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Q: So, is Jose Hernandez the left-handed power hitter or the veteran right-handed starting pitcher? Or are Dave Littlefield and Jim Tracy planning on using him in both of those roles?

Judd Fuoto of Oakton, Va.

KOVACEVIC: Mean.

Q: Hi, Dejan. Now that the Pirates brought Jose Hernandez back, any chance they'll re-sign Derek Bell or maybe Jeremy Burnitz? There is no utility infielder in all of the Pirates' minor-league system that they couldn't bring up to strike out 60 percent of the time for a lot less money?

Dave Willison of Elizabethtown, Pa.

KOVACEVIC: Meaner.

Q: Hi, I just read that Jose Hernandez has been signed to come back ... AGAIN! I guess in a day or so we will ask Randa and Burnitz to come back also! I cannot believe that there is not a younger option out there who could be signed to fill the utility infielder role!

I am a long-time season-ticket holder who is really getting tired of this!

Are the Pirates signing Hernandez because he is a good influence to have in the clubhouse for the younger guys? And, if so, wouldn't it make more sense to hire the guy as a coach?

Belinda Hall of Brookline, Pittsburgh

KOVACEVIC: Speaking only for myself, I cringe anytime the Pirates acquire Hernandez because the mail starts jamming the inbox at a pace befitting a poor outing from Ryan Vogelsong. And it comes in with all kinds of capital letters and exclamation points and, of course, those ultra-annoying multiple question marks.

Anyway, no, the Pirates did not have an internal option for a backup infielder. They do have two prospects they really like in Brian Bixler and Brent Lillibridge, but neither has cleared the Class AAA hurdle yet and, besides, their development would not exactly be well served by sitting on the bench in Pittsburgh. A year ago, Yurendell DeCaster might have been an option -- and was for a brief spell, actually -- but he is out of the picture after a blah year. And there are no J.J. Furmaniaks down there, either.

Why Hernandez?

The answer to that should be clear at this point, given his history with Jim Tracy and how strongly Tracy feels about the value of his versatility -- he plays every position except catcher -- and professionalism. He has made no secret of that.

Hernandez's performance last season obviously was nothing special, particularly his first couple of months when he could barely make contact. But that improved as the season went along, to the extent Philadelphia thought enough of him to buy his rights to help for a playoff push.

In an assessment that would make my colleague Gene Collier proud, he is what he is.

Look, I get it: I understand why something like this is not popular. But I find myself never thinking that the 25th man on a losing team is all that pivotal, and I always find that the fury over such topics -- whether Hernandez or Vogelsong or whoever -- is blown immensely out of proportion. The Pirates' issues -- and they are many and great -- have much more to do with how the first 24 guys on the roster shape up than how Hernandez plays in one start a week.

Until tomorrow ...