hiBucs: Hi Dejan, any word on how the 2 pitchers from India that won that contest are doing? What farm team are they assigned to?

Dejan Kovacevic: Hi yourself, and to one and all. Rinku and Dinesh are in extended spring training and, when the Gulf Coast League season starts, they will be assigned to Bradenton. Asked about both recently, and both are said to be doing well within the context of, well, never having played baseball previously.

SDWC: It seems like the free swinging undisciplined Bucs are unfortunately returning to form, and the patience they showed at the plate early in the season is slowly vanishing. What are your thoughts?

Dejan Kovacevic: Exactly the opposite. They look patient to the point of being passive, and the numbers will back me on that emphatically. Opposing starters still are running up high pitch counts, for the most part, but many hittable pitches are being bypassed in the process.

SeanE: Hi Dejan: A question about Alvarez. Clearly the power and RBI numbers have been impressive in the early going. Unfortunately so have the Strikeouts. Is this because in A ball pitchers are not around the plate as much or simply a lack of plate discipline? If the former, would a move to AA actually help in that Pedro will see more strikes?

Dejan Kovacevic: The Pirates' stated feeling is that this is nothing more than a lingering aftermath of Alvarez having missed so much time to the contract dispute last summer, as well as an adjustment to professional ball. I have heard nothing of using a promotion to address this.

BringBackBonds: With the draft coming up next week, my question is on last years draft class. It was the first draft of the new management team and I'm wondering (and i know its real early) what players are looking like good picks?

Dejan Kovacevic: So far, Robbie Grossman and Calvin Anderson have done very well from the group, and Matt Hague has very much picked it up of late. Lagging among the high-ceiling picks is Justin Wilson, off to an inconsistent start in Lynchburg. We already have been over Alvarez. And another notable worth mentioning is Quinton Miller, who is in extended spring but will be assigned to State College -- or higher -- once deemed ready.

BoomGoestheDynamite: What happens to Jackson once Veal comes off the DL?

Dejan Kovacevic: A long time between now and then. Veal almost surely will be on the DL for a month.

bucos_forever: Good afternoon Dejan. With the draft being 1 week away from tomorrow I would love to see us land Aaron Crow at #4. Who do you think we will draft 4th overall?

Dejan Kovacevic: Chuck Finder, who is advancing the draft for us this year, will take questions on the draft in a special-edition Q&A coming Thursday. Use the usual form.

Bucsin09: Should we expect another bullpen move later today?

Dejan Kovacevic: Not today. As the notebook mentioned, one is expected later this week.

bedlem77: Where in the organization is Quentin Miller hiding? A big deal was made of the bonus offered to him when he signed however I cannot find him on a minor league roster. Also, any updates on Tabata?

Dejan Kovacevic: See above on Miller. See today's notebook on Tabata.

ChiBucs: I was at the game where JR benched both Freddy and Jack and said to my wife before the game started that we would lose most likely from an error. First inning: error and a run. After 3 innings Young was 0-3 with 3 Ks. Why not put Freddy back in when Delwyn obviously couldn't hit that day??? JR baffles me ...

Dejan Kovacevic: The recent pattern of benchings has confused -- and dismayed -- many, for sure. Benching both middle infielders on the same day seemed most striking to me, though I have not heard anyone else raise that specific issue. The Pirates' defense falls off a cliff in that circumstance.

bucos_forever: Dejan: Moss & Adam LaRoche are hurting this team. Moss is not the answer we need to hope that Neal goes and gets a impact bat for RF. Any chance we make a trade for a 1B at the deadline? I know we got Pearce but I'm not sold on him 100%

Dejan Kovacevic: Adam LaRoche had a lousy May, but Moss was quite good, actually. Not sure why you would twin them together like that.

ajt123: With the great pitching matchup tomorrow I wonder how many fans will actually get to witness it due to the Pens game ...

Dejan Kovacevic: I am expecting it will be a small crowd, but those who show up could be out of there in about 90 minutes if Zach Duke and Johan Santana perform as expected.

SeanE: Hi Dejan: Andy LaRoche has been on a nice run lately in terms of batting average. He has not shown any substantial power though, a clear need at the corner infield positions. Do the Pirates feel this will develop over time?

Dejan Kovacevic: They sound optimistic about it, but sure, one should wonder about that. The Pirates are in no position to afford a long-term singles hitter at third base. While it is commendable that LaRoche has maintained maybe the most consistent -- if not most productive -- bat in the lineup, more power is needed.

RC: How long is the rope on Snell? As stated by others, the excuses are getting to be a bit much.

Dejan Kovacevic: He surely needs to pitch well tonight to avoid further discussion of the matter, especially now that Jeff Karstens is rounding out and -- at least, according to the Pirates -- they are happier with their starting depth in Indianapolis.

Daquido_Bazzini: Isn't it quite clear early on that Delwyn Young IS NOT a 2nd baseman?

Dejan Kovacevic: He does not exactly look graceful there. I would think the larger issue at the moment for Young is his tendency -- speaking of excessive patience -- to watch tons of hittable pitches go by.

SandlotWizard: Is Veal being "stashed" on the DL so he can get a rehab stint and get some competitive work in? If so, bravo!

Dejan Kovacevic: Sure sounds like it, though the injury apparently is legit, even if minor.

bedlem77: Any thoughts on who might be representing the Pirates in the All-Star Futures game? Does Alvarez make it on name alone?

Dejan Kovacevic: There never is advance word on something like that. My selection would be Brad Lincoln as one of them, if he keeps going as he has. Another: Brian Friday.

cy: Is management aware of your disdain for the Pirates Charities sign at PNC? I agree that it's too big & should go somewhere else in the Park.

Dejan Kovacevic: Management is plenty aware of that, just as management knows that it is a fact that this sign was never part of the ballpark's original -- and magnificent -- design, particularly as it relates to the view from Downtown.

tekes_turtleneck: As the dismal years roll by, I start to care less and less about stats...for example, Nyjer might be the best defensive OF in baseball, Freddy the best 0-2 hitter, Nate a gold glover and the starters are second in quality starts ... who cares? if you don't win, who cares ... enough stats -- win a game!

Dejan Kovacevic: Yep.

Wieters4President: The Pirates are dead last in attendance this season (16,884 average) and have been in the bottom five for years. Do you get the sense that ownership and the front office are concerned enough about this trend to increase the payroll next year or to take on good players at the deadline through smart trades?

Dejan Kovacevic: I never have heard attendance as a motivating factor, especially on the baseball end, where these people -- and this is a fact -- are working around the clock on all manner of things. Whatever ails the current Pirates, one can be fairly certain it is not the result of laziness.

schreibdog: Hi Dejan, I'm curious as to who the Pirates will call up when Gorzelanny is sent back to AAA to get back in the starting rotation. Any chance Bootcheck gets the call? His numbers look solid.

Dejan Kovacevic: As mentioned in the notebook, the two candidates are Chris Bootcheck and Denny Bautista.

PghSportsfan66: If Freddy gets traded, is Delwyn Young the most likely candidate to fill in at 2B? Shelby Ford doesn't seem to be ready to make the jump to the majors and an An. Laroche 3B-2B switch and N. Walker call-up hasn't been discussed.

Dejan Kovacevic: There is no clear candidate to take the place of a National League batting champion and All-Star, as your question itself strongly suggests. Thus, Ramon Vazquez probably would function as a fill-in.

SandlotWizard: When do the collection of good SS in the system (Friday, D' Arnaud, Mercer) get bumped up to the next level in the system? Are they all good defensive players?

Dejan Kovacevic: Friday is sound in the field, but the other two still have to prove themselves. No rush on bumping anybody up, especially the last two since they are just getting started.

Ian_Oquendo: The drop in minor league teams' performance, especially Altoona, has been dramatic. Can it all be pinned on a lack of talent or does the coaching down there take some of the blame as well?

Dejan Kovacevic: When a team loses as much as Altoona has, in particular, it has to be more than the lack of talent. Even when Jose Tabata was healthy, that group was not hitting at all. Still isn't. In fact, the number of overachieving hitters all through the system, one easily could say, is sparse.

pittsmo: Brad Lincoln has put together a nice streak of scoreless innings, including a complete game shutout. What's the word from management on him and what he has left to prove at AA before earning a promotion?

Dejan Kovacevic: Check Sunday's "On the Pirates" feature for a detailed answer on this.

ericc123: Who do you think will be traded on the current roster and will we get much in return?

Dejan Kovacevic: I have said all along that Adam LaRoche, Jack Wilson and John Grabow will be shopped and, when that happens, trades always are a possibility. Much in return? Depends on whether they heat up, as contenders tend to take the short view.

Frank_Drebin: Would you have believed someone if they told you in 1992 that GM would be bankrupt before the Pirates had another winning season?

Dejan Kovacevic: Not sure if I would have linked the two, but I -- and probably many others -- knew on that fateful night of Game 7 that Major League Baseball's economic structure was going to make things challenging for the Pirates to reach that height again. No one could have foreseen, however, all the mis-management that accompanied that challenge.

RC: What's wrong with spending less on the amateur draft to spend more on the international market?

Dejan Kovacevic: Nothing at all, but the Pirates are adamant they would not have to do that to sign an elite talent such as Miguel Angel Sano. One would think this would be a good year to take your line of thinking into action, given that so many concur it will be a lousy draft.

Wieters4President: Follow up: do you think that the amount of money they get through revenue sharing, TV/Internet deals and merchandising is so high that attendance is of secondary or tertiary importance? I worry that the current economic model in baseball is such that a team like the Pirates can be very profitable without being good or even competitive.

Dejan Kovacevic: That is one of the great loopholes in baseball's system, one of the many reasons it does not work very well.

mtw: If Neil Walker wasn't a local product, would he be considered a bust?

Dejan Kovacevic: Probably not given his still-young age, but he certainly would not be discussed nearly as much as he is.

cy: Dejan, you Rock: Any word on Patel or Singh's progress?

Dejan Kovacevic: Thanks, dude. See top Q.

Percy_Fever: I think Spanky Lavalliere got the tag in there after a horrible throw from Bonds. Do you think Sid Bream was out?

Dejan Kovacevic: He was safe. I thought there still was a chance, even once LaValliere had to go to his right for that auspicious throw from left field, but, no, he was safe.

Frank_Drebin: Zach Duke should never be mentioned in the same sentence as Johan Santana.

Dejan Kovacevic: Well, how about if they are pitching against each other? And each has had a very good opening two months? That was the sole context. I am sure all baseball people know where Santana ranks in relation to all of his peers, not just Duke.

Percy_Fever: Just wanted to add that the benching of Freddy Sanchez in the final game of a rubber match while on a 8 for 9 tear was simply awful. I know it's early, but if this team loses 90+ games, is JR in trouble?

Dejan Kovacevic: Bob Nutting told me at Seven Springs back in January -- and I printed it the next day -- that he wanted to see improvement. I asked if that meant wins and losses or some nebulous definition of the term, and he replied it meant wins.

OPSD: Any thoughts on Yoslan Herrera? He seems to be pitching well this year.

Dejan Kovacevic: Two levels lower than last year, down in Altoona. Not a good sign.

Alex: Any chance of us seeing the McLouth-Andy-Freddy top 3 more often with Nyjer batting 8/9 or somewhere else? Nate hits better as a leadoff (and would be on other teams) Andy has high average/ little power, and Freddy has been the teams best hitter this season.

Dejan Kovacevic: The Pirates might be foolish to abandon the Morgan-at-leadoff concept until they are certain it will not work. So far, obviously, he has done well despite a recent cooling. But yes, the point about the OBP guys at the top (Sanchez politely included despite his lack of walks) certainly has merit. And, if LaRoche is going to hit mostly singles, might as well make them count.

Ian_Oquendo: I felt last year that Neil Walker was rushed to triple-A and should have been sent back to Altoona. Has there been any talk of giving him another season at a lower level to rediscover his stroke and his confidence?

Dejan Kovacevic: That can hurt as much as it can help. No, I have heard nothing like that.

frank_in_erie: Why doesn't Nyjer move back to the spot the position in left field is meant to be played from? Is McClouth that bad of a center fielder he needs that much help?

Dejan Kovacevic: Morgan is positioned where he is because the Pirates draw up their outfield scheme -- just as they did last year with Jason Bay and Xavier Nady -- to spell out specific territories. And those are based on PNC Park's dimensions, for the most part, to maintain continuity. Thus, Nyjer knows he covers left-center to left, McLouth center to right-center, and the right fielder does not cover much at all. In the long run, if the Pirates can ever find a right fielder with a lot of pop and just a little glove, they will have a home for him in this scheme, which is a nice perk.

Sangy35: Dejan, I live in NY, and will have to watch this series on the Mets' network - they don't stop talking about how the Pirates are a small market team!!!

Dejan Kovacevic: The same people probably were part of the "Baseball Tonight" cast that, once years ago, described Philadelphia and Toronto the same way, just because those teams are losing. Not to bring this up for the millionth time, but my issue with the "small market" term is how remarkably often it is mis-applied. Montreal was most commonly described that way, even though Montreal is anything but small.

PghSportsfan66: It appears as if McClouth is swinging for the fences more this year. Do you feel that this is a result of a change in his approach at the plate or pressure to provide more power to the team when switched from 1st to 3rd in the batting order?

Dejan Kovacevic: This will be the last one today. Just realized the time. ... He might be swinging for the fences more in his mind, but McLouth's compact swing comes with enough cohesion that it is going to look pretty much the same no matter how hard he goes. Think about it: When was the last time you saw McLouth reach out over the plate -- a la Freddy Sanchez -- and just drop a single into right field. I cannot recall even one. He has his swing, and he sticks with it. ... Remember, all-draft Q&A Thursday with Chuck. ... Ball tonight.