56-106 and last place in the National League Central Division is our prediction for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ballclub’s 141st season.
If the prophecy proves true, it would be the seventh season during which the Pirates collected 100 losses or more, but the team’s 112 defeats in 1952 would still be the worst of all time. So, we guess, you have that going for you.
Now, about attendance. Last year, a mere 859,498 fans (or an average of 10,611) attended the Pirates’ 81 home games in 2021, and it was the first year since PNC Park opened that fewer than 1 million people rolled through the gates. Sure, MLB established attendance limitations, but the implemented “pod seating” model really didn’t impact much, now did it?
This year’s prediction? 845,500, and that’s because we’ve grown tired of t-shirts, bobbleheads, and even fireworks. Why? Because winning works, Bob. In 2013, the Bucs were 94-68 to record the ballclub’s first winning season since 1992, they finished in second place, qualified for the postseason, and welcomed 2.257 million fans.
In 2014? 88-74, 2nd place, Wild Card, 2.44 million. And in 2015, the Pirates recorded 98 victories, qualified for the NL Wild Card for a third consecutive season, and played in front of a home crowd of nearly 2.5 million.
And then, instead of retaining, adding on, and winning more, the sell-off began. By the end of the 2018 season, you shed the salaries of McCutcheon, Marte, Cole, Morton, Mercer, Harrison, and several more. And then at the very end of 2019, you wronged “Mr. Abso-buc’n-lutely” himself, Clint Hurdle. On Sept. 29, 2019 – “Steve Blass Day” – former GM Neal Huntington suddenly appeared in the manager’s office and, despite telling him previously he would be coming back for his 10th year, fired him.
We just hope the plan you and GM Ben Cherrington have in place now results in many a top prospect joining Oneil Cruz in Pittsburgh someday soon so “Raise the Jolly Roger!” can be exclaimed far more often than it has been the past three seasons. We also hope the next time the Pirates have a core of greatness as they did 2013-2015, you choose to chase the championship instead of cashing in.
Good luck.
Sincerely,
43 Years of Tears
