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Anyone want to talk about something other than Doug Mientkiewicz?

No?

OK, then ...

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Q: Dejan, I liked Doug Mientkiewicz's attitude in your interview with him. He seems to have not only an understanding of how to win, but also experience playing for teams that went through transitions similar to what the Pirates are trying to do. A veteran off the bench is a valuable asset, but I think his leadership could be more valuable in mentoring the younger players.

I'm hoping he can prove he deserves a spot on the team. What are his chances?

Kevin White of Sharpsville, Pa.

KOVACEVIC: The strange thing is that Mientkiewicz seems to think the odds are against him, and the Pirates seem to think the same way.

Not sure why. Where is this remarkable bench depth that would keep an accomplished hitter off the roster? It would be one thing if Mientkiewicz were blocking a young player, but that never happens -- and never should happen -- with the bench, anyway. A legitimate young prospect is either playing everyday or is back in the minors.

Try to break it down: Ryan Doumit is a lock for the bench, as is Chris Gomez. The Pirates would prefer to have Doumit in the outfield, so throw a backup catcher in there, too. If Nate McLouth wins center field -- and he probably is the favorite -- then Nyjer Morgan will go back to the minors. That leaves two spots.

Who will beat out Mientkiewicz, if he shows he can play more positions than first base? Ray Olmedo? Kevin Thompson?

Anyway, you were far from the only one to write in praise of Mientkiewicz for his comments in that piece. Rest assured that the "interview" had nothing to do with it. If I recall correctly, my entire line of questioning consisted of, "Hey, Doug, got a minute?" And he took it from there for the next half-hour or so.

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Q: Dejan, I guess I'll be one of about 10,000 people who email you on this note, but the Pirates need to find a way to keep Doug Mientkiewicz. In general, I'm not a big fan of keeping guys around who are no longer producing simply for their locker-room presence (i.e. Mark Recchi, Joey Porter, Marc Bergevin). But, on this team, a guy who knows how to play the game the right way and is willing to convey that knowledge to his teammates with both words and actions, may just help this team in the win column now and down the line.

Tony Verdream of Shadyside, Pittsburgh

KOVACEVIC: One more ...

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Q: Well, DK, you just made a lot of purists mad when the Pirates cut Mientkiewicz. And I'll be one of them. One of the Bucs' biggest issues is they do not have a clubhouse leader, a positive one. Certainly not the Brian Giles/Jason Kendall style.

Craig Hughes of Mt. Lebanon

KOVACEVIC: Above all, Mientkiewicz has to be able to play baseball well to help the Pirates. But I do agree that this is one team that could use this type of intangible.

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Q: Can you tell me exactly just how strong the hatred is for Manatee Community College at Pirate City? I know I've had Feb. 27, 2008 circled on my calendar for a long time now, and I point at that date every day when I wake up and mouth the words: "You're going down, Lancers."

I can only imagine that in the clubhouse they have a dartboard with the Lancers team photo on it and a punching bag with the school's motto on it.

John Dreker of Point Pleasant, N.J.

KOVACEVIC: Funny that you ask, John. I am hearing that Florida state government is on the verge of investigating the Hated Manatees for illegally filming some of these early workouts at Pirate City, under the foolhardy premise that it somehow will give them an edge.

Ridiculous.

Preposterous.

Laughable.

They will go down. They always do. And, you watch, your PBC will do it without a single one of their varsity players.

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Thing No. 67 that makes Pittsburgh great: Climb to the top floor of the Carnegie Science Center, and go into the play area for little children. (But, hey, make sure you actually have little children, or it might look a little strange.) Engraved on the huge window facing Mount Washington is a challenge: Name every form of transportation you can see.

If you cheat and look over a bit, you can see the Center's answers. They come up with 14, but some of them are fairly lame, such as counting walking and jogging as two separate forms.

This is what I came up with last week while the children had almost as good a time:

• Cars

• Trucks

• Airplanes passing over, as most aircraft coming into our airport from the south go over Downtown, then Neville Island before buzzing the IKEA rooftop

• Helicopters, either for traffic reports or LifeFlights to Allegheny General

• Manually operated boats such as cayaks, rowboats, etc.

• Jet-skis

• Powered boats, including ferries

• Barges

• Bicycles on the trail that runs in front of the place

• Wheelchairs

• The Duquesne Incline, of course, right across the river

• Should walking really count? Ah, why not?

• The Ducky Tour boat, which deserves its own category being capable of land and water travel and having an entry point close to nearby PNC Park

• Just to tie the Center's list of 14, I offer the giant balloons that go up at the Regatta

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Until tomorrow ...