While the Pirates are not a part of baseball postseason play (again), they do have somewhat of a presence there.

All eight playoff teams had at least one connection to the Pirates on their roster during the regular season:

Arizona Diamondbacks

•

Brandon Lyon: The relief pitcher was a Pirate for a very short time. He was acquired from Boston in a trade for Jeff Suppan, then was shipped back to the Red Sox as damaged goods, as the Pirates claimed his arm wasn't healthy.It was pretty healthy this year — 6-4 with a 2.68 earned run average.•

Kirk Gibson: Surely you remember the man who was the Pirates' leadoff hitter on Opening Day in 1992? He was released a couple of months later and is now the Diamondbacks' bench coach.Colorado Rockies•

Josh Fogg:

A former member of the Pirates' starting rotation, he eventually was released and resurfaced in Colorado, where he went 10-9 with a 4.94 ERA. He reverted to his Pirates ways when he coughed up a grand slam in the NLwild-card playoff game against San Diego.Chicago Cubs•

Aramis Ramirez: Part of the forever infamous trade for Bobby Hill, the latter not quite panning out. Ramirez has been a star in Chicago, hitting .310 with 26 homers and 101 RBIthis season.•

Daryle Ward: Still the only player to hit a home run into the Allegheny River on the fly at PNCPark, though he did it as a member of the Houston Astros. This former Pirate hit .327 in 110 at-bats as a utility players.Philadelphia Phillies•

Jon Lieber: Injured for most of the year, the former Pirates right-hander and staff ace was 3-7 with a 4.73 ERAin 14 games in 2007.•

Abraham Nunez: Former Pirates utility guy who was released and since reached the postseason with the Cardinals and Phillies.Boston Red Sox•

Julian Tavarez: Always a hot head, not always a hot pitcher. Was 7-11 with a 5.15 ERAfor Boston and was left off its playoff roster.•

Tim Wakefield: Released by the Pirates eons ago, his knuckleball fluttered its way to 17 wins with the Red Sox.Cleveland Indians•

Joel Skinner: The Tribe's third base coach managed the Pirates' Class AAAaffiliate to a league championship.Los Angeles Angels•

Gary Matthews Jr.: Released by the Pirates, he found stardom with the Texas Rangers before signing a big-money contract with the Halos and hit .252 with 18 homers before getting injured.New York Yankees•

Tony Pena: Former Pirates catcher was New York's first base coach. He's now on the list of possible replacements for ex-Pirates manager Jim Tracy.John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.