Pirates look to avoid another losing season

Although it’s been hard to tell in Pittsburgh, there’s a sign that spring is on its way…. Although it’s been hard to tell in Pittsburgh, there’s a sign that spring is on its way.

Yep, it’s baseball season.

This year, our Pirates are actually primed to capture history. Unfortunately the history on the table oozes of ineptitude.

The Buccos finished 68-94 last year, good for last place in the National League Central. That record solidified a 15th consecutive losing season for Pittsburgh. The last time the Pirates had a winning record was in 1992 – when leader Barry Bonds was skinnier than Paris Hilton.

One more losing season would place the Pirates on the precipice of being the answer to a trivia question: What franchise owns the longest streak of consecutive losing seasons in baseball history?

Currently, the 1933-1948 Philadelphia Phillies carry that distinction, with 16 straight seasons under the 0.500 mark. Exactly 60 years later, the Buccos can match the feat.

Great news to start the season, huh?

Oh, and another issue. Pittsburgh’s roster is almost completely intact from last year’s 94-loss club. It doesn’t look like the sun will come out for the Pirates this year either.

But all hope is not lost. For the first time in seemingly eons, the Pirates seem to have a plan. We’ve all heard that before, but there’s reason this time to keep our ears open and actually pay attention.

Toward the end of last year, the Pirates finally fired old general manager Dave Littlefield. Sorry, I have to take a moment to shudder just mentioning his name.

Kevin McClatchy, the man who saved baseball in Pittsburgh in 1996, also left but of his own accord. Manager Jim Tracy and his staff were shown the door as well. Walking through that door are three new faces: team president Frank Coonelly, GM Neal Huntingdon and manager John Russell.

Huntingdon has been saying all the right things thus far, and his philosophy and actions appear to back up his words. He might have to make some unpopular moves in the near future to make the franchise better overall and to replenish the team’s barren minor-league system for the future.

Ugh, the future.

Huntingdon knows the Pirates’ best shot at becoming a World Series contender is years down the road, but he has also mentioned that the Pirates can win in 2008, even with practically the same roster.

How is that potentially possible? Huntingdon and even the players themselves believe that many of them underachieved, and better results should be expected.

Jason Bay was the primary culprit last season, and the rate at which he bounces back could be the determinant for Pittsburgh’s success.

Bay, an All-Star in 2005 and 2006, was bothered by a lingering knee injury for just about all of last season. Although he didn’t make excuses, the numbers told the truth. Batting only .247 and hitting 21 home runs, it was the worst year of Bay’s career.

First baseman Adam LaRoche came over in a trade from Atlanta before last year and was expected to provide protection for Bay in the lineup. But he was horrible for the first two months of the year, before going on a tear in the final four. By then, the Pirates were already out of contention. LaRoche needs to reverse that function this season.

Catcher is the only position that isn’t locked up, even though it seems like Ronny Paulino, the incumbent, is doing his best to lose. His lazy defense and sophomore slump hasn’t lit a fire under him this spring, while challenger Ryan Doumit showed up in much better physical shape and is making a real drive for at-bats. He might, and should, gain the majority of the playing time.

There is potential for the lineup to be a smash with these two guys anchoring the middle. Freddy Sanchez will hit 0.300, Jack Wilson can build on his amazing August and September, and Xavier Nady and Jose Bautista have the ability to hit 20 home runs apiece.

One sign that the new leadership is the real deal was the decision made on Tuesday that Nate McLouth will be the starting center fielder. McLouth is an on-base machine, with power potential and a knack for stealing bases. He is one of the most underrated players in the majors.

However, some old bad habits are still in the air. Prospect Steve Pearce, who flew through Pittsburgh’s minor leagues last year, is clearly one of the best 25 players in the franchise. But he’ll start the year in Triple A, waiting for the first injury to an outfielder or first baseman to show up, likely because of future financial planning and only partly to get more experience playing the outfield. Nady could be traded as well to open room.

The ability of the starting pitchers to work deeper into games will be a key to an improved record as well. Ian Snell, Tom Gorzelanny and Paul Maholm all made great strides last year, and Maholm has looked fantastic in the spring.

Reclamation project Zach Duke has impressed in spring training also, if he can just come close to duplicating his outstanding 2005 half-season, the Pirates and their fans will be pleased.

The club should be fine when handing a lead in the ninth to closer Matt Capps, a true power pitcher who is poised for a second straight breakout year. But getting to that point could be a problem, since there are still four bullpen jobs up for grabs with only three days left in the spring.

The season could go in three different directions. Many of the players can realize their potential, play star-quality baseball all season and the Pirates could achieve their first winning season since 1992 by grabbing 82 wins.

Or the same debauchery can ensue as in every previous season, the team implodes and goes 62-100.

I’m an optimist, so I’ll go a little toward the center of those two scenarios. I predict our Buccos will go 73-89, with the potential to climb in 2009.

I sure hope that’s possible. Seventeen straight losing seasons doesn’t look good on a fan’s resume.