Click here to submit your question

In the old rock magazine Creem, there once was a two-page ad for Van Halen's second album that read , "If you don't like Van Halen, you're wrong."

Crossed my mind this week in observing Masumi Kuwata. Only I wonder if Pittsburgh will ever get a chance to see him to like him.

It is not so much the grace with which he handles this outrageously intense media coverage. (Three guys sprinted toward the grass near him Saturday to get photos of him taking his shoes off after a drill.) Quite obviously, he did plenty of this back home and has learned how to cope.

Nor is it his infallible kindness, whether it is saying a hearty good morning -- in English -- to everyone he sees, including volunteers and service personnel who are used to being ignored.

Rather, it is the sheer joy with which he is approaching this camp. His smile never goes away, and neither does the bounce in his step. He and Ian Snell were doing a drill taking turns fielding bunts yesterday, and Kuwata turned it into a little game in which he would field his bunt and flip the ball behind his back to Snell. (The guy did win eight Gold Gloves over there.) Or it can be the way he tries so hard to fit in and laugh at teammates' jokes, even when he certainly is not understanding some of them. Or how he seems to get a genuine kick out of the puzzled reaction that some have to his customs, especially the bowing.

I wondered about Kuwata's intentions from the moment I learned of the signing, knowing full well his performance level over the past five years was not going to get him to the majors. But now, I think I get it: He just wanted to come here, try something new, see how he does and relish every moment.

Pretty neat ...

Q: John Van Benschoten. Bryan Bullington. Sean Burnett. Now Brad Lincoln. Is this team just cursed like the Cubs?

I don't know of any team that has suffered this many arm injuries to their elite pitching prospects and gotten zero production out of them. What do the Pirates do that other teams don't?

Sam Walker of Amarillo, Texas

KOVACEVIC: Well, you left out Clint Johnston and Bobby Bradley, but your point is certainly made.

I expected to get this reaction to the Lincoln news, but there are two things to point out before it goes too far:

One, Lincoln's status is not determined yet, so there is no need to put him under the scalpel just yet. Remember that Mike Gonzalez and Tom Gorzelanny also had elbow issues late last season, and not much came of those. My understanding of Lincoln's injury, as explained in the couple of articles over the weekend, is that the only known condition is a strained forearm muscle that might or might not be linked to ligament trouble.

Two, blaming the Pirates for this one is just plain crazy. Analyze as you will how and why all the other first-round pitchers in the past decade -- except Paul Maholm -- have gone astray, but Lincoln made four starts last season and came up with a strained chest muscle. That is not enough time for anyone to have any influence on his health, positive or negative.

What I do wonder about, though, is the merits of choosing pitchers in the first round. If they are such a gamble from the health perspective -- and they are, at any industry-wide level, not just in Pittsburgh -- then why not simply draft them in bulk rather than using a first-rounder on them? In other words, why not draft a whole bunch of them in rounds 2-9, but make very sure that the first-rounder goes toward someone who is more certain to be a premier talent on an everyday basis with less risk of that career being derailed by injury?

And speaking of position players drafted in the first round ...

Q: Have you ever seen a team that changes the natural position of its players as often as the Pirates? Neil Walker's value is that he hits well for a catcher. Unless Walker has serious defensive deficiencies as a catcher, why not leave him there until he's major-league ready and see if Ronny Paulino is still the real deal by then?

Greg Thompson of Crofton, Md.

KOVACEVIC: I have no evidence that the Pirates move their prospects more or less than other teams, Greg, but I do see your point. No question a switch-hitting, power-hitting catcher is a valuable commodity, certainly rarer than a third baseman in that mold.

However, I think that, if such a move is going to be made, it has to be done now and not when you suggest. Watching Walker take baby steps at third base these past three days is enough to convince me of that. Making that kind of switch requires not only a ton of work, but also the proper mind-set. Walker has told me he had mixed feelings about this, having dedicated himself to catching as long as he has. How might he have felt two years down the road?

As for my feelings on the move, I reserve the right to wait and see if the Pirates' assessment that he can play this position is accurate. Watching him on a half-field for a couple days hardly is enough to know at this point.

I will say this: Do not rule out that Walker's defensive ability as a catcher might have played a role in this decision.

Q: I just wanted to thank you for being so unashamedly happy about living in Pittsburgh. My wife and I are also big fans of Pittsburgh, and we sometimes feel that some of the 20- and 30-somethings living in the city feel like they are "stuck" here. We have never felt that way. The rivers, the sports, the cheap cost of living, the geography, the quick nature getaways ... what's not to like?

A big smile crosses my face every time you mention one of your favorite Pittsburgh haunts. Keep up the great work covering the Bucs and giving folks pride in this wonderful city.

Chad Stacy of Verona

KOVACEVIC: I appreciate that, Chad. As I say often to acquaintances, the best way to appreciate what we have is to get around and see what else is out there.

On that note ...

Thing No. 3 that I miss about Pittsburgh: Sunset beyond the West End Bridge, while standing at the Point. If you don't know, you don't know.

Until tomorrow ...