BRADENTON, Fla. -- The Pirates' lineup will be written by a new manager, John Russell, in Atlanta on Monday. But those players, as well as most of the roster, will have a very familiar look.

Below is a breakdown of Russell's likely everyday eight in the most likely batting order, the rotation in the season-opening order, and the rest.

Note: 2008 statistical projections are courtesy of ZiPS, the Baseball Think Factory and the Bill James Handbook.

Use the tabs to switch between the different positions.

Nate McLouth

• No. 13 | Position: Center field
• 2007 numbers: .258 BA, .351 OBP, 13 HR, 38 RBI
• 2008 projected: .259 BA, .329 OBP, 11 HR, 34 RBI
• Outlook: Every team covets a center fielder with good defense, on-base skills and baserunning, plus, as a bonus, some power. After years of being labeled a bench player, McLouth has his chance. Nyjer Morgan, Chris Duffy and Andrew McCutchen await if he fails.

Freddy Sanchez

• No. 12 | Position: Second base
• 2007 numbers: .304 BA, .343 OBP, 11 HR, 81 RBI
• 2008 projected: .298 BA, .340 OBP, 7 HR, 66 RBI
• Outlook: It remains to be seen how long Sanchez's ailing shoulder will keep him from taking the field, but he showed all spring he still can hit. Would the Pirates be greedy to seek another .340-plus average and 50-plus doubles? They might need it.

Jason Bay

• No. 38 | Position: Left field
• 2007 numbers: .247 BA, .327 OBP, 21 HR, 84 RBI
• 2008 projected: .265 BA, .361 OBP, 28 HR, 89 RBI
• Outlook: It could not get much worse for Bay than 2007. Now, his knee appears fine, and he is feeling upbeat about a slight closing to his stance. If that holds up, nothing could mean more to the Pirates' season ... or their future if he is traded at high value.

Adam LaRoche

• No. 25 | Position: First base
• 2007 numbers: .272 BA, .345 OBP, 21 HR, 88 RBI
• 2008 projected: .272 BA, .348 OBP, 25 HR, 84 RBI
• Outlook: An encouraging spring leads to hope that LaRoche might start without his usual prolonged slump. Remember: He batted .191 through May 25, then .303 the rest of the way. Can he become that true cleanup hitter the Pirates have lacked since Brian Giles?

Xavier Nady

• No. 22 | Position: Right field
• 2007 numbers: .278 BA, .330 OBP, 20 HR, 72 RBI
• 2008 projected: .259 BA, .319 OBP, 17 HR, 64 RBI
• Outlook: Digestive ailment. Strained hamstring. Fastball to the face. Everything went wrong for Nady in 2007 except that he tiptoed through the trauma to put up career-best numbers. His next likely move, though, will come via trade, with Steve Pearce in the wings.

Ronny Paulino

• No. 26 | Position: Catcher
• 2007 numbers: .263 BA, .314 OBP, 11 HR, 55 RBI
• 2008 projected: .263 BA, .321 OBP, 8 HR, 46 RBI
• Outlook: Lost in an otherwise step-backward 2007: Paulino batted .407 vs. right-handers, third-highest average in the majors. Never mind that .218 mark vs. lefties. If his splits and defense do not improve, look for more Ryan Doumit. Maybe as No. 1.

Jose Bautista

• No. 19 | Position: Third base
• 2007 numbers: .254 BA, .339 OBP, 15 HR, 63 RBI
• 2008 projected: .249 BA, .329 OBP, 17 HR, 62 RBI
• Outlook: A make-or-break year for Bautista to establish everyday credentials. His first full season brought career highs, plus above-average defense. But more power is needed at the position, or he might again be appreciated more for his seven-position versatility.

Jack Wilson

• No. 2 | Position: Shortstop
• 2007 numbers: .296 BA, .350 OBP, 12 HR, 56 RBI
• 2008 projected: .261 BA, .313 OBP, 8 HR, 42 RBI
• Outlook: From July 25 to season's end, his .401 average was best in the majors. He achieved a career high for home runs, too. Too much to ask for a follow-up? Undoubtedly. But Wilson is convinced that his more compact swing will carry over.

Ian Snell

• No. 45 | Position: Right-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 9-12, 3.76 ERA, 208 IP, 68 BB, 177 K
• 2008 projected: 10-11, 4.48 ERA, 202 IP, 62 BB, 157 K
• Outlook: Opening-day starter. New, long-term contract. The next step, naturally is to become a true ace, something the Pirates have not had since ... Francisco Cordova? Doug Drabek? Snell has the pieces, but it all needs to come together.

Tom Gorzelanny

• No. 24 | Position: Left-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 14-10, 3.88 ERA, 201 2/3 IP, 68 BB, 135 K
• 2008 projected: 11-10, 4.16 ERA, 184 IP, 61 BB, 128 K
• Outlook: Just as good as Snell in 2007, with probably just as much of a chance to become an ace. Why, then, no long-term contract offer for him? Could be that management wants to see more. To be sure, internal expectations are high.

Paul Maholm

• No. 28 | Position: Left-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 10-15, 5.02 ERA, 177 2/3 IP, 49 BB, 105 K
• 2008 projected: 8-12, 4.89 ERA, 175 IP, 62 BB, 108 K
• Outlook: There are more than a few in the industry who feel, based on Maholm's first-round pedigree and gradual improvement, that he is the Pirates' best candidate for a breakout season. Without a doubt, no player drew more praise in the spring.

Matt Morris

• No. 35 | Position: Right-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 10-11, 4.89 ERA, 198 2/3 IP, 61 BB, 102 K
• 2008 projected: 9-13, 4.98 ERA, 188 IP, 60 BB, 106 K
• Outlook: The Pirates' dream scenario is that Morris pitches as well as he did in the first half last season in San Francisco -- 7-3, 2.56 ERA through 13 starts -- and that someone, somewhere will take part of his $9 million salary off their ledger.

Zach Duke

• No. 57 | Position: Left-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 3-8, 5.53 ERA, 107 1/3 IP, 25 BB, 41 K
• 2008 projected: 10-12, 4.60 ERA, 182 IP, 50 BB, 98 K
• Outlook: Pitching coach Jeff Andrews' push has been for Duke to have fun again, to shrug off a moribund 2007 in which opponents batted .363. But Duke instead has taken on a newly intense look this spring, one that paid handsome early dividends.

Matt Capps

• No. 55 | Position: Right-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 2.28 ERA, 79 IP, 64 H, 16 BB, 64 K, 18 saves
• 2008 projected: 3.40 ERA, 90 IP, 89 H, 15 BB, 68 K, 35 saves
• Outlook: Perhaps no player on the roster has a higher upside. Capps' composure and immaculate control could make him one of the best closers in the business ... if only he had some save opportunities.

Damaso Marte

• No. 43 | Position: Left-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 2.38 ERA, 45 1/3 IP, 32 H, 18 BB, 51 K
• 2008 projected: 3.63 ERA, 52 IP, 46 H, 27 BB, 57 K
• Outlook: Left-handed batters went 6 for 64 against Marte, the best such figure in the majors. But the Pirates do not sound content with his remaining a one-out specialist. Is that mostly to enhance his trade value? He is a good bet to go.

John Grabow

• No. 34 | Position: Left-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 4.53 ERA, 51 2/3 IP, 56 H, 19 BB, 42 K
• 2008 projected: 4.65 ERA, 62 IP, 65 H, 25 BB, 51 K
• Outlook: Questions linger about his health after he declined surgery for elbow chips this offseason, but he still is throwing ... quite hard, actually. He is the best bet for setup man, equally effective against right-handers.

Tyler Yates

• No. 39 | Position: Right-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 5.18 ERA, 66 IP, 64 H, 31 BB, 69 K
• 2008 projected: 4.22 ERA, 64 IP, 57 H, 34 BB, 67 K
• Outlook: He will be given a chance right away to be the right-handed setup man, days after being acquired from Atlanta. But he will have to do far better than he did in the second half last season for the Braves -- 6.09 ERA -- and this spring.

Franquelis Osoria

• No. 52 | Position: Right-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 4.76 ERA, 28 1/3 IP, 33 H, 8 BB, 13 K
• 2008 projected: 4.61 ERA, 82 IP, 94 H, 26 BB, 41 K
• Outlook: If one is going to be a one-pitch pitcher, the sinker is the way to go. Especially one that drops as effectively as Osoria's. But he will be unable to handle more than an inning unless he can harness a changeup or curve. He is trying.

Phil Dumatrait

• No. 32 | Position: Left-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 15.00 ERA, 18 IP, 39 H, 12 BB, 9 K
• 2008 projected: 5.68 ERA, 130 IP, 154 H, 53 BB, 70 K
• Outlook: He has pitched in only six major-league games at age 26 and was waived by Cincinnati, but the Pirates felt strongly about his stuff -- especially the slider -- from the outset of spring training. He will be the long man.

Evan Meek

• No. 44 | Position: Right-handed pitcher
• 2007 numbers: 4.30 ERA, 67 IP, 74 H, 34 BB, 69 K in Class AA
• 2008 projected: None available
• Outlook: The Pirates are taking a risk on a Rule 5 pick because of his power arm and potential. But they have to keep him on the 25-man roster all year to retain his rights, and that will not happen if he becomes a liability.

Ryan Doumit

• No. 41 | Positions: Catcher, right field
• 2007 numbers: .274 BA, .341 OBP, 9 HR, 32 RBI
• 2008 projected: .276 BA, .344 OBP, 12 HR, 47 RBI
• Outlook: He will not remain on the bench long if he keeps improving defensively. The Pirates covet his power from the left side and have been impressed with his fresh dedication.

Doug Mientkiewicz

• No. 16 | Positions: First base, third base, left field, right field
• 2007 numbers: .277 BA, .349 OBP, 5 HR, 24 RBI
• 2008 projected: .272 BA, .356 OBP, 6 HR, 35 RBI
• Outlook: He might be just as valuable for his intangibles as his newfound versatility. The clubhouse has not seen a personality -- relentlessly intense -- such as his in recent memory.

Chris Gomez

• No. 5 | Positions: Shortstop, third base, second base, first base
• 2007 numbers: .297 BA, .325 OBP, 1 HR, 21 RBI
• 2008 projected: .276 BA, .322 OBP, 2 HR, 21 RBI
• Outlook: The Pirates' lone free-agent signing came exactly as advertised this spring. Sound at all infield positions, smart in all facets and even adding a .342 average.

Nyjer Morgan

• No. 3 | Positions: Center field, left field, right field
• 2007 numbers: .299 BA, .359 OBP, 1 HR, 7 RBI
• 2008 projected: .264 BA, .319 OBP, 1 HR, 19 RBI
• Outlook: He could be spell McLouth, pinch-run, take the field in late innings. Or he could become, as he still expects, a high-energy everyday player.

Luis Rivas

• No. 31 | Positions: Shortstop, second base
• 2007 numbers: 273 BA, .273 OBP, 1 HR, 4 RBI
• 2008 projected: .244 BA, .300 OBP, 7 HR, 38 RBI
• Outlook: He made the team mostly for his glove after two years in the minors, but his longtime lack of patience at the plate improved with 42 walks with Class AAA Buffalo last season.

First published on March 28, 2008 at 11:39 am