. My problem with him is that he is only in Class AA and lost an entire season last year because of the Rule 5 debacle. I would prefer he spend at least another year in the minors.

With the All-Star Game coming, it is time to get a proven All-Star, and third base seems like the perfect position.

Paul McGrath of Shaler

KOVACEVIC: No question, all vacancy signs on the Pirates' diamond point to third base.

If you are of the mind that Jason Bay is in left, Chris Duffy in center, Craig Wilson in right, Jack Wilson at short, Jose Castillo at second, Brad Eldred at first and Ryan Doumit behind the plate, then you can see only one hole among position players.

The only one who would appear to be iffy in that group is Craig Wilson, and that would only be if his salary soars way above the current $3 million through the arbitration process. Given that he has not played almost all season, that seems unlikely. As a result, the Pirates could get 25-30 home runs and 75-80 RBIs from the right field spot by keeping him, a very good value for that price.

It comes down to third.

There is not much in the way of free agency at the position, certainly not from the Pirates' viewpoint. The only reasonable targets would be Bill Mueller and Joe Randa, and the Pirates essentially have those players already.

A trade is the only realistic route. And, as you point out, the only commodities the Pirates can spare are pitchers.

That said, the idea that they can give up prospects for a proven -- or, as you seek, All-Star -- third baseman is to give up experienced pitchers. Not prospects. Rare is the occasion on which a player with no major-league experience can net a top-flight everyday player. Same with the package deals, another popular misperception. Teams do not give up one excellent player for a pile of mediocrity, no matter how high that pile is stacked.

I know nobody enjoys entertaining the idea of giving up a pitcher they would rather keep, but that probably is what it will take to get this type of performer.

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Q: Just a thought about the situation at third base: Why not give Craig Wilson a try?

With Jody Gerut, Rob Mackowiak and possibly Nate McLouth, the Pirates have some depth in right. Craig has experience taking grounders on the right side of the infield and has shown a sufficient arm in the outfield to make the throw across. This would solve the power problem.

I'm not saying he is the answer, but why not give it a try when he comes back in September? Jose Bautista is really the only other considerable option, and his numbers in Class AA aren't exactly eye-popping.

Tim Cypher of Butler

KOVACEVIC: Actually, Bautista's offensive numbers in Altoona were pretty good, Tim, especially his 23 home runs. They were more than good enough to earn his promotion to Indianapolis yesterday.

It is his defense, actually, that has been erratic, as evidenced by 24 errors, and that has some in the organization feeling he should get a full year of Class AAA under his belt before coming to Pittsburgh. The talent appears to be there at the position, but his lapses have been frequent, perhaps the fault of the Rule 5 fiasco the reader mentioned above. Had Bautista remained in the system and played in more games at this point, he surely would have been sharper in all facets.

Anyway, I do not agree with the idea of Wilson at third.

For one, he already has been bumped all around the diamond. Asking him to pick up a completely new position -- there is more to it than taking grounders and having a nice arm -- would not help anyone.

For another, right field is his best position and, by coincidence, the one where the Pirates could use him most. He can start there and, should things go awry with Brad Eldred at first, function as kind of an insurance policy.

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Q: Dejan, given the Pirates' glut of starting pitching, could the organization move John Van Benschoten back to the outfield?

Wasn't he one of the top power prospects available in the 2001 draft? Rust aside, he seems to fit the Bucs' needs for an athletic, power-hitting right fielder. While he has had success as a starter in the minors, it's not like he is the second coming of Nolan Ryan, let alone a top-of-the-rotation-type guy. It seems like a sensible move.

Have the Pirates at least considered it?

Nick Cammuso of Clarion

KOVACEVIC: This idea of moving players to address the organization's shortcomings sure does seem to be popular of late here in Q&A land.

No, Nick, the Pirates have no plans to have Van Benschoten do anything but pitch.

The only way I could see something like that happening is if management were convinced he would be a better position player than a pitcher. If you start making dramatic moves like that based purely on team needs, you are depreciating your own asset. Such a practice makes no sense. Van Benschoten is worth more to the organization if he rates a 7 as a pitcher than if he rates a 5 as a position player, either in the lineup or in trade value.

He might not be Nolan Ryan, as you say, but he made it to the big leagues because of his pitching. To have him start all over again and try to make it another position damages all concerned. That ship has sailed.

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Q: Dejan, the Pirates are now 1-17 after scoring eight or more runs in a game. Sure, it seems like a worthless statistic, but what's your opinion? Is this sheer bad luck or is McClendon playing the wrong people?

Adam Mihlfried of McCandless

KOVACEVIC: The more time I spend on this baseball beat, the more I understand the battered clich? that momentum begins and ends with your next pitcher. Ask all the teams that beat the Pirates by eight runs, then face Duke.

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Q: Hey, Dejan, I'm just curious, will this count as Brad Eldred's rookie season or will he have an opportunity to light it up next year and win the Rookie of the Year award?

Curtis Mullins of Grundy, Va.

KOVACEVIC: I am getting questions about this as it pertains to Eldred and Duke, so here is the criteria that has been in place since 1971, and you can draw your own calculations for anyone:

A position player must have fewer than 130 at-bats.

A pitcher must have fewer than 50 innings pitched.

Or ? anyone with fewer than 45 days on an active major-league roster is eligible.

Looks to me like the Pirates' only rookie hopefuls next year could be McLouth, Bautista or Bullington.

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Q: Hi, Dejan. Why do so many teams seem to go out of their way to put down Zach Duke?

After he dazzled the Mets on two hits through seven innings, Mets manager Willie Randolph made a point of saying how unspectacular he thought Duke was and how it was luck or something, at least in the New York media. I've never in all my years heard of such a thing. Jeff Kent did the same thing after a game against L.A., and a few other managers have made less than flattering remarks after losing to Duke. From what I have seen, only Greg Maddux praised him.

What in heck is up with that? Duke certainly doesn't act cocky or arrogant from what I have seen, so why treat him this way? Jealousy? In denial over losing to a rookie?

Anything you are hearing on your end?

Michael Bowers of New Milford, N.J.

KOVACEVIC: Yes, there is plenty I am hearing, and almost all of it is praise. Thick, heavy praise. Did you see the stuff from Cliff Floyd after the game against the Mets? He called Duke a player who could turn around a franchise, adding that it was good for the game to have someone like him. How about the stuff from Bobby Cox?

There have been many others.

I never heard anything from Kent, but I am aware of what Randolph said before and after the game about Duke. My impression was not that he was taking shots but that he was trying to keep his players from being too respectful. The Mets are in a wild-card race. They needed to win that game, not to be awestruck by a 22-year-old with a 6-0 record.

This was Randolph's precise quote: "I didn't think there was anything dazzling or exceptional about him. I think he just mixed his pitches in real nicely and kept us off stride for the most part. When you look at him, you don't see dazzling stuff, but he pitches."

Well, that assessment really is no different than what you might get from Lloyd McClendon. Duke seldom topped 91 on the gun that night, and the only pitch he had that was wowing anyone was the ridiculous curve. Otherwise, his stuff, as it is called in baseball, is not great. His command is. So is his ability to read hitters and find their weaknesses. So is, for the zillionth time, his poise.

Now, before the game, Randolph said: "I saw him on TV. He's got a good curve, a sneaky fastball and he pitches inside. I was impressed. But we're going to attack him. You don't give him too much respect. He's a young player, and you've got to attack him. You don't let him get too comfortable."

Honestly, Michael, I think you are angry about something that just is not there. The people who have seen this kid are glowing about him.

You mention the New York media, and it reminds me of this: I grabbed a copy of three of the papers there on Friday morning to give me something to read on the aircraft. I still have them, and I can type for you some of the headlines from the various game stories, sidebars and columns ...

New York Post: "Mets Can't Put Up With Duke," "Amazin's Zipped by Zach," "Pirates Rookie Shuts 'Em Down at Shea"

New York Daily News: "Duke of New York," "Mets Bats Bow to Duke," "Rookie is Making First Impression"

The New York Times was the only one that elected to focus on the Mets' Victor Zambrano, but even there, it was Duke's picture featured across the top of the page, not Zambrano's.

And here are a couple of the more memorable lines from the text ...

From the Post's Evan Grossman: "Zach Duke came, he saw, and he kicked the Mets square in the teeth ?"

From the Daily News' Darren Everson: "Willie Randolph has a philosophy about how the Mets should approach young pitchers they have not seen before. Attack. Don't overanalyze the scouting report. Don't give them too much credit. In Zach Duke's case, however, maybe such respect is deserved."

From the Times' Ben Shpigel: "Duke flaunted his mesmerizing control and a repertoire that has flummoxed teams around the National League ?"

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Q: Dejan, as I sat watching Zach Duke mow the Mets down like they were some Little League team, I had to wonder why the organization would consider shutting him down for the season because he's never pitched this many innings?

At some point, to be considered a staff ace -- and it sure looks like he will be -- he will have to throw 200-plus innings. Why not find that out this season instead of wondering about it next year if by some chance they are in wild-card contention late in the season?

Dave Christian of Bethel Park

KOVACEVIC: Well, now that Duke was injured last night and put in only two innings, he is at 167 2/3 for the season, which is 7 1/3 above his official career high. He also had a few innings in the Instructional League last year, which might or might not be getting weighed.

How many more will he go?

That is hard to say.

For some reason, the Pirates have gotten peculiarly tight-lipped on this subject in the past 24 hours. All concerned had been talking about it freely for weeks, but that changed 180 degrees yesterday. Dave Littlefield was doing all the talking on Duke, including after the game, which is a rarity. When Lloyd McClendon entered the room for his usual postgame media session, Littlefield took the unusual step of telling McClendon exactly what he had just told us about Duke.

It certainly would appear there is a strong desire on Littlefield's part to keep this secret. I cannot guess as to why that is.

Anyway, to answer your actual question, I am firmly on the side of following recent baseball philosophy and being cautious with Duke. And I do not share your view that building him up to more than 200 innings will do much for him in 2006. Most starters are fortunate to have 30 starts in a year and to average seven innings. If Duke does that, he would be at 210. And if by some miracle the team is in playoff contention next year, that would seem to be the time to push him, not now when the outcomes of these games are utterly meaningless.

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Q: Hi, Dejan, As September looms near, I wanted to know which players you feel will receive callups.

I realize several already have been promoted, but I was hoping for a chance to see Yurendell DeCaster, Ronny Paulino, J.J. Furmaniak and Bryan Bullington, as well as another look at Ray Sadler, Ian Snell and Mike Johnston.

Any thoughts on these or any other possible recalls?

George Reagan of Masontown

KOVACEVIC: Those names are among those sure to be considered, and I would highlight Paulino, Bullington and Johnston of the group. I would not put Snell on the list because Snell is not iffy. He is coming back for sure. But I would add Jose Bautista.

Bobby Hill is a good bet to be back, too. Maybe Mark Corey to get another right-hander for the pen.

Another prospect who probably is a long shot for a callup is Paul Maholm, if only because he has not been in Class AAA for the full year.

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In closing ...

It was only one game, one result on one night in New York. And I know how baseball people feel about small sample sizes.

But I still feel compelled to share this somewhat personal view of the Pirates' victory at Shea last Thursday ...

My younger brother lives in Manhattan, and he still follows Pittsburgh sports pretty closely from afar. But he will be the first to admit he follows the baseball team the least of the three, at least since Sid Bream made that turn at third.

He seems to have taken slightly more interest since I jumped to this ship this year, but he still made it sound like he would be paying penance when he asked me if he should bother coming to any of the three games at Shea last week. I told him to come Thursday because of Duke, and I stressed that he might actually find himself somewhat encouraged by the time he left.

Well, he and his girlfriend bought a couple of tickets for right field, and they had a golden view of the drop in Duke's many curveballs to Cliff Floyd. They also got to see, in a more general sense, these Pirates at their best. It was an all-young squad, with Rob Mackowiak being the old man at 29. It was an energetic showing in all ways, even including Jose Castillo's adventurous baserunning. (Might he have tried for first after a home run?) The pitcher, of course, was extraordinary. The defense was sound. And the hits came in these power-packed bunches, which I thought was second only to Duke in being the game's defining trait.

When Jason Bay was hit in the ribs, Brad Eldred hit a ball to the bleachers. Then Ryan Doumit singled. Then Castillo doubled.

Then, they did it all again.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Just like real, live baseball teams do it.

It was not really like the 8-0 win in Houston a week earlier, a game that might have been the most perfect of the year for this young version of the Pirates. That came against a Class AAA callup. And it was not like the one last night against another clearly struggling pitcher.

It felt legitimate, as if the Pirates genuinely were better than the team they were beating. Not just now, but heading into the future.

And it felt like they knew it, during and after the game.

As someone who has watched this team intensely since childhood, I can tell you it has been a long, long time since such a concept had even crossed my mind.

I shared this with my brother that night, and I will share it with you: There is a group within this group that does know how good it can be. That really does think this team is going to win next year.

That starts with Bay, whose spirits have soared in the past couple of weeks with the additional support and energy that the Indianapolis group has brought. It continues through to so many more, even to some of the oldest guys on the roster.

To my mind, Doumit embodies this. He will make mistakes, as he did royally Sunday in Philadelphia. He will go into slumps, too, as he did for a stretch this summer. But this kid is eminently confident, and that is a personality a franchise like this needs almost as much as it needs his bat. It needs that cockiness, that swagger, that "pep in your step," as Doumit calls it. It needs to believe, when it takes the field, that it is the better team. Not that it is gunning for an upset. Not that it would be happy to keep the game close.

My brother asked me when we spoke that night if I felt the Pirates could win in 2006. I responded with my usual all-they-need-is-Scott-Rolen-at-third litany, went through all the pitchers and prospects and everything else, and I ended up with this:

Only the Pirates' management can mess up next season.

That is not to say they will. Only that I see it as being the greatest potential variable.

Leave what is there alone. Get a third baseman through a trade, get a right-handed starter as insurance through free agency, and do the usual tinkering with the bullpen.

Otherwise, work with what is already in place. And by that, I mean ...

Continue to make a priority of the young players in every situation everyday, even if it means temporary setbacks.

Teach, teach , teach. Dismiss the boorish concept that major-leaguers already should know this or that. Work with them, if need be, as if it is their first day in the Gulf Coast League.

Take every measure imaginable to make sure these players get the best instruction, physical conditioning and everything else in the wintertime so there are no ugly surprises in the spring.

Get Bay signed through his arbitration years before he breaks you and, simultaneously, get him feeling rewarded for his massive contributions. Consider Perez, too. He never will be cheaper than with his shopping-cart discount.

And yes, even if there is an outcry back home, make sure there are at least two or three veterans on the team to keep things in line. Some fires already were put out this year. Better to be safe in this regard for next year.

Bottom line: It will not be easy to mess it up.

If you are one who might be worried about the ownership's impact, consider that the effect of payroll on this roster will be minimal. If you are one who might be worried that all these players will be lost in the Rule 5 draft this winter, consider that history teaches many painful lessons. If you are one who might be worried that the manager prefers veterans, consider that he no longer has that option.

People who do not follow the team closely spout out tired lines about same old Pirates, Derek Bell, Espy should have made the catch ... whatever. And that is not going to change with anything shy of a Brad Eldred walkoff home run in Game 7 of a World Series. But I am hearing more and more from people who follow the team closely that they are intrigued -- if not necessarily convinced -- by how things are shaping up for 2006.

My brother seemed perfectly content to follow the Steelers and Penguins over the next year. I might have put another one back on his list.

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Until next week, by which time Nate McLouth's line-drive home run last night would have landed had it not struck something along the way ...