FIXED New Pirates 1B Adam LaRoche played golf recently with ex-teammates John Smoltz and Jeff Francoeur, taking on Tiger Woods, 3-against-1, best ball. "He killed us," LaRoche says. "We sucked." That won't be the case with the Pirates' offense this year, thanks to LaRoche. In 2006, Pittsburgh was last in the NL in runs, home runs and slugging. LaRoche hit 32 homers and had 71 extra-base hits for Atlanta, and now he's aiming for PNC Park's short right field. "He brings a presence to our lineup," says hitting coach Jeff Manto. LaRoche also brings terrific D to a team that in recent years has seen the likes of iron gloves Randall Simon and Craig Wilson.

NEEDS FIXING Salomon Torres is durable (he had 94 appearances in '06), throws six pitches for strikes (including a filthy splitter) and closed with great success during the last four weeks of the season. So it's understandable that the Bucs traded Mike Gonzalez for LaRoche and gave the closer job to Torres. But he's 35 and has 17 career saves. And a scout who has seen the Pirates several times this spring says, "Torres is not up for this."

MIDSEASON FIX Chris Duffy's BA through Aug. 9 last season was .169. If he starts slowly again, electric CF prospect Andrew McCutchen may arrive sooner than expected.
-- Tim Kurkjian