"The Pirates are fresh off a Winter Meetings that was at once remarkably busy and remarkably uneventful, making a half-dozen moves while barely making any waves. They're good like that. No one outworks Neal Huntington and his staff, but the end result of weeks of sweat can be Pedro Ciriaco sneaking through waivers.

It all has a hurry-up-and-wait feel to it.

For years now, actually.

And anyone dreaming that the franchise isn't still waiting on that perpetually far-flung future, try penciling in this Opening Day lineup for 2012:

1. Alex Presley, RF

2. Jose Tabata, LF

3. Andrew McCutchen, CF

4. Neil Walker, 2B

5. Casey McGehee, 1B

6. Pedro Alvarez, 3B

7. Clint Barmes, SS

8. Rod Barajas, C

9. Jeff Karstens, P

Yeah, that's why I suggested pencil."