piratesfan: Call me crazy, but I'm disappointed that the record is 38-43 at the half-way point of the season. They raised my expectations so much in May and the first part of June by being only 1 game under .500 so many times that now I'm looking for more wins and moving up in the standings. What are the team expectations for the second-half of the season? They're not satisfied with being 5 under .500, are they?

Dejan Kovacevic: First, hello, chat people. ... I get the sense that the Pirates not only are disappointed by their record but also frustrated. Really frustrated, in some cases. What few forecast was that this team would hit the way it has. That gives a sense of emboldenment, of confidence to a good portion of the team. And, when another facet of the team goes all wrong -- the starting pitching, obviously -- there is a feeling that much more could have been achieved.

Sean: Hi Dejan: I saw in the minor league report that Lynchburg's Jim Negrych is now playing 2B. This would seem to be a logical move since he does not have the power numbers of a traditional 3b. Was this move made with a thought to his future major league position and because of a glut (Walker, Alvarez) third basemen ahead of him? Hard to ignore a .360 BA and 40+ doubles guy.

Dejan Kovacevic: Negrych was moved to third base to open this season, which seemed striking given that he is a pretty small baseball player and does not profile over there in that regard. I saw that he was at second last night, too, but do not yet know if that was just a fill-in or a more permanent move.

dcat: Is there anyone better than Jack Wilson advancing on short wild pitches or scoring from third as he did Sunday?

Dejan Kovacevic: The shortstop had an excellent game Sunday, all the way around. I wrote it in that Sunday halfway-point article, but it bears repeating: Never has he looked more valuable than he does in 2008.

ajt123: Hi, better in his prime, J.Bay or B.Giles?

Dejan Kovacevic: Giles was an absolute terror at the plate in his prime, a 40-home-run guy, and he was very good defensively. He gets my nod.

wewill1992: Did the Pirates send Taubenheim down just so they could get another arm to the bullpen?

Dejan Kovacevic: That is correct. Taubenheim would have sat idle on the roster for four days, assuming he would not take the next start Wednesday on three days' rest ... which he will not.

dcat: Do the Bucs hope Chris Duffy is heallty because they envision him in their OF someday or because they hope they can trade him for a prospect or two?

Dejan Kovacevic: Duffy would appear to be a trade candidate, certainly in terms of his greatest value because someone else might see him as a starter.

dcat: The three AAA callup pitchers did a nice job Saturday night. Does C Ryan Doumit deserve some credit for that and doesn't that show that he is improving as a catcher?

Dejan Kovacevic: Pitching tends to be up to the pitcher, at least the overwhelming share of it. Doumit was the same catcher the night Jimmy Barthmaier threw, too. ... But yes, in most defensive areas, Doumit is getting better, according to the staff.

wewill1992: Why is Nate McLouth still all over the place in the Pirates lineup? It is a no-brainer that he should be hitting leadoff.

Dejan Kovacevic: If you believe that the highest on-base percentage guys, as well as those with good baserunning skills, should be atop the order, then your point is a good one.

wewill1992: When you look at Gorzo's start, do you look at the two solo homeruns he gave up or the 111 pitches during 6 solid innings?

Dejan Kovacevic: Neither, really. I look at all the swings and misses, just as I did in that game against the White Sox. Gorzelanny needed to get back to the point where he was confident and, even though he is not a strikeout guy, this probably was a pretty good step toward addressing that. From those Ks will come more aggressiveness, fewer walks and, ultimately, better overall game management. ... Maybe.

fifteen_years_and_counting: I read Bob Smizik's column about the Tampa Bay Rays being a model for the Pirates. But the comparison with Tampa Bay ends at market size. Fifteen years of losing and the Pirates minor leagues cupboard is bare. Tampa Bay is loaded. And the Pirates are hurt by trades Littlefield didn't make. Doesn't Jack Wilson for Jair Jurgens look like an oppurtunity lost? And how about Jason Bay for Cliff Lee? Tampa Bay didn't make such mistakes and Coonely and Huntington would need another fifteen years to replicate the Tampa blueprint and Buc fans don't have that much patience!

Dejan Kovacevic: If you want to discuss something Bob wrote, you will have to take it up with him.

cInteresting that McLouth's sliding batting average is roughly equal to his May stats. His April was terrific, his June not so. In 21 games beginning June 6, 17 for 85, .200 AVG, 2 HR's, 9 RBI's, 11R's. Which of the three months is the real McLouth or somewhere in between 2? Any concerns?

Dejan Kovacevic: Baseball has a vicious way of bringing numbers back to where they belong. Stood to reason that McLouth was not going to hit .380 with 70 home runs, so a fall of some kind was to be expected. The real key is how well -- and how quickly -- he gets out of it. His slumps have been very short to this point.

PhillyMarty: From the current starting 8, who do you project will be gone or merely in a bench role in 2009, and will we have to wait until September for both McCutcheon and Pearce to be recalled? As Pearce's average gradually goes up, is there any re-newed optimism that he can be a significant contributor to the PBC?

Dejan Kovacevic: I do not get the sense from management that any of the three main prospects will be promoted before September, and the only one of them who sounds fairly certain to make it is McCutchen. But there are roster and major league service time issues there, too.

wewill1992: How much of the Pirates success can be credited to hitting coach Don Long?

Dejan Kovacevic: For all the pummeling Jeff Manto and Gerald Perry took before him, it is a little surprising to me that I do not hear from more readers in praise of Long's work. Forget the team ranking fifth in the majors in runs, eighth in home runs. Much of that can be attributed to the good decision to lock McLouth and Doumit into everyday roles, and much else can be attributed to Bay and Nady being fairly healthy. The thing that stands out is the approaches they are taking, with few exceptions. Patient, poised, varying when needed ... those are traits we have not seen in Pittsburgh in years.

dcat: Is Justin Wilson considered a true prospect? Do you think the Bucs will sign him? He was awesome in the CWS Final vs. Georgia.

Dejan Kovacevic: The Pirates see him as a legit prospect, and they do plan to make a serious bid to sign him. As for one game, I did not see it because I was covering a game here at the time, but that seldom counts for much unless you see a guy throwing 102 mph or something else that never goes into a slump.

YeOldeBuccoFan: Our front office is trying to follow the Indians' model, but now they are worse than us. Oops.

Dejan Kovacevic: The Pirates' front office has never said they are trying to follow the Cleveland model. Not once. Our search engine is free and goes back indefinitely. You can look it up. ... What they have said is that they want to take in all kinds of ideas from teams that have succeeded, even the high-payroll teams, and apply them to their own model.

Sack_Lodge DK, does mgmt. view Jamie Romak as a legit prospect? Nice average and power numbers in "A" ball. Are the 64 k's in 50 games stoppping a promotion to Altoona?

Dejan Kovacevic: The strikeouts are a problem. The lack of walks, too. Lots of home runs means little at that level, unless accompanied by some patience. EDIT: Check that. Romak's walks are fine. Got him momentarily confused with Brad Corley. But the strikeouts definitely are a problem.

Bucco_Pete: Andrew McCutchen has been horrible this month. Are the Pirates concerned, or this is simply just a prolonged slump?

Dejan Kovacevic: "Horrible" is a little strong. His average dropped about 20 points and still is in the .280 range. No, they are not concerned. In fact, they seem more encouraged about him now than they did in the spring, and they really liked him then.

Bowser: Hi Dejan, Do the Pirates feel it is more important for Brad Lincoln to get his work in than worry about the competition level this year?

Dejan Kovacevic: Yes, much more important on the work count. And his last two starts -- not bad, but not great -- would seem to indicate that will be the best course, staying in Hickory, getting in his innings and throwing strikes. With someone of his talent and makeup, the rest of the timetable will take care of itself.

Sean: Hi Dejan: Have to believe that Wilson is one of the few untouchables come trade deadline time. No one in the organization even close to being able to fill those shoes. True?

Dejan Kovacevic: That term "untouchables" gets used by the general public a lot more than it does by management types, with the Pirates or any team. Truth is, there are very, very few players at any level of the game who get such a label, because there really is no point assigning it. What is the harm in listening?

TunaTim: Is Bullington a candidate for release soon? I cant imagine he is worth a 40 man roster spot?

Dejan Kovacevic: The Pirates have to take someone off the 40-man this week to reinstate Chris Duffy from the 60-day DL. I have not heard any names that might go, but Bullington probably would be on the short list. Luis Munoz took a backward step from Class AAA to AA a month ago, and that probably will not help his cause.

Power_OF: If we had a chance to acquire a top line front starter, but had to give up prospects like Pierce of McCutchen, any chance that could happen?

Dejan Kovacevic: Depends on the starter, one would think. The Pirates' greatest wish -- and need -- is for an elite starting pitcher or two ... or five.

Power_OF: Dejan - Any chance we're looking to deal Paulino? It seems a power hitting catcher should bring in some kind of pitching in return.

Dejan Kovacevic: If there was a market for Paulino, he never would have made it to Indianapolis.

butthead: I am not sure if it is a difference in philosphies or just raw talent, but I think a team like Tampa Bay has shown that there is an increasing need for speed at the top of your line up. Are the Pirates lacking the personel to steal bases, or are they non-subscribers to the method in general. It certainly has seemed this way for years. This year seems to be the exception and not the rule with run production, but I would still like to see them run more. Thoughts?

Dejan Kovacevic: Stealing bases, the numbers will show, is not even remotely as significant as reaching them. The Pirates need to build their system on the latter and hope for the former.

BeatUpBuccos Now that the complete lack of pitching in the organization has been exposed, do you believe the PBC to wait on trades that will yield some young arms?

Dejan Kovacevic: The Pirates want pitching, and they want it at all levels. What has happened at the major league level surely has heightened that.

Bucco_Pete: What are your impressions of the Rays, Dejan? Good as advertised?

Dejan Kovacevic: They do not look as if they will scare anyone with that lineup, certainly not from a power standpoint. But their pitching is very good, their defense can be outrageous, and they do just enough hitting to make that speed count offensively, too. ... They are neat. But I wonder if they need another piece or two to last 162 games.

RamboMikeDiaz: Dejan: Did the previous Pirates regime make a mistake swithcing Walker to 3b? Seems his bat is nothing special for a corner infield position.

Dejan Kovacevic: A .220 bat would not excite anyone at any position other than pitcher. And, if anything, Walker was given a boost offensively by moving to third because of the great wear and tear that catching can take on an athlete.

jefft: Dejan--what do you think the odds are that the 2009 outfield looks like, left to right--McLouth, McCutchen, Bay?

Dejan Kovacevic: Sounds right.

SandlotWizard: Jose Bautista seems to have leveled out some after a rough start. Has he improved his stock in JRs and Huntington's view of him? Has he gotten a 'Ronny Paulino' label at all for his occasionally lacksadaisical play?

Dejan Kovacevic: I missed the part where Bautista was lackadaisical in any walk of life. This is one seriously intense individual with an impeccable work ethic, as anyone will attest.

Pop_Schnei: I was dissapointed to read about the negotiations with Scheppers...Shouldn't we be making a strong push regardless of the torn labrum, knowing that it can be surgically repaired?

Dejan Kovacevic: What would have disappointed you? Not following you there. There really have not been serious talks because the Pirates want to be as sure as possible that Scheppers does not have major, irreparable damage to the shoulder, and they have until Aug. 15 to do so. Why the rush?

MAdesso: Who gets your nod to start on wednesday, Dejan?

Dejan Kovacevic: John Van Benschoten. He has done his usual good things in Class AAA, but I also have heard that he has worked very hard on a changeup that has helped him in his last two outings. ... As always in his case, if he throws strikes, he is fine.

DK_for_President: I'm starting to doubt Neil Walker's status as a top prospect. He may be in the Pirates Organization, but I can't believe he's a top 100 guy as I've seen him listed. What's the deal with his .232 BA?

Dejan Kovacevic: I have written it before, but Walker has yet to have that one big year that validates his status as an elite prospect. Scouts love him. Managers and coaches, too. But performance has to come into play at some point.

MAdesso: Will Freddy ever get his swing back? Is it insane to place him on the trade block?

Dejan Kovacevic: Sanchez looks like he is about to come out of it at some points, then regresses quickly. That might be more maddening -- to him and the Pirates -- than any other aspect of his season. Trade him? Not something I have heard.

OCD: The Bucs are among the best at runs, mediocre at hits, the worst at stolen bases, and among the best at avoiding double plays. Is this a function of great base management or completely unrelated stats?

Dejan Kovacevic: There would seem to be little relation between worst in steals and best at avoiding GIDPs, but perhaps the common thread there is that the Pirates are among the best in the majors with runners in scoring position, so they keep the bases cleaner than most.

Power_OF: So if we get hot during a fairly soft July schedule and get within 5 games of the wild card, are we buyers or sellers on July 31?

Dejan Kovacevic: I get the feeling that the antennae would be up in both directions. ... We can take one more ...

DK_for_President: I heard great things about the 6th round pick, Robbie Grossman. Have you heard much about him signing or should we expect him to go unsigned? It seems like a waste of a rather high pick if he goes unsigned.

Dejan Kovacevic: Sounds to me as if it will be up to Grossman, whether or not to accept the offer on the table. ... All right, that was too short. One more ...

The_Bucs_are_Stuck: Haven't we talked about all this for the past 10 years or so except with different trade bait in uniform for the Bucs? This won't end until the spin is stopped...Huntington won't change the culture without the payroll being increased to above #28 in MLB. Nutting must go.

Dejan Kovacevic: There will be a lot of this type of sentiment when these deals are made, and it will not be easy for the Pirates to convince a good segment of the public that they are doing anything other than dumping salary. No question about that. ... But there are models out there for how to build an entire organization, and none of them involve taking a sub-.500 major league product that has zero farm system and sprinkling on top a few expensive free agents. Fact is, that probably would not even work in New York or Boston. ... Paul Meyer is covering the club in Cincinnati and Milwaukee, and the Q&A returns tomorrow ...