Dejan Kovacevic: Hello from Houston, soon-to-be home of Hurricane Ike. Hopefully, Ike overruns the base ...

curt_raydon_fan: Has Pearce pulled a "reverse Murtaugh" and spit on Russell's shoe? He seems to be marginalized this September. Or are they sending him to Mexico to learn to lay off the junk pitches?

Dejan Kovacevic: Someone asked the other day, and I didn't have a good answer: Has Steve Pearce hit a ball to the warning track in the majors yet? Maybe once we have the answer to that, we will have a better idea for how and why he needs to be much, much more selective at the plate to make use of that power he used to show in the minors.

Galbraith_rolling_over_in_his_gr: When the Buccos finish with the worst record in the Majors will this be the nadir for this franchise or can it get worse?

Dejan Kovacevic: They are not that far removed from that now, only about four games. Low point? Sure, for now. But remember, as far as getting worse, that this team will play a full 2009 without Jason Bay or Xavier Nady or maybe some other veterans who could get traded in the offseason. Absolutely, it could get worse.

Galbraith_rolling_over_in_his_gr: Don't you think for the best of baseball teams like the Pirates and Royals should be contracted?

Dejan Kovacevic: That will not happen. If it ever came to that, baseball would first need to look itself in the mirror and ask why it happened. Neither of these cities has Montreal's issues when it comes to the sport. Nor St. Petersburg's or Miami's, for that matter.

Benny_Distefano: What is more likely "worst case" outcome with Alvarez hearing? Pirates retain rights but must renegotiate? Or he goes back in draft?

Dejan Kovacevic: Renegotiation is highly unlikely. Arbitrators operate off precedent and rules, and there is nothing on the books for either. Worst case from the Pirates' standpoint is that he goes back into the draft, and they get a comp pick at No. 3 overall in 2009.

Tony: Do you think that Capps and Gorzelanny did not come to Spring Training in good enough shape? I know that Capps spent time in the minors because of an injury, but it seemed like the plans for both of them physical conditioning --which for Capps included losing weight.

Dejan Kovacevic: Capps recently acknowledged as much in something I wrote about three weeks ago. I have not heard something similar regarding Gorzelanny, except that, clearly, his shoulder was bothering him early in the spring. No one can say -- except him -- if that was because of a lack of conditioning.

Charleston_Charlies: How can you determine whether the team is doing a fire sale versus a rebuild?

Dejan Kovacevic: Follow the money. Simple as that. ... If Jack Wilson goes and nothing significant comes in return, you probably will have your answer. The Pirates absolutely, unequivocally do not have an internal answer at shortstop. And they will be hard-pressed to find an adequate replacement externally for the same or less money.

AZPiratesFan: Dejan, forget the Bay/Nady trades, forget the Pedro Alvarez fiasco, the worst thing to happen to the Pirates (and it was their own fault) was not ponying up the money for Matt Wieters. A decade from now, when the Bucs are in their 26th losing season, and the Orioles have a future Hall of Fame catcher, I will look back with fond memories of how unbelievably stupid and irrational Dave Littlefield really was.

Dejan Kovacevic: Well, as you point out, that is separate management, so it probably deserves a separate category from the first two you mention. But yes, the Wieters thing is going to haunt ... well, just wait until he gets to the majors.

jonoz: As hard as it has been to watch the PBC since the Bay and Nady trades, I feel much better now about the team's long term prospects then I have in years. How do you feel about the PBC's future?

Dejan Kovacevic: I will need to see much, much more than I have. Which of these prospects, other than maybe Brandon Moss, has impressed you at this early stage?

JRay03: One day until the big hearing. I read here they think it might take multiple hearings. My question is, are you serious? How much information could there possibly be? Do they do 20 hearings a day, or do they have several hours appointed to one hearing?

Dejan Kovacevic: Sounds from what I heard the other day like it could be very involved, and the arbitrator does have the right to stretch it out to collect all necessary information.

yzguy431: Dejan, tell us something significant about the team.

Dejan Kovacevic: I did that on Sunday. 82. 16. All that.

JRay03: Why was Jose Tabata so much better with our AA club than with the Yankees? It seemed he had two hits every game.

Dejan Kovacevic: He was coming off an injury early in the minor league season and that, from what I heard, hampered him to the point of lower production and some frustration. After a week of rehab in Bradenton, he showed up in Altoona completely ready to go and, again from what I heard from people who saw him, happy with the chance to prove himself in a new system.

MAdesso: DK, what are the chances of a Nyger Morgan or Chris Duffy starting in CF next year and McLouth in Left field?

Dejan Kovacevic: I would say zero. The Pirates are not going to move McLouth for anyone but Andrew McCutchen, based on what I have heard. And there is no guarantee they will move him then, either, though my money is on McCutchen in center long-term.

Jim_in_VT: Have there been any indications about whether the Bucs may leave Indy? There seem to be a few such moves coming this year in MLB.

Dejan Kovacevic: No. Just signed a long-term pact earlier this year.

LI_Buc_Fan: Do the Pirates owe any players to other teams or have any owed to them due to trades?

Dejan Kovacevic: Yes. All over the place, now including the Michel Hernandez trade mentioned in the Notebook today. But I would not look forward with any breathless anticipation to these things being meaningful. Almost all of them are done as I-scratch-your-back-you-scratch-mine handshake agreements to help out other systems as they help out yours.

burghimposter: Did Neal Huntington alert the Indians to the release of Bryan Bullington? Why would the Indians pick him up and now call him up to the majors? Is Neal expecting a favor in return?

Dejan Kovacevic: Alert? Not sure what you mean. Bullington was placed on waivers, and that became public knowledge several days before Cleveland claimed him.

billykidd: What was the overall reaction in the clubhouse to Morgan's base running blunder?

Dejan Kovacevic: John Russell mentioned it in the postgame news conference and, as I wrote this morning, it was addressed by the coaching staff.

PirateApologist: Afternoon, Dejan. Is the gameday lineup 100% Russell's decision? Or does he get suggestions from Neil Huntington as to who they would like to get better looks at (Andy Laroche, Pearce, etc.)?

Dejan Kovacevic: They all discuss everything, including players they want to see for the long term. That even applies to little things like the plan to bounce Luis Cruz around the diamond this month. But the lineup for the day comes down to Russell, with significant input from Gary Varsho and often Don Long.

Charleston_Charlies: I hope Jack Wilson can play in the home finale, b/c I believe it is the last time we will see him in a Pirates uniform. Thanks for all the good years Jack and good luck, where ever you end up.

Dejan Kovacevic: Wilson wants very much to play in that game. Be sure of that.

Reid: Any chance Jason bay or Xavier Nady would come back as a free agent? Moss and laRoche are looking awfully weak. I think the Pirates gave up way too much offense in two .300 avg/100 RBI guys.

Dejan Kovacevic: Bay does not exactly seem to be lowering his value in Boston these days. And Nady is represented by Scott Boras. Seems enormously unlikely on both fronts.

JRay03: What happened in Houston to turn their season around? Is Randy Wolf really that good. Also doesn't it seem Houston does this almost every year?

Dejan Kovacevic: The Astros basically just woke up. They had no real reason to be as bad as they were, especially offensively, and they all just started clicking. Wolf helped, too, obviously, in steadying a staff that looked all along like it could have used someone exactly like that.

Missing_Slick: First off, DK, you do an amazing job, and I as well as everyone else here thank you for your tireless efforts. Now that I'm done brown-nosing you, I want to ask you my question. What are the chances that Adam LaRoche gets moved this off season? And does he have any value at all on the trade market? It seems a bit ridiculous to pay him the amount of money he will get in arbitration for the type of "production" ( and I use the term very loosely) he gives the team. Thanks again DK.

Dejan Kovacevic: Again, follow the money. LaRoche is at $5 million right now and probably will get $7 million or so through arbitration. If the Pirates have any doubt about the value of that contract, given his long history of struggling in April and May, they are certain to consider putting his name out there. On the other hand, if they see something that has clicked in this second half that they or Long feels looks like it could stick, who knows? A left-handed, power-hitting first baseman certainly is a nice fit at PNC. ... Again, watch what happens with Wilson. If he goes, the plunger is being pushed. What will be the point of paying anyone at that stage?

mcguyver: Could the Pirates really get enough for Jack Wilson to make trading him worthwhile? I can't see them getting 3-4 players back like in the Nady and Bay trades.

Dejan Kovacevic: There is no chance of that kind of return. In all likelihood, it would be one very good prospect, one gamble.

mcguyver: Not counting the first half of the season with Bay and Nady, is the current Pirate team the worst we've had over the last 15 years? Where's the hope?

Dejan Kovacevic: I have seen much worse in that span than the current group. And I might take this opportunity, amid all the negativity on everyone's part, including mine, to note that the starting pitching has been much better even as the offense has gone south.

BenderHeel: Dejan: From your discussion with team officials, is there anyone from this immediate past draft class that stood out in the abbreviated time with the PBC?

Dejan Kovacevic: They were very happy with Matt Hague, Jarek Cunningham, Chase D'Arnaud and, even though he played up a level and struggled some, Jordy Mercer.

100orbust: Do you get the sense that Jack Wilson is privately desperate to get out of the Pirates organization? And is there a way fans can send their sincerest thanks and apologies to him for having to endure the endless losing?

Dejan Kovacevic: He has no wish whatsoever to leave the Pirates. Quite the contrary. As for what gesture might mean the most to him, I repeat that he really wants to take an at-bat in that final home game, and I strongly suspect that is for reasons beyond the game itself.

OperationShutdown: Dejan, please handicap Cruz versus Bixler in what the club sees from both in their future plans.

Dejan Kovacevic: Sounds like they are trying to build up Cruz into a Jose Hernandez Jr. They are very happy with his play at all positions, even center field. (Which might explain, partially, the Jose Bautista trade, by the way. Cruz would be much cheaper.) Bixler is seen as a backup middle infielder, but he will have to cut down on striking out once every three times up to be taken more seriously.

Tony: Beside the fact that they might be very nice people, do you see a problem with the firings of the minor league coaches and managers? I don't. After all these years of losing changes need to be made from top to bottom, including trading popular players.

Dejan Kovacevic: Lots on this in the Q&A tomorrow.

PirateApologist: I've kind of tuned out all of the Alvarez stuff because it upsets me, so I apologize if this has been answered before, but can Pedro simply walk away from Boras right now and sign the deal with the Pirates today? Or is the fact that the arbitrator being involved make that not possible right now?

Dejan Kovacevic: The signing would be complicated, but walking away from an agent can happen at any time, any place.

Doumit_sAchingHead: Playing devil's advocate, what on field product, if any, will draw Pirates fans to PNC next season?

Dejan Kovacevic: Looks like it will be quite the challenge for the folks in sales. ... Couple more ...

BenderHeel: Who will finish with a higher batting average: Andy "Strike Three" LaRoche or Brian "Where's Jack" Bixler? Bixler leads (.161 to .160) as they enter the final stretch.

Dejan Kovacevic: I would go with LaRoche because he makes contact more often.

JRay03: If Adam is traded, who plays first? I say we bring back Brad Eldred. But seriously, any chance Paulino catches and Doumit moves to first?

Dejan Kovacevic: Doumit will not be moving. But your question about first is a good one. Forever now, many have been clamoring for Pearce there, but not so much anymore.

OperationShutdown: On an aside, I hope Cruz does not develop the "habit" of Jose Hernandez in taking strike three. I hope he is more Jose Oquendo ...

Dejan Kovacevic: What the Pirates will need is a Jose Lind if they alter their middle infield.

OperationShutdown: I know 100 losses is a stretch, but what about 95?

Dejan Kovacevic: Not likely. Schedule still looks not all that intimidating the rest of the way and, as noted, the pitching has been much better of late. ... Last one ...

16_and_counting: In your opinion, how are Karstens recent poor starts going to affect his chances to join the rotation next year?

Dejan Kovacevic: It probably would help him to put together a couple good ones. Still, if you break down the rotation possibilities, you are looking at, in an order close to this: 1. Paul Maholm. 2. Ian Snell. 3. Tom Gorzelanny. 4. Ross Ohlendorf. 5. Good luck. That is not to suggest Gorzelanny is a lock or, really, anyone other than Maholm and probably Snell. But they really like Ohlendorf. As for the rest, could be Karstens, Zach Duke, Phil Dumatrait and, with an exceptional spring, Daniel McCutchen could be in there. ... Heading for coffee and, 11 blocks later, a ball game ... Q&A tomorrow.