According to a story running on the Pirates MLB.com page, second baseman Freddy Sanchez is still experiencing noticeable pain in his throwing shoulder.

Sanchez was cleared yesterday by orthopedist James Andrews, and supposedly should be ready to go opening day, but right now, things are not looking good for the two-time all-star.

So what happens at second base?

Right now, without injuries, we can assume the starting line-up will look something like this.

C Ronny Paulino
1B Adam LaRoche
2B Freddy Sanchez
SS Jack Wilson
3B Jose Bautista
LF Jason Bay
CF Nate McLouth
RF Xavier Nady

With Sanchez’s status in limbo, it’s decision time for the Pirates. Ryan Doumit is assured of one bench spot, but after that, there are still a number of ways things could shake out.

They’ve already shuffled the roster to get Luis Rivas onto the 40-man roster, and it seems very likely that Rivas has earned himself a spot on the big club.

Chris Gomez also figures to be on the bench for the Pirates, but after that things get shaky. Doug Mientkiewicz has certainly impressed folks in camp, and his exploits at various positions seem to be going pretty well. Certainly, his glove, stick, and experience make him a valuable bench-piece.

If the Pirates take all three of those infielders, that leaves them with one OF spot that at this point, would most likely go to Nyjer Morgan, since he’s the only other OF still in camp. Doumit and Bautista can both play the OF as well if asked, and even Mientkiewicz has been tried out there, though I can’t find any where that says if he’s actually played out there this spring in game action.

So that means it’s the above starting line-up, plus Doumit, Rivas, Mientkiewicz, Gomez, and Morgan.

If Sanchez isn’t ready to go, we can figure that Josh Wilson will get the call-up, and then, in my eyes at least, it’s a competition between Gomez and Rivas at 2B. I realize that Rivas has been growing on fans with his spring performance, but I’m a big advocate for trying to get Gomez’s bat in the line-up every day. I realize he isn’t as sharp defensively, but the guy’s numbers the last few years are promising. ZIPS projection system, based mostly on splits from the last three seasons, projects a .280 batting average for Gomez. He’s hit pretty well this spring, and I think he’s earned a shot at starting if Sanchez misses time, as he could be good trade bait with a good month of playing time.

The bullpen still hasn’t taken total shape either. Matt Capps is set to be the closer; with lefties Damaso Marte and John Grabow set to fill the 7th and 8th inning gaps. That leaves four spots for a number of guys still in camp who seem to be legitimate candidates.

One of those has to go to a spot starter/long reliever, and based on their spring performances, Sean Burnett and Phil Dumatrait seem to fit that bill pretty well. Dumatrait would give us another lefty arm, but man, I just can’t hear enough good things about Burnett’s relief work this spring, and a 0.90 ERA and .091 batting average are just tough to send to AAA.

Other candidates still in camp include Byung-Hyun Kim, Evan Meek, Franquelis Osoria, and Jaret Wright.

Kim needed to come into camp and prove that he as a legitimate bounce-back candidate – something that a 8 runs in 5.0 IP doesn’t exactly suggest.

Meek seems to be impressing Pirate personnel. The Rule-V pick-up was advertised as a flame-thrower who couldn’t find the strike zone, but Meek seems to have put that behind him, allowing just two walks in 7.0 inning this spring, along with seven strikeouts.

Osoria is perhaps the strongest candidate in the bunch, having thrown 28.1 fairly solid innings last season for the Pirates. He seems like the surest bet to make the club, despite some less than encouraging spring numbers.

Wright has proven to be a good signing, as he’s been productive in 8.0 spring innings, and looks like he’s healthy and strong.

So out of Burnett, Dumatrait, Kim, Meek, Osoria, and Wright, who do you keep?

My vote goes Dumatrait, Meek, Osoria, and Wright. Burnett gets first dibs when somebody on the staff hits the DL, and because he’s already been waived, we can send him down without penalty. Get him his innings at AAA, and when a spot opens up, tell him to hop on a plane and join the big club wherever they might be.

Kim is obviously the other odd man out here, which is a shame, because I do think he can still have some success in the majors as a ROOGY, but then again, it’s tough to find room in a 12 man bullpen for somebody that specialized.

Projected Opening Day Roster:

Linep-up:

CF McLouth
SS Wilson
LF Bay
1B LaRoche
RF Nady
3B Bautista
C Paulino
2B Gomez

Bench:

Doumit
Mientkiewicz
Rivas
Wilson
Morgan

Rotation:

Snell
Gorzelanny
Maholm
Morris
Duke

Bullpen:

Capps
Marte
Grabow
Dumatrait
Meek
Osoria
Wright

Thoughts??