PITTSBURGH— The 2006 Pittsburgh Pirates didn't end the season the way they started.

Their prime players weren't who they expected, either.

Free agent relief pitcher Roberto Hernandez, left-handed power pitcher Oliver Perez and first baseman Sean Casey — all considered key components on opening day — were gone by July 31.

Free agent right fielder Jeromy Burnitz and third baseman Joe Randa lost their starting positions to Jose Bautista and Freddy Sanchez.

Ian Snell, not Zach Duke, led the pitching staff with 14 wins.

Considered a utility player in April and May, Sanchez wound up as the National League's batting and doubles champion, collecting 200 hits in the process.

Neither Humberto Cota nor Ryan Doumit won the catching position. Ronny Paulino did and hit .310.

So, after a 14th consecutive losing season, where does the team stand now?

"I think we're ready to make a move up,"left fielder Jason Bay said. "Expecting to make a jump from 67 wins to 100 in a year might sound crazy, but stuff like that happens.

"With a whole new coaching staff and so many young players, it took a long time to jell. All I know is, the feeling in this clubhouse was a lot different during the second half of the season."

The Pirates were 37-35 after hosting the All-Star Game, a far cry from the 30-60 record they posted beforehand.

"We saw a lot of young, talented players mature during this season,"General Manager Dave Littlefield said. "There's certainly reason for optimism. We know we're not there yet, but we're closer."

The players believe they're closer as well. Relief pitcher Salomon Torres, who saved 12 games over the final few weeks after closer Mike Gonzalez (24 saves) had his season ended in August by injury, is one of them.

Torres led the major leagues with 94 appearances this season.

"My body's not ready to go home yet,"Torres said after last Sunday's season finale. "I feel great. I want to keep playing.

"Had we played in the first half like we did in the second half, we'd be getting ready for the playoffs right now. I'll tell everybody right now:We will be a contender next season."

The Pirates still have some glaring holes to fill. They were last in the National League with 141 home runs. Only the Chicago Cubs walked fewer times and allowed more walks than the Pirates.

The Cubs were the only team in the NLwith a worse record than the Pirates as well.

Even with Chris Duffy's late binge of stolen bases — he swiped 19 after Aug. 11 and hit .315 over the season's final six weeks — the Pirates finished 14th in the NL with 68 steals. Only the Giants with 58 and Braves with 52 had fewer.

Littlefield said his top priorities this off-season are to find a right-handed starting pitcher and a left-handed power bat to play first base or right field.

"We may be able to fill those within our system, maybe via trade or free agency,"he said. "We'll explore our options."

Second baseman Jose Castillo hit just .087 (6-for-69) in September and faded badly in the second half. He and Gonzalez have already had their names come up in trade rumors.

Manager Jim Tracy joins the optimism in looking toward 2007.

"These guys could have just folded their tent after the start we got off to,"he said. "I mean, 30-60 at the break, they could have gone through the motions in a lost season. They did the opposite. I'm proud of the job they did in the second half of the season.

"This is something big time for us to build on. First winning second-half since 1992? It's a start. We figured out how to win one-run games instead of lose them. That's probably the most encouraging part."