With the first overall pick in the 2011 Major League Baseball first-year player draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates select Anthony Rendon, third baseman, from Rice University.

At the trade deadline, Neal Huntington made it relatively clear that 2011 will be another year for evaluation. If the Pirates are ever going to play competitive baseball, it likely won’t be until 2012. Here’s my take on an Opening Day lineup for next year.

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ ship began to sink shortly after the last recording of Pirate Revolution, a Titletahn podcast. Hosts Cory Humes and Alan Smodic return to their microphones today, and in doing so, hope to bail out a team that’s struggled through their early schedule in 2010.

Mike Lowell broke out at 26, and — risking being a jinx — Andy LaRoche is breaking out, too. Just 19 games into the 2010 season, I’m ready to commit to Andy at third for the long term. Move Pedro Alvarez to first base.

Hosts Cory Humes and Alan Smodic go around the diamond and discuss players’ performances and managerial tendencies through the Pirates’ opening series against the Dodgers. And, as is often the case, the focus turns toward the future, as the 2010 season will be spent as an extended tryout for what’s certain to be a competitive 2011 team.

There are reasons to be optimistic about the Pirates as currently constructed. Ron Cook, and other curmudgeons like him, just need to consider players in the proper perspective.

In Andy LaRoche, Pedro Alvarez, Jeff Clement, Neil Walker, Steve Pearce and Garrett Jones, the Pittsburgh Pirates have a number of interesting corner infield options for 2010 and beyond.