Sid_Bream_was_out_: Dejan, seeing as how we can most likely chalk this season up as a lost cause, what sort of improvement/hope for the future would you like to see from the team by the end of the year?

Dejan Kovacevic: Well, the first step has to be a dramatic reshuffling of the priorities and that means, of course, giving the younger players on the roster a chance to play and move about the field (Doumit) to see what they have toward 2007. Some can argue that this should have been the approach at the outset of this season, but ownership and management clearly were stressing a save-face kind of year with the All-Star Game here and all that.

Bob_M: Even though season ticket sales are up, I've noticed that overall attendance is down, including "only" 30,000 for a recent skyblast. Does there seem to be any concern among ownership?

Dejan Kovacevic: Attendance? No, that's not going to be a concern this year, not with season ticket sales up more than 2,000. Next year? That's a different matter. Oh, and there hasn't been a SkyBlast yet. Believe me, you'd hear my teeth gritting over it if there was.

Oh_No_Marte: What should happen to Burnitz/Wilson once Casey Returns?

Dejan Kovacevic: You can bet everything you own Craig Wilson will be relegated once again to bench duty. Already, in the past couple weeks, we have seen Wilson being benched for Jose Hernandez, so there very clearly is no trepidation on the Pirates' part to keep him out of the lineup. I have yet to figure out why that is.

JPeezy: Is it me or does it seem like the Pirates play like vampires in afternoon games?(2-13).

Dejan Kovacevic: If there is a discrepancy between their poor play at night or day or mornings or dusk or dawn, I have not detected it. The only tangible difference seems to be that they are much better at home than here on the road.

Steve: Who do you see as the Pirates all-star player this year?

Dejan Kovacevic: Unquestionably, in my mind, it should be Jason Bay. I am not one of those who subscribe to the swell-half-a-season thinking on choosing All-Stars. Bay has now had 2 1/4 seasons of terrific baseball, and I would have chosen him as All-Star even before his current tear. That game is supposed to be about the stars. If it was not, you could see Rob Mackowiak or Daryle Ward or other two-month wonders in there every year.

nice_throw__Barry: Under "Lloyd Tracy" the Pirates have been playing very poor fundamental baseball. I have not been cynical and have preached to my friends to give Tracy's staff 2 months for the teaching to set in. Will Tracy be able to stop the 5 years of poor fundamentals, or will a change in players be the only cure?

Dejan Kovacevic: So far, it seems just about everything Tracy preached on a daily basis through spring training has failed to come about. More walks? No, last in the league. Throw more strikes? No. Moving runners along? Not at all, as has been highlighted in these past couple of games. Steals? Good ratio -- 21 of 26 -- but not much of a total. Winning one-run games? Well, you know how that one has turned out. It remains to be seen how much of this is on the coaches and how much on the players, I agree. For the moment, though, it looks bad for both.

Steve_Z: Geez Dejan, Tracy's killing us with Jose H. and Jeremy B.? What's he thinking about?

Dejan Kovacevic: On the first count, Tracy clearly feels a loyalty to a player who did quite well for him on a 2004 Dodgers team that he holds in -- how to put this? -- the very, very, very highest regard. Just as clearly, that player is no longer the same, and one wonders how much longer this can last. As for Burnitz: Don't overthink it. Management signs someone to a guaranteed $6.7 million, and he is going to play. Even Burnitz has acknowledged this much.

lz1: Jim Leyland has done wonders with the Detroit Tigers this season so far. How do you think he would have fared in comparison with Jim Tracy if Leyland was indeed the current Pirates skipper?

Dejan Kovacevic: Probably better, but maybe not for the reasons you think. I will cite two: 1. He was intimately familiar with the talent at hand from having spent so much time at PNC Park over the past few summers. As a result, it is far less likely, I think, that he would have tried to alter anything about the styles of Zach Duke, Chris Duffy, Jose Castillo and others. That might have allowed all those players to continue their natural progressions. 2. He would have thrown enough food about the clubhouse to feed half of Sudan.

Wilbur_Miller: Have you heard anything about what players the Pirates may be looking at for the first round of the amateur draft?

Dejan Kovacevic: The one discussion I had with a Pirates scout on this matter -- Paul Meyer covers the draft for us, so I stay out of this stuff, for the most part -- strongly suggested they will go with a pitcher. (Pauses for loud, online groan.) Now, that's not going to surprise anyone who follows the draft closely. This draft is very top-heavy in pitching. But it doesn't sound to me like the Pirates are going to buck any trends here. As for a specific player? No, I haven't heard.

Bob_M: Does it make it frustrating as a beat reporter to have an always optomistic manager? As a fan, I would love to hear a tirade if nothing more than to justify my frustration. Would you be satisfied with at least one outbreak, just to let us know that Jim Tracy is frustrated too?

Dejan Kovacevic: There are many things that frustrate a beat reporter. Being in a downtown hotel surrounded by nothing but sand for four blocks, for instance, makes it tough to plan lunch. But a manager's demeanor or comments? No, that has no effect. Lloyd McClendon offered much more candor, and he was far less defensive about moves he made when questioned on them. But Tracy has his own style, and you just adapt. I will say that he did show some fire last week -- twice -- when I asked him questions about Burnitz not running out that grounder.

nice_throw__Barry: Prior to the Cleveland Series, the Bucs were very close to .500 in games dating back to April 26. Have you noticed a decline in the negative questions to the Q&A since then? Or is everyone still too bitter?

Dejan Kovacevic: The Jose Hernandez subject ratcheted up the Q&A inbox count to preposterous levels since about, oh, 12:19 a.m., as soon as he stepped into the box. You can see this for yourself tomorrow. No, the Q&A count tends to go much higher the worse things are. Nature of the beast.

nice_throw__Barry: Which opposing team plays the best host to the Pirates and their hard working beat writers?

Dejan Kovacevic: Speaking only for myself, Houston rules. Great press box, close access to clubhouse. Denver is good, too. Aside from the old facilities like Shea, the least convenient in terms of proximity of press box and the like are St. Louis' new place and your very own PNC, which offers an eye-level view of those falcons who live atop the Gulf Tower but not much in the way of seeing -- or analyzing the spin of a curveball -- a baseball game.

Pharphulls: Dejan, is it safe to say that McClatchy will be looking to jump ship after the season concludes?

Dejan Kovacevic: No. In fact, there is no cause whatsoever to think this at the moment. The team is not for sale, as evidenced by Mark Cuban already having been turned away, and there is indication it is about to be put on the block. (Waits for second groan.)

nick3849: Burnitz and Randa, injury aside, have been dissapointments. Is there anyway the Bucs cut ties with either -- ala Raul Mondesi -- before the trade deadline?

Dejan Kovacevic: There would appear to be an excellent chance that those two and others will be moved. What I wonder about is if the Pirates actually will wait right until 4:59 p.m. on July 31 to do so or whether they will accelerate the very clear need to get young players on the field to gain experience for 2007.

Steve_Z: Will Littlefield make any vets-for-prospects trades this summer?

Dejan Kovacevic: If you mean prospect in the truest sense, Steve, you probably have a pretty good idea that this group of veterans is not going to produce that. Want true prospects? Do what Mark Shapiro did in Cleveland: Take real, live baseball players in their prime, send them away for outstanding young talent and build toward a common goal within a narrow age bracket. Hurts when it happens, but it pays off.

Bob_M: How much longer does Dave Littlefield get before he is held accountable for the on-field product? Before this year, one could make the argument that DL didn't bring in his own man to manage the team, but now that argument has been put to rest. When is the GM finally held accountable for all of the losing?

Dejan Kovacevic: Well, considering he was just signed to an extension on opening day that gives him three full years including this one, the day of reckoning hardly seems at hand.

Mark: To follow up on the Burnitz/Wilson and Casey question, what do you think happens to Freddy Sanchez once Randa returns? Also, please tell me Mike Edwards and not Jose Bautista is the one to return to the minors once Randa returns.

Dejan Kovacevic: Back to the bench. Bank on it. But don't expect to have to worry about it soon. Randa really is not close to returning, still a week away from running and other exercises.

JPeezy: If Santos continue to struggle, will we see Gorzelanny or Wells take his place?

Dejan Kovacevic: I get the impression the club wants Tom Gorzelanny to stick it out with Indianapolis until about mid-season. But yes, I can see Wells bumping Santos. Wells is going to throw to live hitters here today, and he remains on schedule to pitch again by mid-June, so that should come faster than Gorzelanny.

Bob_M: After the Pens started so poorly, Edzo was fired and it seemed to me that the rest of the season was "saved" among the fanbase as a rebuilding for next year. Do you see any "major" moves being made by the Pirates in the near future to appease the fanbase?

Dejan Kovacevic: No. Other than trading the veterans, I do not envision anything happening, certainly not at a management level. I will say this, though: What "saved" the Penguins' season, I think, was their decision to turn the team over to Sidney Crosby and the youngsters. The Pirates could benefit from this approach.

JPeezy: How much longer do the Pirates plan on keeping Cota?

Dejan Kovacevic: For as long as they fancy the idea that Ryan Doumit can play first base. Right now, they fancy the idea plenty.

Wilbur_Miller: Hi Dejan. So, how tough is it covering the Titanic? Well, more seriously, do you think there's any realistic chance they'll put Randa back at 3rd when he's healthy?

Dejan Kovacevic: I love the job, love the beat, Wilbur. But I can tell you honestly that I look forward to the day -- if it ever comes -- when I am writing about games that matter. The best stories, the best drama come from that, as I found out in my first few years of writing about the playoffs on the NHL beat. Nothing compares to that. And yes, Randa will be the third baseman, according to Dave Littlefield.

Steve_Z: Duffy. Finished with the Pirates? With baseball?

Dejan Kovacevic: Possibly both, from what I have heard, but that remains to be seen. The situation is volatile, needless to say, when you are talking about a kid who has just made one whopper of a decision for himself. As a result, it is easy imagining such a decision being subject to change. Strange story, huh?

JPeezy: All I heard going into this season was how strong the bullpen was going to be. It seems like they've not performed up to expectations, especially lately.

Dejan Kovacevic: The bullpen has been very good, so I will disagree with you here even though I have been plenty critical of other areas. Marte has had a couple of lousy outings, and Mike Gonzalez lost a game in the 10th inning Sunday after the starter went 5 1/3. The problem is offense.

Bob_M: I agree with playing the youngsters. Even if it does not improve the record, it will make for a much more interesting season. What would most people rather see, an aging veteran who had an average career try to hold on for one more season, or a youngster trying to sink or swim?

Dejan Kovacevic: If you ask the upper levels of Pirates management, they seem convinced the public in Pittsburgh would prefer to see a "competitive" team -- a term I hear often -- as opposed to one that is young and takes its lumps. I would beg to differ, but no one is asking me.

JPeezy: Do you see Nate McLouth becoming the Pirates' future centerfielder, especially since Duffy has desire issues?

Dejan Kovacevic: Well, we'll see about Duffy's "desire" issues. As mentioned above, it's a volatile situation. It doesn't bode well, for sure, but it's not necessarily a death knell to his career. Could McLouth be the center fielder of the future? Depends on how far ahead you want to project. Andrew McCutchen is the center fielder of the future, maybe as early as 2008.

Wilbur_Miller: Has anybody in management been able to explain how the Burnitzes, Simons and Randas of the world make the Pirates "competitive?" I mean, really, how connected to reality are these people?

Dejan Kovacevic: Well, that aside, the larger issue, Wilbur, might be how connected they are to the fan base. Only about 99.9 percent of the mail I get strongly, vocally advocates going young. Now, I understand that I am hearing mostly from diehards and the club has to sell tickets to all types of fireworks lovers, but that general sentiment -- and you hear it all over -- has to represent enough of a groundswell to justify doing the right thing.

Bob_M: Maybe you could try for the GM job and PLAY THE KIDS!!!!...LOL

Dejan Kovacevic: I'd never figure out the stupid waiver rules.

Bob_M: After how bad the beginning of the season was, it sure is nice to see the young starters holding their own. If the Bucs can make a youth movement with the arms, why not the bats?

Dejan Kovacevic: The starters have gotten quite better, and that should not go ignored in all this losing. I'll say this: For all the mail I've gotten in the past 12 hours about Jose Hernandez, I received not one about Oliver Perez, who was very good here last night. Very confident-sounding, too, after the game, which was a bit of a departure, I thought.

Bob_M: As a side note, I always enjoyed your writing on the Penguins, and now with the Pirates. I hope in the near future you are writing (and I'll be reading) about meaningful games after the All-Star break.

Dejan Kovacevic: I appreciate that, Bob, but I'm afraid meaningful baseball will have to hold until next April. Unless, of course, the team goes young. That, to me, would represent something plenty exciting to cover and, from a reader's standpoint, to follow.

nice_throw__Barry: You might not be able to answer this question, but do you have an idea how many years ahead the Pirates internally have a roadmap for? When it comes to Free Agents and how many years to offer, this is a very important plan to have.

Dejan Kovacevic: It runs to 2009, which is when they have signed extensions with Jason Bay, Jack Wilson and Salomon Torres, and when they hold the rights to most of their current young players. But a year in the process is slipping away as we speak.

Wilbur_Miller: You'd just hire a Harvard grad to do the waiver stuff.

Dejan Kovacevic: Uh, OK, then, I'd hate dealing with the stinking media.

nice_throw__Barry: Are you looking forward to the All-star game from a professional standpoint? Or will the impending media circus make your job miserable?

Dejan Kovacevic: It was not much of an experience in Detroit, and the only thing that will change here is that it will be great to have so many visitors appreciating our great city. But from the standpoint of covering an event, no, nothing special. Access to the athletes is highly limited, the Home Run Derby lasts longer than some Pirates games, and the main event itself tends to have very little Pirates-related element to it, so that kind of diminishes the coverage aspect of it from my standpoint. We'll see, though. Brad Eldred could have a miraculous recovery from his broken thumb and return in time to hit one into the Outback steakhouse. And Freddy Sanchez might make the NL All-Stars ... as a bench guy, of course.

Bob_M: With the big arm, the nasty curveball, and the minor league success, do you think Ian Snell has a chance to be an All-Star caliber pitcher?

Dejan Kovacevic: Long way to go there, Bob. He has much, much to learn about pitching and facing specific batters, from what I still hear. But the signs of late have been mostly encouraging that he can become a good one.

JPeezy: Why did Tracy take Perez out after six shutout innings? Because he threw 97 pitches?

Dejan Kovacevic: It was done much more to use Ryan Doumit as a pinch-hitter in the seventh, as I wrote in the game story today. (Still available online, still free.) El Duque had these obscene splits where lefties were batting .355 against him and righties .188, so Tracy saw the seventh as a golden chance to add to the one-run lead. Doumit popped out.

ab: What do you think Adam Boeve's chances are for being the right fielder of the future? He's done well since being promoted to Indy.

Dejan Kovacevic: I might think more of those chances than the Pirates did. Remember, the same club that exposed Chris Shelton left Boeve open in this past Rule 5 draft, and here is, by far the best hitter in their system to this point in the season. Seriously, though, we'll see. He is going to turn 26 next month, so his foot had better stay on the gas pedal in Indianapolis.

nick3849: Does Sanchez's emergence make J. Wilson possible trade bait?

Dejan Kovacevic: I never have heard anything to support that.

nice_throw__Barry: Who is the best opposing player to interview? Has anyone filled the large shoes of the Andy Van Slykes and Mark Graces of the baseball world?

Dejan Kovacevic: Used to be Sean Casey. Now, I will vaguely answer that it was the entire Florida team upon its recent visit. What an energy there was in that clubhouse.

Sid_Bream_was_out_: Dejan, judging by your comments, and the bulk of your readers comments, it seems obvious that we would all prefer for the young players to play, have you voiced these thoughts to Dave Littlefield or Kevin McClatchy? And if not, do you think they would provide a candid answer that may just indicate who they are trying to appease?

Dejan Kovacevic: Not my job, Sid. I ask the questions, report the news. There are plenty of public forums, especially before the season, where McClatchy, Littlefield and others are there to take questions from the fans and hear their thoughts.

Steve: You mentioned that Wells will probably take Santo's place in the rotation. Would that mean that Santos would be placed in the bullpen because he is a Rule 5 pick or do you think they will risk him on the waiver wire to go down to Indy?

Dejan Kovacevic: Probaby depends on how he does between now and then. They do like the innings-eater quality in him, though.

JPeezy: It seems like when Jose Castillo hits to center and right field he is a very good hitter. So why does he become infatuated sometimmes on trying to pull the ball?

Dejan Kovacevic: Temptation of that sort is common for hitters. When they're young, that's how they kill the ball, and it can become intoxicating. As they face better pitchers, though, it becomes more necessary to learn how to handle outside pitches. Thanks to one and all for the input and the time. Never did one of these before, and it was fun. Next week, we'll try to get Jose Hernandez in for one of these, so he can deal with this rancor himself ...