Enemy Lines

an opposing team's scout sizes up the Pirates

"You talk about working 24/7? G.M. Dave Littlefield is going to have to work 48/14 to resurrect this club. This is an expansion team. It's awful. The best indicator is that the first two guys in the rotation are Kip Wells and Jimmy Anderson. What do they have, 20 career wins combined?...

Sean Lowe is a responsible starter, and Dave Williams is O.K., but the bullpen? Yech. Mike Williams is a decent setup guy, but on this club he's the closer....

The infield, with Kevin Young, Pokey Reese, Jack Wilson and Aramis Ramirez, is below average. If all the stars align and everybody has a career year, it can be functional....

Ramirez had a breakout year, but he has to do it again to establish himself. Reese has to get back to his decent years, Wilson doesn't hit, and Young doesn't produce as a first baseman....

Brian Giles is a first-division player, but how many pitches is he going to see? If you pitch around Ramirez and Giles, the Pirates aren't going to score any runs....

As for the rest of the outfield, Adrian Brown is a good defensive player, Armando Rios is still hurt from blowing out his knee and Derek Bell is awful. He may be done....

The surprise in their camp was Rob Mackowiak, who's a John Vander Wal-type of player....

Jason Kendall has leadership skills, and he can hit a little, but no way in hell is he a $10 million-a-year player. The load is on his shoulders, and he's not that kind of player. He also has to pick it up defensively."