PITTSBURGH -- With the calendar officially closed on the 2007 season, the Pirates open 2008 with question marks still looming.

If the Pirates stand pat for the rest of the offseason, the core of their club will look nearly identical to what it was at the conclusion of the 2007 season. It's virtually the same starting lineup and the same starting five that ended the season in the rotation.

That's where the questions come in.

Can a club that finished last season with a disappointing 68-94 mark expect many of the same pieces to come back a year later and make significant strides to ensure that the club doesn't finish with a 16th consecutive losing season?

Will a team that underachieved for much of 2007 mesh under the tutelage of a new manager and coaching staff enough to make a climb up the division standings?

Is this club one that can be actively competitive in 2008, or will it be another two, three, four years before things come together?

Ask general manager Neal Huntington, and he won't hesitate to admit that the challenges between balancing the now with the future have been trying. But, he advises, don't mistake that for suggesting that the Pirates don't have the pieces necessary to compete this season.

While most of the other clubs in the National League Central have actively upgraded particular areas of their club, the Pirates remain content in working to rebuild from within. There were no needs to make moves to cut payroll, and there was no sense of urgency to fill vacant holes.

Yes, offers for some of the team's veterans have been entertained. But while it remains to be seen whether Huntington pulls the trigger again this offseason, Huntington remains content to make the asking price high and let other teams approach him.

While the makeup offensively and within the rotation will look familiar come Opening Day, it's in the bullpen and in other complementary pieces that the Pirates have made the most changes. And how those new pieces respond could ultimately make or break the Pirates season.

The biggest unknown currently is how that bullpen is going to shake out. Losing both Shawn Chacon and Salomon Torres leaves the Pirates with a void when it comes to experienced right-handed arms.

There's the likely possibility that the Pirates will acquire a right-handed reliever before Spring Training begins. Otherwise, there is the hope that one of the pitching acquisitions -- Ty Taubenheim, Evan Meek, Phil Dumatrait or Jimmy Barthmaier -- or someone within the farm system can step up to support lefties Damaso Marte and John Grabow.

Then there is an almost completely new bench. The addition of Chris Gomez gives the Pirates a veteran presence they lacked last season, though overall, the Pirates have replaced their backup infielders with new ones carrying similar resumes.

As a result, if there is going to be an improvement from the 2007 campaign to the 2008 seasons, it's going to come through growth.

What was labeled as a young corps of starting pitchers aren't really so young anymore after getting another season of experience. Tom Gorzelanny and Ian Snell look to continue to make names for themselves around the league, while Paul Maholm and Zach Duke will work toward establishing consistency.

	Season in Preview A lot can change by Opening Day, but as 2007 becomes 2008, this is who is projected to take the field for the Pirates:
	CF	Nyjer Morgan/Nate McLouth
	SS	Jack Wilson
	2B	Freddy Sanchez
	1B	Adam LaRoche
	LF	Jason Bay
	RF	Xavier Nady
	C	Ronny Paulino
	3B	Jose Bautista
	SP	Tom Gorzelanny
	SP	Ian Snell
	SP	Paul Maholm
	SP	Matt Morris
	SP	Zach Duke
	CL	Matt Capps
	Schedules: Spring | Regular season Tickets: Spring | Regular season More previews: Select a team MLB Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs D-backs Dodgers Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Nationals Orioles Padres Phillies Pirates Rangers RaysRed Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees

And for the offense, consistency remains the key. The group saw moments when everything came together last season, but those moments were brief and infrequent.

Adam LaRoche is hopeful of getting off to a better start, while Jason Bay will look to regain his All-Star form. There's no reason not to expect Freddy Sanchez to be one of the top hitters in the league, and there is a hope that Ronny Paulino and Jack Wilson can consistently produce to the level that both have shown they are capable of.

Because the Pirates don't have the benefit of having superstar pieces on the clubs, their success in 2008 is going to depend on every facet of the team coming together and playing strong on a consistent basis. That's something that the team struggled to do in 2007 but ready to take another shot at accomplishing with a new year approaching.

Grading on a curve: The only blockbuster moves the Pirates made this offseason came in the rumor mill. When it came to actually changing the makeup of the club, there was no big news, and the acquisitions weren't headline makers. Adding Gomez gives the Pirates an immediate veteran presence, but it's unknown whether many of the team's other acquisitions are ready to make an immediate impact. It may be the case that that impact could instead come to fruition years down the road. On a scale of one to 10, give the Pirates a 4 for now until Huntington's acquisitions prove themselves.

Arrivals: RHP Barthmaier, LHP Dumatrait, RHP Meek, RHP Taubenheim, INF Gomez, INF Josh Wilson, OF Kevin Thompson

Departures: RHP Tony Armas, RHP Chacon, INF Cesar Izturis, 1B/C Josh Phelps, LHP Shane Youman, RHP Torres, INF Jose Castillo, INF Matt Kata

The Road Ahead: The search for pitching help will continue, as Huntington has made it known that he would like to add at least one more pitcher -- preferably an experienced right-handed one -- to the bullpen to be used in set-up situations. Trading away one of their extra outfielders remains within the realm of possibilities as well, though with most teams filling out their outfield vacancies already this offseason, expect the rumors involving Bay and Nady to slowly dissipate.