This is my first fan post. I seldom comment, but I have been reading almost all the comments daily for some time now.

Ever year around this time I look for something in the upcoming season to really root for. A bench mark of sorts that if it happens then things could be going pretty well for the Pirates. For instance, in 2010 I told my friends that if Clement sticks at 1st then we could start to expect some good things. Imagine if Clement had become an Ike Davis. Last year it was Pedro breaking out. Could still happen. This year I started considering my hopes for the season while exploring Pirates Prospects articles on the 2013, 14', and 15' payrolls. Really good reading.

I like most dream of the Pirates developing a minor league system that is continuously providing talent to the major league club. All this recent talk about the state of the system and what it should be expected to produce has led me to this years hopes. If form all the starting pitchers that the Pirates draft each year the system was able to push one into the majors yearly a rotation of bringing a guy with 6yrs of control and trading a guy with 2yrs could run endlessly.

Erik Bedard, one year of control. Correia, one year of control. Karstens, two years of control. Morton, three years. McDonald, four years. Lincoln, five years. If Rudy Owens pushes his way onto the major league squad early, the guys at top end of the rotation become the depth that we all have been begging for. Imagine Bedard being trade bate before he breaks down. Correia pushed into a bull pen that is suddenly much deeper then it already is. A rotation of Karstens, Morton, McDonald, Lincoln, and Owens. Karstens and Correia become trade bate at the deadline when Locke is brought up.

The success of Owens and Locke is my wish for the upcoming season. They could be the last chance for the Pirates to add LH starting pitchers from within for a while. Let the infusion begin, Karstens, Morton, McDonald, Lincoln, Owens clock starts in 12', Locke in 13', Cole in 14', Taillon in 15', Holmes, Heredia. I know I'm projecting pretty far out, but that was the beauty of the PP articles. It shows us the road map for future Pirates teams and the potential of filling holes internally.

I'm interested in your feed back and what you may think are some keys to the upcoming season in respect to the long term outlook of the club. Thanks.