I have been making lineups for the Pirates since I was studying in London in the fall of 2001. I would sit in class and think fondly and say to myself this is the year. I really think we are going to turn it around and make the playoffs. Here is the lineup I wrote on my notebook:  

SS Jack Wilson

1B Kevin Young/Craig Wilson

3B Aramis Ramirez

2B Abraham Nunez

LF Brian Giles

RF Armando Rios

CF Adrian Brown/Chad Hermanson/Tony Alvarez/Tike Redmond.

C Jason Kendall 

Rotation

Bronson Arroyo

Josh Fogg

Kris Benson

Kip Wells

Jimmy Anderson 

Bullpen

Joe Beimel

Brian Boehringer

Mike Fetters

Mike Lincoln

Josias Manzanillo

Duaner Sanchez

Scott Sauerbeck

Salomon Torres

Mike Williams 

Now here it is 2008 and I am still writing lineups saying next year will be the year. Here is the lineup I at the beginning of the season.

To be honest I thought this year was the best shot to put something together and then the pitchers just tanked excluding Paul Maholm. Now that we are truly rebuilding which is something that Dave Littlefield would never do, we have two or three years until maturity kicks in and the for the Pirates to make the have a legit shot at making the playoffs. The Bucs will have the youngest team in baseball after Jack Wilson gets traded.  I truly hope that the Pirates prove me wrong because everyone in the PBC Nation would love to see a winner but for now I even cannot say maybe next year will be the year.