This may indeed by the year that the Pittsburgh Pirates climb out of the NL Central cellar. The Pirates have an intriguing core of young players who will all get significant playing time in 2010. Doumit, Andrew McCutchen, Garrett Jones, and Lastings Milledge are all promising players - Doumit and McCutchen in particular, although Jones has impressed as well. However, this is a team that will have to absolutely mash in order to climb out of the cellar. The starting pitching staff is incredibly then, having dealt Tom Gorzellany to the Cubs in 2009. Ross Ohlendorf is arguably the best pitcher here, although Duke, Morton, and Maholm have all shown promise at various times. Dotel is a serviceable closer, although he has shown himself to be better at setting up than at closing in the past. The bullpen leading up to Dotel is questionable at best, although Donnelly and Meek were very good in relatively limited action in 2009.
If the youthful Pirates develop quickly, then this could be a relatively surprising team. They could approach 75-80 wins and send the Astros to the NL Central cellar.
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