The Pirates' 2006 schedule, with dates and series worth circling:

April 3: Milwaukee in the opener? Again? The Pirates hope this meeting at Miller Park will go better than the Brewers' 9-2 thrashing last year at PNC Park. The starter in that one? Oliver Perez, same as this one.

April 6-9: How many standing ovations in four days will the fans of Cincinnati give adopted son Sean Casey?

April 10: The franchise's 120th home opener provides the first great test for Jim Tracy. He was 27-7 against the Pirates in five years as Los Angeles' manager. How will he fare from the opposing dugout?

April 24: The Pirates make their inaugural visit to St. Louis' new Busch Stadium, a place patterned in some ways after PNC Park.

May 19-21: One word: Cleveland. The Pirates head up the Turnpike for their first series at Jacobs Field since an extraordinary three-game set in Pittsburgh in June 2003, a weekend highlighted by back-to-back 15-inning games and Brian Giles' unforgettable catch after he climbed the left-field fence like Spider-Man.

June 2-4: A reunion weekend for the 1971 champions at PNC Park offers the best baseball-related promotion of the year. It could be even better if Steve Blass is coaxed into throwing nine simulated innings to recreate Game 7.

June 5-7: A first-hand look at how the mile-high air of Denver will affect old friends Jose Mesa and Josh Fogg.

June 20-22: The wait is over: The Pirates return to Kansas City's Kaufmann Stadium for the first time in six years, 11 days.

June 27-29: Now, this is more like it: A date with the defending champions, with a bit of trade intrigued tossed in. The Chicago White Sox, fresh off their first World Series title, head into town with native son Rob Mackowiak in tow. The Pirates dealt him for Damaso Marte.

June 30-July 2: Jim Leyland wanted to manage in Pittsburgh again, and this will be his chance. He will bring to town the Detroit Tigers and a coaching staff made up almost entirely of former Pirates: Andy Van Slyke, Don Slaught, Rafael Belliard and, yes, Lloyd McClendon.

July 9: The Futures Game on the North Shore. Best bets to represent the Pirates: Tom Gorzelanny and Ronny Paulino.

July 10: The Home Run Derby will bring two pressing questions: One, will Bobby Abreu hit a ball to Stanwix Street? Two, can Brad Eldred participate even if he is in the minors at the time?

July 11: The 77th All-Star Game arrives and, with it, an increased chance for the National League to break an eight-year losing streak. Hard to believe? Hear this: The senior circuit has won each of the four events held in Pittsburgh, and the most recent victory in 1994 snapped a six-year slide.

Sept. 1-10: There has been no recent precedent for this but, should the Pirates still be in contention in the final month, their campaign could be made or broken by a season-long 10-game road swing through St. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati.

Oct. 1: This date could end a 14th consecutive losing season or ... or ... it has been so long, it seems unthinkable.