PITTSBURGH — Pirates chairman Bob Nutting believes he's put together a first-class team off the field.

But it's what's on the field that counts, and he believes the team isn't too bad in that department, either.

"I won't predict our record or anything, but our players have what it takes to play competitive baseball in our division this year," Nutting said before Monday's home opener at PNC Park. "That's all we're asking. Anything can happen from there."

The Pirates opened the 2008 home season with a 10-8 loss to the Chicago Cubs in 12 innings.

Though the team's on-field changes during the offseason were minimal, they already have been felt. Nine new players were on the home opening day roster Monday. One of the new faces, middle infielder Luis Rivas, led the Pirates with a .368 batting average and 21 hits during Grapefruit League play and hit .357 in three road games at shortstop while filling in for the injured Jack Wilson.

Rivas, free agent signee Chris Gomez, Doug Mientkewicz and Nyjer Morgan were in the starting lineup during Sunday's 9-2 win at Florida. Rivas and Mientkewicz made the team as non-roster players. Mientkewicz led all of baseball with a .429 batting average last September while with the New York Yankees.

"We don't have an eight-man lineup that we're going to run out there for 150 games or so," general manager Neal Huntington said. "Depth is critical to our success, so that Sunday game was a good sign. Those fresh faces create enthusiasm.

"I do feel like we've got quality major leaguers at every position."

Huntington is only part of Nutting's new management team. John Russell is the 38th manager in the 122-year history of the franchise and the coaching staff, pitching coach Jeff Andrews, hitting coach Don Long, bench coach and former Pirate Gary Varsho, first base coach Lou Frazier, third base coach Tony Beasley and bullpen coach Luis Dorante, is totally new, as is club president Frank Coonelly.

"I like John Russell's attention to detail," Huntington said. "He's not afraid to meet with any player to address any problem that needs corrected. He holds people accountable. He's very aggressive that way."

First baseman Adam LaRoche had no discouraging words for last year's management team, saying former skipper Jim Tracy "had a young team and a lot of negativism to deal with."

"What I do like about (Russell) is he's paying attention to and emphasizing the little things that help teams win games," LaRoche said. "We're not a team that's going to hit a lot of home runs. We don't have a bunch of all-stars out here. It's going to take every phase of the game — bullpen, defense, hitting — to make us successful."

Huntington said the Pirates' most critical areas to address in spring training were the bullpen and the bench.

"We made the right choices there. I think that will prove out," he said.

The Pirates are trying to avoid a major league record-tying 16th consecutive losing season. The Phillies endured such a stretch of futility from 1933-48.

"We're looking far beyond this year," Nutting said. "Sure, we want to win now and we're capable of winning now, but we want to build a foundation to win consistently, too. ."

Opening day notes: Donnie Iris sang the national anthem and Pittsburgh area musician Chris Higbee played "God Bless America" on the violin. ¿ Elmer Gray, a Pirates scout since 1984 entering his 58th year of baseball, received the Pride of the Pirates Award. He broke into scouting with the St. Louis Browns in 1951. ¿ Former Pirates on hand to help introduce the 2008 team included Bob Friend, Bob Robertson, Kent Tekulve, Steve Blass, Mike LaValliere, Dave Guisti, Grant Jackson, Bill Virdon, Manny Sanguillen, Elroy Face, John Smiley, Jim Rooker, Chuck Tanner, Dave Parker and Bill Mazeroski. Mazeroski threw out the first pitch. - A moment of silence was held before the game for Butler native and longtime National League umpire Ed Vargo, along with Pittsburgh broadcasting legend Myron Cope, among other Pittsburgh sports figures who died in recent months.