I’ve used this list of ten questions on a couple of occasions this spring; let’s check in one last time to see if we learned anything about the Bucs. To make a long story short, I’ve excerpted my previous comments: You can find the original list here and the first update here.
1. Can Adam LaRoche hit left-handed pitching?

• February 27th: Like it or not, a manager bound for Cooperstown thought it best to sit Adam down against southpaws for the majority of 2006. The Pirates acquired Lefty McThump to be their everyday first baseman; if he struggles, though, it might behoove Jim Tracy to start Bautista in right and shift Nady to first against lefties. Ryan Doumitís another possibility at first, but his splits arenít all that favorable to a platoon.
• March 10th: What does [Brad] Eldredís mashing have to do with LaRocheís ability to hit southpaws? Itís simple: If Eldred makes the team, heíll surely start at first base against left-handed pitching. At this stage in the game, Iíd say that the deck is stacked against him, but I wouldnít count Brad out just yet.

He did it. I don’t know how, but he did it. Big Country made the team, and made this point moot. You would imagine that Eldred would have every opportunity to start at first against southpaws in April. Whether or not he’ll produce remains to be seen.

2. How do the Pirates match up with the Reds?

• February 27th: The Bucs have five dates (including one split squad contest) scheduled against Cincinnati in Grapefruit League play. It doesnít matter to me if we go 6-0 or 0-6, the record isnít important. What I need to know is how our guys look against their guys.
• March 10th: The teams have only played two of their five dates (although they did play an additional ìBî game not previously scheduled), and for the most part, Jim Tracy has tried to keep the majority of his regulars away from the Redsí pitchers.

Not much changed. Tracy made a stink about the pre-season schedule before it was played (he didn’t like the idea of facing a division rival so often in Grapefruit League play), and he got his minor-league vets and prospects into each game as quickly as possible. For what it’s worth, the Pirates went 1-6 against the Reds. Paul Maholm threw particularly well on March 15th, turning in 4.2 scoreless innings against Cincinnati.

3. Does Yoslan Herreraís stuff show up in games?

• February 27th: I think itís great that heís making jaws drop in his bullpen sessions, I really do. But itís a different story when you face your first batter after a two-year layoff. A sharp curveball doesnít mean squat if itís hammered over the outfield wall.
• March 10th: It did at times. Unfortunately, Yo also had issues with control. It was probably the right move to send him to minor-league camp, as the Bucs have a good number of pitchers who are battling for roster spots and need to be tested. … Thereís no rush. … The stuff is there.

The Pirates later picked up another Cuban defector, Alay Soler, off waivers from the Mets. Would Littlefield have made that move if Herrera weren’t in the system? Maybe. Still, it was a complementary acquisition that should help Yoslan make the transition to the American game, and one that came with little risk. If he throws well, Herrera should get a cup of coffee come September.
4. Can Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker hit major-league pitching?

• February 27th: I’m curious to see how they look against more developed players. Theyíre both probably a year away from being able to handle full-time work in the bigs. … Brian Bixler is in the same boat.
• March 10th: Yes, yes and yes. You couldnít ask for much more out of this trio. McCutchen and Bixler are tearing the cover off the ball, and Walkerís staying above water while learning a new position. With strong 2007 seasons, all three could be battling for jobs next spring.

All three continued to make appearances even after being reassigned to minor-league camp. It’s clear that the Pirates are high on these guys; it’ll be interesting to see if in-season transactions might try to clear their paths to the bigs a bit. I wouldn’t be surprised to see McCutchen, Walker and Bixler on the 25-man roster to start next year.
5. Can Jose Bautista play an adequate shortstop?

• February 27th: Despite all of the fuss this off-season, I canít see Jose Castillo losing his starting job. Bautistaís versatility lengthens the Piratesí bench considerably, and Castilloís value as a reserve is minimal. If Bautista can add shortstop to his ever-growing list of positions, then thereís no real need for Jose Hernandez.
• March 10th: Donít know. With injuries to Castillo and Freddy, Jose has had all the playing time he can handle at third base. … There are at least a half dozen reasonable bench configurations right now in my mind.

Bautista’s your Opening Day starter at third base. Not much else to say but “wow.” The question now becomes what happens to Jose Castillo when Freddy’s ready to be activated from the disabled list. Your guess is as good as mine.
6. Does Shawn Chaconís knee still work?

• February 27th: Keeping a broken-down Chacon on the roster steals a job from Shane Youman (or Marty McLeary, or Jonah Bayliss, or Jesse Chavez, et al).
• March 10th: It does, I think. He hasnít won the fifth starterís job, but he hasnít lost it, either. I keep praying for the injury bug to bite a contenderís rotation, but it hasnít worked out quite yet. I donít know if thereís room for both Chacon and Youman (in addition to Armas) on the 25-man roster, and Shane has thrown well. Itís a situation to keep an eye on, for sure.

And it’s still something we’ll have our eyes on, even as the season starts. Chacon and “Wayback” Wasdin are holding mop-up roles in the bullpen—and hopefully not much more—at least until John Grabow’s ready to go. Josh Sharpless should be the first option up from Indianapolis.
If he’s healthy, there’s a chance that Chacon could be a serviceable long reliever. With the Pirates’ pitching depth, though, it seems wasteful to spend seven figures on a spare part. I’d imagine that Shawn is sold for less than his value (is that possible?) at the deadline, if not sooner.
7. How serious is Xavier Nadyís stomach ailment?

• February 27th: I laughed last week when I heard that Luis Matos might make the big club. If X isnít 100 percent, though, we might need another outfielder—you canít go into the season with only one entrenched starter and no bench options.
• March 10th: Thankfully not so serious at all. X has been in the lineup twice without issue, and it looks as if heíll be good to go when camp breaks. Obviously heíll need a bit of time to regain some strength, but thereís no reason to worry.

Not much has changed since Nady’s return, but you can probably worry a little. He went through Grapefruit League play without hitting a home run. Hopefully Xavier’s gastro problems won’t effect his core the way that Jack Wilson’s appendicitis did in 2005, and that he’ll be able to be a solid contributor in the middle of the order.
8. Are Burnett, Bullington and Van Benschoten close to major-league ready?

• February 27th: Young pitchers break (as evidenced by this ill-fated group). To think that Duke, Snell, Gorzelanny and Maholm will make it through 2007 unscathed is to ignore the cold hard truth. At some point, at least one of these three (and/or Herrera) will be called on to make a handful of starts. Hopefully someone will distinguish himself from the pack (my guess is Burnett) and give Littlefield a reason not to promote Masumi Kuwata and the public relations circus act.
• March 10th: Bullington surprised me. He didnít get much of a shot, but he threw two solid outings before being re-assigned to minor-league camp. I hope a taste of success leaves him craving more. Burnettís getting closer, but heís not quite there yet. I thought his pitches looked sharp against the Indians on Friday, but heís not hitting locations as well as he was pre-injury. JVB is lagging behind the other two. Again, itís early.

Sean Burnett was clearly frustrated when the Pirates reassigned him to Indianapolis, but he still needs to throw more strikes. As a finesse pitcher, it’s crucial that he hits his spots. He’s probably the sixth starter at this point, and Bullington could still turn out to be a bottom of the rotation pitcher—though his window is closing.
9. Who can be counted on to pitch the late innings?

• February 27th: Iíd run down the list of bullpen candidates, but Iím trying to keep this post on one page.
• March 10th: Torres and Capps stumbled coming out of the chute but have thrown better as of late. Dan Kolb hasnít done anything wrong yet (nor has Kevin Gryboski, for that matter). The rookie watch isnít turning up much, but there are still a few weeks to change that.

John Wasdin came out of nowhere, but he’s probably headed to Indy when Grabow comes off the disabled list. According to Littlefield, Sharpless needs to find the feel for his fastball. Jonah Bayliss closed out a solid camp and is still my sleeper candidate for the closer’s job come 2008.
All things considered, the Pirates are going to use a bullpen by committee approach, or so it seems. There are a dozen pitchers on the 40-man roster that should make relief appearances in 2007, and a handful of others who could move up the depth charts with solid seasons.
10. Are lighter versions of Jack Wilson and Jose Castillo the keys to solid defensive play in the infield?

• February 27th: The offense got a little kick in the butt this off-season, but the Pirates are still a team that will rely on pitching and defense to win ballgames. If Wilson and Castillo field as they did in 2005, I wonít care if they hit .260.
• March 10th: Jack booted one of his first chances of the spring; hopefully that doesnít set the tone for the season. Jose missed a spot of time with a bum foot and hasnít seen time at second. Freddy was brilliant up the middle before the sprained MCL.

Now, the key to the infield defense becomes Jose Bautista’s consistency at third. We know he can turn in Web Gems; can he make all of the routine plays? Littlefield gushed about Jack’s flawless fielding at short on today’s telecast, and we know that Freddy will be a vacuum wherever Tracy decides to play him.
If Jose performs, the Pirates’ infield defense has the potential to be near the top of the National League. Then again, as we saw in 2006, we won’t really know what he have for a month or two.