While their parent club finishes up another lost season, two of the Pirates' top prospects now own gold medals.

Andy LaRoche almost certainly will begin the 2010 season as the Pirates' starting third baseman.

I know what you're going to say: "How can you possibly still believe in this organization?" The signs are everywhere - literally - that the long-suffering Pirates fans have had enough of losing.

He also is perhaps the best qualified to judge the difference in the system then and now.

The Pirates will open their first phase of the organization's annual instructional league in Bradenton, Fla., on Tuesday, as the first group is required to report by the end of the day.

Here are 17 reasons to believe the Pirates' 17-year losing streak will end as early as 2010, as well as 17 reasons to believe it will extend into eternity ... Why it will end * Management has a plan.

I've been doing these in order from the bottom to the top, but since Lynchburg is still in the playoffs, I'll skip them in return to them later.

Courtesy of Baseball America's website , there is a feature story on former Yankee prospect Jose Tabata.

" Ross Ohlendorf has had a breakthrough season for the Pittsburgh Pirates, going 11-9 with a 3.97 E.R.A. for a last-place team.

The Indianapolis Indians have announced their end-of-season awards: MVP: A Daniel McCutchen Daniel McCutchen is tied for the International League lead with 13 wins this season A He was called up to Pittsburgh at the beginning of this week, finishing his Indians' season with a 13-6 record and a 3.47 ERA.

Friday 04 Sep 2009 Louisville Bats Double Up Indianapolis Indians 4-2 - IL Friday, September 4, 2009 at 10:08AM INDIANAPOLIS -- After seven scoreless innings the Louisville Bats plated four runs in the top of the eighth, including a two-run pinch-hit double by outfielder Daniel Dorn, to comeback and defeat the Indianapolis Indians 4-2 at Victory ...

Monday 31 Aug 2009 Indianapolis Indians Double Up Toledo Mud Hens 6-3 - IL Monday, August 31, 2009 at 09:30AM TOLEDO, Ohio -- Starting pitcher Ty Taubenheim struck out six and allowed just one run in five frames, while the Tribe offense plated four scores in the very first inning to help the Indianapolis Indians take down the Toledo Mud Hens 6-3 on ...

Will we see Daniel McCutchen in Pittsburgh this year? His numbers at Triple-A Indianapolis would seem to make him a candidate for a September callup.