LOS ANGELES -- Could Freddy Sanchez be the answer at third base?

Some in the Pirates' organization apparently think so, and not just because of Sanchez's stunning outburst of four home runs in the past eight games after he had just one in the first 117.

"I'll tell you: I like having two shortstops on the left side of the infield," interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "What you don't get from him in power, he might make up for you with his defense. You can win with Freddy Sanchez playing third."

"He's our Bill Mueller," shortstop Jack Wilson said, referring to Boston's contact-hitting third baseman. "Everyone says you've got to have power at third, but the Red Sox won the World Series with him because he's a guy who hits .300 and plays great defense. That's exactly what Freddy is. He'll hit .300 if he plays everyday, and he'll get you 10-15 home runs."

Wilson's thinking is that most infields have two power bats and the Pirates still would have that with second baseman Jose Castillo -- who is seen by many as having the potential for 20-25 home runs -- and either Brad Eldred or Craig Wilson at first base.

"We'd just have guys in different spots," Jack Wilson said.

General manager Dave Littlefield, the man who will make the decision, did not rule out Sanchez figuring into the equation at third, but he continued to point to that position as an area where the Pirates want to improve their power, along with first base and right field.

"Certainly, Freddy will be part of the internal options," Littlefield said. "For sure, he's been impressive the past couple weeks, the way he's swung the bat."

In addition to his home runs, Sanchez has a 10-game hitting streak he extended last night at Dodger Stadium, batting .429 (18 for 42) in that span to boost his average to .286, second on the team to Jason Bay. That prompted Mackanin to bat him third last night, a season first.

Sanchez described the long balls as a simple by-product of rediscovering the stroke that once made him the top prospect in Boston's system.

"I'm not saying I'll always hit a lot of home runs, but I've always been able to drive the ball," he said. "It's only this year that I started hitting soft singles and just putting the ball in play. It took me this long to start hitting with authority."

Sanchez, 27, is in his first full year of Major League Baseball, his progress having been slowed by injury. Perhaps because of that, he speaks modestly of his expectations for 2006 -- "I just want to make the team again" -- and easily defers when asked how the team might use him.

"Let's be honest: If they go out and get a power-hitting third baseman, someone they set their sights on, you don't have to be Einstein to figure out that leaves me as a utility guy," he said. "I'll just have to accept it, go with the role I'm given."

But he also allowed that he hopes to force the Pirates to play him.

"That's everybody's goal, to be an everyday player. I want to make their decision difficult."

North Side notches

The Pirates will open the 2006 season on the road, April 3 in Milwaukee, according to a tentative schedule announced yesterday by the Brewers. Game time will be 2:05 p.m. Several teams have released such schedules, but the Pirates still are working with MLB to finish theirs.

Other schedule tidbits: The Pirates will play an interleague series in Kansas City June 20-22, and the Detroit Tigers will visit PNC Park June 30-July 2. In a peculiarity, the Pirates will play the Dodgers in Los Angeles twice. They did not visit any non-division opponent twice this season, although the Colorado Rockies played at PNC Park twice.

Reliever Bryan Bullington, the No. 1 pick in the 2002 draft, is unavailable to pitch because of soreness in his throwing shoulder. Littlefield described Bullington's shoulder as "a little tired" and his status as day to day. Bullington opened the season in extended spring training because of tendonitis in that shoulder, but Littlefield said he does not know if the ailments are related.

After Eldred is done in the Arizona Fall League this offseason, he will play winter ball in the Mexican League for Mazatlan, the same team as center fielder Chris Duffy.