I thought it would be cool to see Wins Above Replacement (WAR) numbers for some of the Pirates’ top prospects. So I started doing some calculating. Without further ado, here is estimated 2009 WAR for seven of the Pirates’ top position player prospects.

Looking at two more catchers today -- both veterans:

Erik Kratz was a surprise last year in Indianapolis. �The 29-year-old was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 29th round of the 2002 draft, and spent seven seasons in their organization mostly as a back-up catcher at various levels. �He occasionally took a turn playing first base, and played third twice in 2008, and even pitched in four games along the way (5 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 4 walks, and one strikeout). �After the 2008 season, Kratz became a minor league free agent, and he chose to sign a minor league contract with the Pirates for 2009. �The plan was for Kratz to be the back-up catcher behind Robinzon Diaz in Indianapolis.

Things changed when Pirates' catcher Ryan Doumit was injured. �Diaz was called up to Pittsburgh on April 21st, and Kratz became the primary catcher in Indy. �The regular playing time showed off Kratz's skills, and it also gave him the chance to get regular at-bats. �He hit .227 with a home run in April, but went on a 6-game hitting streak (9-for-25) after Diaz left. The average increased to .288 in May, which included four 3-hit games, and rose further to .308 in June, when he had a hit in all but two games that he appeared in (18 games). � Kratz still struck out a lot, but the rate decreased over the season (26% of plate appearances in April, but down to 18% in May, 20% in June, and 14% in July). �Kratz was named the starting catcher for the International League's All Star Game. �He hit the International League team's first hit, which was a double in the 3rd inning, and moments later scored the team's first run. �Then he sealed the win with a 2-run homer in the 6th inning, to give the International League the win and earn himself the game's Top Star (MVP)�honors. �Kratz returned to Indianapolis to find that Robinzon Diaz had been optioned down from Pittsburgh, but this time, Kratz was not automatically bumped back to the back-up role. �He continued to get playing time and at-bats, though he hit only .216 with 3 homers in July. �Then in August, he blasted 5 home runs and hit .329, finishing the season with a solid .273 average in 93 games, including a personal best 30 doubles, 11 homers (he also hit 11 in 2005), and personal best 43 RBI. �Behind the plate, Kratz threw out 25 of 83 runners trying to steal base (30%). � He was named the Indy Indians' Defensive Player of the Year for 2009.

The Pirates' 2010 defensive unit will be average at best. What would it take to repair the defense, and how long should it take? Click to find the answer.

Tigers 8, �Pirates 5 � (box)

The Pirates found their bats again today, but still could not overcome the Tigers in Wednesday's Grapefruit League action. �The Pirates posted 12 hits, and scored all their runs in one inning, a 5-run 4th. �Starter Zach Duke got into trouble in the 2nd inning, when he gave up back-to-back singles, then got a strikeout, then gave up two more back-to-back singles. �The fourth single brought in two runs. �A fly out was next, then another RBI single and a 2-RBI double, and the Tigers had a 5-0 lead.

The Pirates' 4th inning began with LF Lastings Milledge reaching base on a fielding error. �1B Jeff Clement continued his hot hitting with a single into right field. �3B Andy LaRoche brought in both Milledge and Clement with a triple into center field. �Zach Duke contributed an RBI double, plating LaRoche. �SS Bobby Crosby walked, and 2B Aki Iwamura singled into left to load the bases. �CF Andrew McCutchen lifted a sacrifice fly, scoring Duke from third. �After a pop out, C Ryan Doumit singled in Crosby before a ground out ended the inning. �The 5-run rally tied the score, but it didn't stay tied for long.

The Tigers led off the bottom of the 4th with a solo home run, followed by a single and a walk. �A double play erased the walk, but left a runner on third base. �Johnny Damon singled to bring in that run, and an RBI double by Magglio Ordonez scored Damon. �Another single had Ordonez heading for the plate, but an excellent throw in from Milledge in left field to Doumit at home was in time to tag out Ordonez as he tried to score.

Duke took the loss, as he allowed 8 runs on 9 hits over 3.2 innings. �Corey Hamman finished up the 4th inning for Duke, though he allowed 2 hits. �Brendan Donnelly and Jack Taschner each pitched a scoreless inning, and Jeff Sues pitched 2 scoreless innings.

Also in the game: �3B Jose De Los Santos, LF Austin McClune, RF Steve Pearce, and CF John Raynor.

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The Indianapolis Indians were scheduled to play a AAA game against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in Bradenton this afternoon -- no word about the results.

You are relaxing in a Pittsburgh bar, enjoying happy hour with a few acquaintances. One of the televisions is tuned to FSN, and Andrew McCutchen’s face flashes across the screen during a spring training interview. One of your buddies quickly announces that “he will be wearing pinstripes within two years.” Don't know the proper response? We have you covered.

A pair of pitchers, one a prospect and one a returning veteran:

Jeff Karstens is a 27-year-old righty, who was drafted by the Yankees in the 19th round of the 2003 draft. �He began his pro career at the A+ level in 2004, and rose quickly, reaching the major leagues on August 22, 2006. �He made 6 starts and 8 relief appearances for the Yankees that season, earning a 2-1 record and a 3.80 ERA. �Karstens broke his leg and missed most of the 2007 season. �When he returned, he began the season at the Yankees' AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre affiliate. �He made 12 starts at AAA, with a 6-4 record and a 3.80 ERA, before being traded to the Pirates in the big trade that also brought Ross Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen, and Jose Tabata to Pittsburgh. �Since Karstens had been doing well at AAA, the Pirates assigned him to the major league club, where he jumped right into the starting rotation. �His first two starts were excellent -- 6 shutout innings, then 7 no-hit innings -- but he struggled over the rest of the season. �He made a total of�9 starts and earned a 2-6 record and a 4.03 record. �After having thrown 68.2 innings in the Yankees' organization, Karstens pitched another 51.1 innings over the rest of the season for the Pirates. �He gave up 32 runs (23 earned) and 56 hits. �He did not walk a lot (13) and struck out 23.

Karstens returned to the Pirates' starting rotation to begin 2009. �He made 11 starts, which generally did not go well. �In June, when Charlie Morton joined the team, Karstens was moved to the bullpen, where he usually pitched in long relief. �He made 23 relief appearances, but continued to struggle with his command. �In mid-August, back problems put Karstens onto the Disabled List. �He made three relief appearances in Indianapolis on a rehab assignment, pitching 6 scoreless innings, with 4 hits and 7 strikeouts (no walks).

The Pirates assigned Erik Kratz to minor league camp this morning, making Jason Jaramillo the Pirates’ back-up catcher.

The Pirates made a quick roster move on Wednesday morning, deciding on the back-up catching question. �Erik Kratz was reassigned to minor league camp, where he will join the Indianapolis Indians again for 2010. �Jason Jaramillo, who was the back-up to Ryan Doumit in 2009, will return to that role in 2010.

That leaves the final bullpen spot and the back-up infielder spot yet to be determined. �The Pirates also have to create two spaces on the 40-man roster to make room for relief pitchers Jack Taschner and DJ Carrasco. Management has hinted that more trades or waiver acquisitions could be coming.... stay tuned.

Looking at another prospect and another veteran, who will be playing in Indianapolis:

Neil Walker (photo) was the Pirates' first round draft pick in the 2004 draft, and the Pirates were excited to be able to sign a home-town kid. �Walker moved up through the organization, enduring a wrist injury that required surgery and a forced move from his original position of catcher to third base. �He reached the AAA level at the end of 2007, and struggled in his 19 games with Indianapolis, hitting just .203 with 3 doubles and no RBI. � He spent the entire 2008 season in Indianapolis, where he improved his defensive work at third base though did not do all that well at the plate. �He hit .242 with 25 doubles, 7 triples, 16 home runs, and 80 RBI. �Walker returned to the Pirates for 2009. �He began the season with a 5-game hitting streak, going 8-for-23. �Then he had only one hit over the next week, and not much over the rest of the month, finishing April with a .205 average, plus 3 home runs and 12 RBI. �He warmed up some in May, including three 3-hit games in the first 9 days of the month. �Walker had another 5-game hit streak at the end of the month, and ended May with a .264 average, 4 homers, and 18 RBI. �On June 2nd, on a play at first base, Walker made an awkward slide/fall onto the bag, which resulted in a dislocated left 5th finger and a sprain of his left knee posterior collateral ligament. �That bought Walker a 6-week trip to the Disabled List.

The Pirates moved six pitchers and one catcher to minor league camp today. �Jeff Karstens, who had been a starter for the Pirates in 2009 but was removed from the 40-man roster after the season, could be either a starter or a long reliever in Indianapolis to begin 2010. �Relievers Brian Bass, Anthony Claggett, Vinnie Chulk, Steven Jackson, and Jeremy Powell were all sent to Indianapolis. �Powell pitched for the Indians in 2009, and signed a minor league contract for 2010. �Bass and Chulk also were signed as free agents over the winter. �Also sent to Indy was another free agent, catcher Luke Carlin, who will likely play a back-up role for the Indians.

That leaves the Pirates with relievers DJ Carrasco and Jack Taschner. Neither of them are on the Pirates' 40-man roster, so two roster moves will have to be made to accommodate them. �There are a few more players and positions who remain in question. �Infielder Ramon Vasquez seems to have lost out to a group of other infielders (Aki Iwamura, Delwyn Young, Bobby Crosby, and Ronny Cedeno) and the Pirates are trying to trade him before they have to just release him. �A decision has to be made between the two prospective back-up catchers Erik Kratz and Jason Jaramillo. The Pirates have to determine whether or not they will keep Rule 5 outfielder John Raynor. �Steve Pearce might also be optioned back to the Indians, since he has an option left and is being squeezed out by Jeff Clement at first and a host of outfielders. �Then, the Pirates just picked up reliever Hayden Penn yesterday and have promised to give him a good look before making a decision.

In today's Grapefruit League action: � �Twins 4, �Pirates 1 �(box)

Apparently the Pirates used up all of their extra bat-power in yesterday's 15-hit attack. �Today at Fort Myers, they managed only 4 hits and one run in the loss to the Twins. �A host of minor leaguers got a chance to have some fun with the big leaguers today, but they were no match for Twins' starter Francisco Liriano, who allowed just 3 hits and 3 walks in 6 scoreless innings. �In fact, the Pirates didn't have a hit until the 5th inning, when LF Robbie Grossman singled. �SS Bobby Crosby and C Jason Jaramillo also singled. �The Pirates' only run came in the 9th inning, when 2B Shelby Ford tripled, then scored on C Erik Kratz's RBI ground out.

The Pirates reassigned catcher Luke Carlin and pitchers Brian Bass, Vinnie Chulk, Anthony Claggett, Steven Jackson, Jeff Karstens and Jeremy Powell to minor league...

Not really a "prospect", but a veteran who had a very good year in 2009:

Jean Machi is a Venezuelan native who was first signed by the Phillies in 2000. �He came to the US for the 2002 season, and spent two seasons in the Phillies' organization here, then one more season (2004) back in the Venezuelan Summer League. �He was selected by Tampa Bay in the Rule 5 draft, and spent two seasons in their organization, then moved on to Toronto, who signed him as a free agent. �In 2006 with Tampa Bay's AA level team, he earned a 6-1 record, 16 saves, and a 2.55 ERA in 48 relief appearances. �The following season for the Blue Jays' AA affiliate, Machi made another 48 appearances and earned a 2-4 record, just 2 saves, and a 3.53 ERA. �Machi missed the early part of 2008 due to injuries, and he had a tougher time when he got back onto the mound -- a 4.65 ERA and a 2-6 record in 21 appearances. �That lead him to the Pirates and a minor league contract for the 2009 season. �The right-hander was sent to AA Altoona in the middle of the April, and in 28 relief appearances, he earned a 2-3 record with 6 saves and a 2.08 ERA. �He pitched 34.2 innings, and allowed 8 earned runs on 28 hits and 13 walks, with 25 strikeouts. �That was a significant drop in his walk rate -- 3.4 BB/9 innings, compared to 5.2 BB/ 9 innings in 2008. �His ERA was just 0.84 in 10.2 innings in April, up to 3.11 ERA in 8.2 innings in May, and 2.77 ERA in 13 innings in July.