shouldBworking: I have been unable to get a definitive read on the team's longterm plans for Freddy. Do you think they will attempt to sign him longterm this off-season or make him perform again next year?

Dejan Kovacevic: Before we start, an apology for missing the past two chats. Each one coincided with travel to and from the West Coast. Hence, the makeup date today. The indications I have gotten is that the Pirates will talk multiyear deal with Sanchez after the season, but that does not make it definitive that one will happen. ... What more they need to see, I am not sure. They made the mistake once of undervaluing him, and it cost them $4 million by signing Joe Randa.

Season_Ticket_Trapper: What about Castillo at third? He has the arm and is obviously putting on weight. Could the Buccos allow him to get physically bigger...perhaps become a power hitter, and put him at third? That way Freddy could play second and Jose Bautista could play right? Or won't Castillo be here in 2007?

Dejan Kovacevic: If you think that sounds like a lineup that can win ... well, you might be alone. I like the idea of giving Bautista a shot at third, especially after the power he showed for part of this season. And I love the idea of Sanchez at second. But somewhere on the diamond, the Pirates have to get a real, live power hitter.

RaiseThe_JollyRoger: Dejan, How much do you think playing playoff contenders this entire month will help the Pirates next season?

Dejan Kovacevic: I have been asking this question far more than I have been answering it. The general consensus in the Pirates' clubhouse is that it will help overwhelmingly. And anyone who felt the vibe in there after the second game in Los Angeles can attest that the confidence never was higher. But will it translate to beating those teams next season? I don't think so. Much, much different situation.

PirateApologist: Do you think the Pirates go into Spring Training with their roster already complete? There was no way that Jose Hernandez wasn't going to make the team, even though Jose Bautista outplayed him. I hope that next year everyone has to fight for a position (except Bay and Freddy).

Dejan Kovacevic: Well, I thought Giovanni Carrara was a lock, too, but 22-year-old Matt Capps outperformed him, so your theory does not apply across the board. Same thing with Nate McLouth over Jody Gerut.

NittanyEagle: Hi Dejan. Do you feel that this late season play will continue over to next season? Are the players buying into what Jim Tracy is selling? I feel like we've been down this road before, but am hoping the results are different this time.

Dejan Kovacevic: No to the first count, unless a large -- and left-handed -- bat is added to the lineup. This cannot be overstated. Yes to the second question. Very much so, and something of a surprise to me after much that went on in the first half. If nothing else has been achieved concretely in this second half, it certainly has become Tracy's team.

smpjcu: Hey Dejan, I asked this question to Mr. O Neill, but he did not know the answer. Do the Pirates have enough to acquire a bat like Mark Teixeira, in your opinion?

Dejan Kovacevic: Enough what? Money? Sure they do. Talent to spare? Sure they do. Everyone knows the Rangers are seeking pitching, and the Pirates have it to give up from the left side -- painful though it might be -- provided they can count on someone such as Sean Burnett to be reliable next year or go out and get two pitchers rather than one.

RaiseThe_JollyRoger: How important is it for Snell to get to 15 wins?

Dejan Kovacevic: Very. He wants it badly, and you will know all about that if he pulls it off tonight or Sunday. If you look at his numbers all through the minors, you will see why. He blows you away mostly with his record, much more so than ERA and the like. He sees himself as a winner, which is not exactly a lousy trait to have.

kgb: Has the Pirates marketing people indicated as to whether or not they are staying with the We Will campaign for next year? I hope they do stick with it and maybe in two years they can change it to We Have or Told You So! In other words, I am excited about the future of the Bucs.

Dejan Kovacevic: I believe that they will. ... Sorry. ... From what I understand, the campaign will continue to be some derivative of that. ... Just for fun, I can point out here that the Padres' campaign, seen on billboards and medallions across San Diego is "Mission: October." And the White Sox slogan: "Win. Or Die Trying."

smpjcu: I meant talent, do you think the Pirates could starts talks with Maholm on the list? Or would they have to start with Duke and Gorzelanny?

Dejan Kovacevic: Talks almost always start with your best guys, so I would imagine the latter two would be the first to come up, at least from the other end. ... And hey, let's not kid ourselves: This idea that the Pirates are going to come up with a young, left-handed power bat ... trust me, they will pay a hefty price for it.

RaiseThe_JollyRoger: How has Nady handled being here while the Mets get ready for October?

Dejan Kovacevic: He has been, by all accounts, an exemplary citizen on and off the field. He did show some signs of missing his old mates when they passed through last week, but that seems rather normal.

PirateApologist: Besides Burnitz and Randa, who is definitely not returning next year?

Dejan Kovacevic: Humberto Cota will not be back. Shawn Chacon and Damaso Marte probably would have to negotiate down from their current deals -- Chacon is an arbitration guy and Marte is due $3 million on a team option -- to stay. And I would not bet much on Castillo staying, but that is far less certain than the above.

smpjcu: Who are the definite arms for the bullpen next year, Gonzo, Torres, Grabow and Capps. They are obviously the strongest part of the team and I forsee that being the best part next year as well.

Dejan Kovacevic: I think you will be able to throw Josh Sharpless into that group, too, which leaves you still needing two. Of the rest of the current guys, Jonah Bayliss has the best chance to stick, though he will need to show improved command in the spring. And be sure Tracy is going to want another lefty. He does love to mix-and-match leading up to the ninth. Mike Johnston remains in the system, but he had a poor season and is coming off another injury.

David: Dejan, What impact do you hope and/or expect from Brad Eldred?? Do you believe he is just too old?? I mean the fact is, is that the guy has a ton of raw power!

Dejan Kovacevic: What I expect from Eldred will not change until he shows much better pitch recognition and an ability to draw the occasional walk. Which is why his missing almost all of this season hurt his development so much. He needed to be in the box, working on this stuff at the Class AAA level. The Arizona league and winter ball should help, but it will be no replacement. ... You are right. His power is just tantalizing, too much so to give up on him. But it matters little if he strikes out 200 times.

kgb: I know McClatchy gets hammered by some fans as not caring about fielding a winner and wanting to just make money. I do have to say that almost every game I see on television, that he is there behind home plate, watching the game intently rather than talking on his cell phone like most fans in that area. Have you ever seen any of the Nuttings at a game?

Dejan Kovacevic: I have yet to develop conclusive proof that the Nuttings exist. Soon, I will begin to concoct Oliver Stone-style theories that they never did.

avastyematey: Are the Pirates giving Maldanado a serious look? Or are we more likely to just have Doumit occasionally catch while playing 1B or RF?

Dejan Kovacevic: They definitely are giving him a look, much more than I thought they would. I do not remember if the Sunday game was televised back to Pittsburgh or not, but I can tell you he did not gain any points in that one. ... If you ask me to predict next year's backup, I will keep pointing to Ryan Doumit.

smpjcu: Are the Pirates hoping that Duffy is adequate the next 2 years to allow McClutchen to develop. Can we assume that Sept 2008 he should be a call up? I know that is far ahead, but I love watching the kid play

Dejan Kovacevic: Writing off McCutchen as coming that late would be a mistake. I see him starting at Altoona next season, and Indianapolis is a short step from there. Look at this team's roster at the number of players -- admittledly much older than McCutchen -- who started the year at Altoona. Off the top of my head, I count Maldonado, Shane Youman, Brian Rogers and ... am I missing someone?

smpjcu: Dejan, which of the chat aliases is Graham Koonce?

Dejan Kovacevic: We are all of us Graham Koonce in a way.

indianafan: From a fan of over forty years these past few weeks have been great to see from far away, but do you seriously think that the organization will keep Sanchez? Especially that he is now going to be batting champ?

Dejan Kovacevic: Keep him? Yeah, of course. I still get this one, maybe because of the wounds from Aramis Ramirez. Sanchez still has his rights owned by the Pirates through arbitration for three more seasons. The questions about signing him now have to do with whether the Pirates are interested in having those seasons decided by an arbiter or through independent negotiation. The latter tends to work out much better for the team.

avastyematey: How is Eldred any different than Adam Dunn? Sure he may strike out 200 times and bat .240, but it is nice to have 40 home runs on a team with little power.

Dejan Kovacevic: Look at Dunn's walks, then his on-base percentage, and you will have your answer. ... That shriek of terror you just heard off in the distance was our own Geek seeing a comparison between Eldred and Dunn.

RaiseThe_JollyRoger: Why are the Pirates playing AL Central and AL West teams next year? When will MLB get the schedule right?

Dejan Kovacevic: Because Pittsburgh no longer matters to the people who make out the Major League Baseball schedule. How else to explain no dates with Cleveland while the Mets and Yankees go at each other not once but twice?

smpjcu: I know Bud Selig has the clamps on the labor negotiations, but do you foresee anything happening to lessen the financial disparity.

Dejan Kovacevic: Yes. I can see teams such as the Pirates, Royals and Marlins that clearly are underspending being forced to spend up to the level of the Reds, Brewers and others. This through an accounting of revenue-sharing monies.

PirateApologist: Dejan, what is a homerun? I don't recall seeing one lately.

Dejan Kovacevic: You saw two Sunday, but they came off San Diego bats. The local club rarely partakes in such fare.

shouldBworking: With the season ending in 6 games, what type of off-season coverage will the PG and you be giving us? Will these on-line sessions end?

Dejan Kovacevic: I have been going at it almost every day since the second week of February, so I will be shutting things down completely late next week after all the season-ending stuff is done. Should be back around Thanksgiving, at which point all the online and everything-else material will be back to normal.

tom: Dejan really have appreciated your insight all year. Hope you enjoy your much deserved break that is approaching. I have a couple part question. How do you think the Pirates feel about Bautista heading into next year. If you think they have him starting somewhere, I would assume that leaves Castillo as the odd man out? If so, are you still thinking that Lyle Overbay would make the most sense, if possible? Others?

Dejan Kovacevic: First off, I appreciate the kind words. Forget about Overbay and Ryan Klesko and Luis Gonzalez and any other names like that. For now, anyway. The Pirates' stated ambition -- a lofty one, at that -- is to get somebody younger, which probably means a name somewhat out of the mainstream. I keep describing that as a left-handed Ryan Shealy, whose name few knew until he became available at the deadline. If the Pirates fail to get that player, then we can start talking Klesko. ... Thanks to one and all for the participation. See you in the Q&A Friday and this space next week. (For real.)