Statistics are an important part of baseball, and so players are constantly being evaluated, judged, measured and scrutinized. In July, all the numbers are brought front and center by two events: the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, and the trade deadline. Today, Cory and Alan consider the Pirates’ roster in that context: Who has the star power necessary to serve as the foundation of a winning team, and who would be better off in another uniform? You can play episode No. 7 of Pirate Revolution above or download the show here.

Neil Walker filled a gaping hole when he was promoted from Indianapolis. The entire Pirates organization is weak at second base, and it was a relief when Walker showed up in Pittsburgh. He’s hit enough and played solid defense, and he’s being lumped in with Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Jose Tabata as puzzle pieces for a contending team. But is that expectation fair? What are the chances Walker will be starting for the Pirates in 2012?

Andy LaRoche has fizzled; his big league performance has paled in comparison to his minor league pedigree, and he can only be characterized as a disappointment. How can the Pirates give LaRoche an opportunity to recover some of his lost value?

An outfield of McCutchen, Tabata and Lastings Milledge sounds impressive, but so far, it seems woefully short in the power category. Would Garrett Jones be better suited as a right fielder? Can the Pirates squeeze enough production out of their existing outfielders, or do they need to look outside the organization for more help?

On the mound, Zach Duke and Paul Maholm stand out as assets. Does either pitcher have what it takes to help a contender in a playoff push? Should the Pirates hope the lefties will rebound, or are their roles set as nothing more than innings eaters?