I remember one spring going up to the GM of the Baltimore Orioles Jim Beattie and talking to him about his time in Montreal. I asked him if he likes it better with a higher payroll in Baltimore. He responded by saying that it didn’t matter to him because he liked his time in Montreal as only 30 of those jobs exist in the World. So, with that in mind don’t feel too sorry for John Russell. Sure, he’s often going into a gun fight with a plastic knife but he gets compensated pretty well for all of the losses the Pirates pile up. He was 67-95 (41.4%) in his rookie season with the Pirates finishing in 6th place. It will be like Groundhog Day in Pittsburgh in 2009 as things don’t look that much better than 2008….if at all.

The Pirates will likely go with 25-year old lefty swinging Brandon Moss in RF this season. He was part of the Jason Bay trade coming over from the Red Sox. Moss played in 79 games with the Pirates and Red Sox last season in which he was 58 for 236 (.246 avg, .740 OPS) with 19 runs scored, 8 homers and 34 RBIs. Moss also showed good range in 32 games in RF last season and he didn’t make any errors. He will get every opportunity this season to prove he can handle the job.

25-year old righty swinging Steven Pearce is a home grown Pirate. He played in 37 games for them last season and he was 27 for 109 (.248 avg, .716 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 4 homers, 15 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Pearce has below average range in RF and he made 2 errors in 29 games there last season. He won’t get much of a chance unless Moss fails.

Veterans Craig Monroe and Eric Hinske also can play some RF. Hinske played in 49 games in RF last season for the Rays and he made 1 error while showing good range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: D

27-year old lefty swinging Nate McLouth got his first chance to start full time in 2008 with the Pirates and he was an All-Star. McLouth played in 152 games for the Pirates last season and he was 165 for 597 (.276 avg, .853 OPS) with 113 runs scored, 26 homers, 94 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. McLouth was also outstanding defensively as he only made 1 error in CF in 149 games there in 2008 while showing good range. McLouth should have another good season for the Pirates in 2009.

28-year old lefty swinging Jeff Salazar will likely back up McLouth in 2009. He played in 90 games for the D-Backs last year and he was 27 for 128 (.211 avg, .675 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 2 homers and 12 RBIs. Salazar only played in 4 games for the D-Backs in CF last season and he didn’t make any errors but showed poor range.

22-year old righty swinging Andrew McCutchen is the #2 rated prospect on the Pittsburgh Pirates according to Baseball America. He could eventually push Nate McLouth to LF but he will start this season in AAA-ball. McCutchen played in 135 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 145 for 512 (.283 avg, .770 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 9 homers, 50 RBIs and 34 stolen bases.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: A-

28-year old lefty swinging speedster Nyjer Morgan will be the starting LF when the season starts. He played in 58 games for the Pirates in 2008 in which he was 47 for 160 (.294 avg, .720 OPS) with 26 runs scored, 7 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. Morgan also played in 82 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 96 for 322 (.298 avg, .722 OPS) with 54 runs scored, 1 homer, 33 RBIs and 44 stolen bases. Morgan only made 1 error in 23 games in LF last season while showing good range there.

If Morgan falters at all in 2008 the Pirates might turn to 32-year old righty swinging Craig Monroe who had a huge spring training for the Pirates cranking 8 homers. Monroe played in 58 games for the Twins last year and he was 33 for 163 (.202 avg, .679 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 8 homers and 29 RBIs. Monroe has now played in 780 games in his major league career and he has a .253 batting average with a .745 OPS so the expectation is that he will rebound from last season in 2009. He only played in 1 game in LF for the Twins last season.

31-year old lefty swinging Eric Hinske was signed over the winter and he can also handle LF. He played in 133 games for the Rays last season and he was 94 for 381 (.247 avg, .798 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 20 homers, 60 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Hinske only made 1 error in 40 games in LF last season but he has phone booth range.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON: C-

The Pirates have designated 24-year old righty reliever Romulo Sanchez for assignment. Sanchez pitched in 10 games (0 starts)for the Pirates last season in which he was 0-0 with 1 save, a 4.05 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He also pitched in 33 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last season in which he was 5-1 with 4 saves, a 3.46 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Sanchez will likely stay with the Pirates if he can clear waivers.