Now that the Steelers are playing, the Pirates have become relegated to back-page news.

Before too long, the Bucs will be grabbing headlines, however.

Not because of any long winning streak or success on the field — 15 consecutive losing seasons is what it is — but because of a changing of the guard.

It's coming. And the changes will be plentiful.

When the club names a new CEOthis off-season, wholesale changes will likely follow. Dave Littlefield will be bounced from his general manager's position and manager Jim Tracy may be looking for work as well.

The Pirates scouting and development staff will be closely examined and retooled. It certainly needs to be.

Changes will happen on the field, too. The first influx there will arrive in September.

Class AAAIndianapolis has a few players who have earned themselves a September call-up. When you're 20 games below .500 and treading water

again in the standings, why not make things interesting over the final month?The first hint of this was the Thursday promotions of third baseman Neal Walker and center fielder Andrew McCutchen from Class AAAltoona to Class AAAIndy.Walker, only 21, was hitting .288 with 10 homers and 48 RBIfor Altoona. McCutchen, 20, was hitting .258 with 10 homers and 48 RBI, also, and hit .307 during his last 41 games with the Curve.Arguably the two top prospects in the Pirates system, Walker was the team's first-round draft pick in 2004 and McCutchen followed suit in 2005.Baseball fans around here are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Walker, a Pine-Richland graduate who was a stellar two-sport star in high school. And it just so happends Walker and McCutchen play two of the positions that are currently up for grabs on the big league club.Another guy rocketing through the farm system is first baseman Steve Pearce. Already this year, he's hit .347 with 11 homers and 24 RBIat Class ALynchburg, .334 with 14 homers and 72 RBIat Altoona.Now he's hitting .385 with six homers and 15 RBIin 65 at bats with Indianapolis.Pearce, 24, has rocketed past Brad Eldred as the Pirates' prime first base prospect. Eldred has 13 homers and 40 RBIat Indy, but is hitting just .215 with 76 strikeouts in 261 at bats.Shortstop Brian Bixler is hitting .282 with 26 stolen bases in 30 tries. Outfielder Nyjer Morgan is hitting .308 with 22 steals in 26 attempts.Pitcher Bryan Bullington is one of four pitchers in the International League with 11 wins in 2007. He's sporting a 3.88 earned run average.All of these players have numbers worth taking a look at. This is not to suggest they all be called up and thrown into the starting lineup every day — though it'd be fun to see how Walker would hold up that way.This is to suggest that the changing of the guard is coming.So why not get started in September?