The tradition at DK Pittsburgh Sports is to wait for loss No. 82 to write this column.
But why delay the inevitable?
The Pirates’ 5-2 loss against the Diamondbacks at PNC Park Wednesday now puts them at 46-81, clinching a non-winning season. Unless they can rattle off their first series sweep of the season -- a feat they failed for the 11th time this season Wednesday -- against the Cardinals, they will clinch their 25th losing season of the past 29 years.
And unless they can go 17-18 down the final stretch of the season, they will lose 100 games for the ninth time in franchise history, and the first since 2010. The last time the Pirates won at least 17 times in a 35 game stretch in a single season dates all the way back to August 23 - Sept. 29, 2019.
To look at this season from a historical context:
• They will almost certainly finish in last place for the third consecutive season. That has happened three other times in franchise history: From 1952-1955, 1984-1986 and 2007-2010.
• They spent just three days over .500. They won the regular season opener against the Cubs on April 1 and then had an off-day the following day. On April 27, they beat the Royals, 2-1, to improve to 12-11. They lost eight of their next nine and never approached .500 again.
• They are currently 32 games behind the first place Brewers. Since the implementation of the six division system, the furthest the Pirates have ever finished out of first place was 34 games in 2010. In the divisional era, the furthest they were out of first place was 44 games in 1986.
• Their .362 winning percentage is the 9th lowest since the franchise joined the National League 136 seasons ago. It is, however, a step up from the .317 clip they posted a year ago.
• The Pirates lost game No. 81 in 127. Since the National League season was extended to 162 games in 1962, the only Pirates teams that clinched a non-winning season in fewer games was the 2010 team (121 games) and 1985 team (118 games).
To look at how they got there in a single gif:
That was in the sixth inning Wednesday, when a base hit to right went through the wickets on Gregory Polanco, turning a dime a dozen single into a little league triple. The tying run scored on the play, and the Diamondbacks had complete control on the momentum from there.
“I think the grass was a little bit wet,” Derek Shelton said about the play, referencing a rain storm earlier in the day that delayed the start of the game by nine minutes. “I think it snaked on him and got underneath his glove. I just told him to keep his head up and keep playing.”
It’s fair to ask why Polanco -- who entered the day with -1.6 WAR, tied for the 10th worst among position players in the history of the franchise -- has been exempt from the Pirates’ meritocracy based decisions and still gets regular playing time in right field. Not that there is anyone in Indianapolis demanding to burst onto the scenes.
In the same way there aren’t many better middle relief options than the Nick Mears/Anthony Banda/Kyle Keller trio that allowed all five runs over three innings. Or that the offense went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, a situation where the Pirates rank dead last in batting average (.210) by a significant margin. The next closest team are the Orioles at .226.
But none of this was really a surprise. This team is in the early stages of a rebuild -- a word that has scarcely actually been uttered by anyone in the organization -- and almost all of their top prospects are in the lower levels of the system. After trading away Starling Marte, Jameson Taillon, Joe Musgrove, Josh Bell, Richard Rodríguez, Adam Frazier, Tyler Anderson and more within about an 18-month window, another season near the bottom of the league was expected.
Losses like Wednesday were expected. For those losses to be so self-inflicted was not. It flies in the face of their goal of trying to get better everyday. Of course, that goal is easier said than done in a year like this. They got a taste of it over 60 games this season. It’s more grueling over 162.
Loss No. 82 is almost certainly coming this weekend, and No. 100 later next month. No. 81 Wednesday was a microcosm of how they got there.
MORE FROM THE GAME
• The shame about blowing Wednesday's game is that Bryse Wilson should have been the story of the day.
After being shut down for 10 days with right arm fatigue, Wilson tossed five shutout innings of two-hit, seven-strikeout ball. He got 15 whiffs on the night, as pictured below, a new career high:
"We got everything we expected out of him or wanted out of him," Shelton said, adding that Wilson was on a 75-80 pitch count because it was his first start back from the injury list. Wilson threw 74 pitches.
While on the injured list, Wilson tightened up a few things mechanically, which he said helped his performance.
"I feel like the biggest change was just having a firm landing leg," Wilson said, naming one adjustment. "Just striding out, landing and having that stick and be firm so I can be more over the top of the ball instead of coming around."
The Pirates have obviously been very cautious about not overtaxing their pitchers, and there's an extra challenge for someone like Wilson who comes to the team midseason. Shelton and Oscar Marin were in communication each of the 10 days he was on the injured list, and after some rehab and arm strengthening work, the hope is he is in a good spot to continue his season.
"I felt good the whole outing," Wilson said. "I feel really good now. I can’t wait to get back out there next time through."
• Some quick notes on this one: Michael Chavis picked up an RBI hit in the fifth inning and went 1-for-4... Luis Oviedo tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning, giving him five straight scoreless innings... Polanco went 2-for-4 with a double and a run.
• To make room for Wilson on the roster, the Pirates placed JT Brubaker on the 10-day injured list with a right thumb contusion. The injury was sustained in the second inning Tuesday when Brubaker hit a ground ball. With an off-day scheduled for Thursday, Brubaker wasn't scheduled to pitch for about a week anyway, so this way it gives him a couple more days to heal.
"We want him to be able to work on the breaking ball in between and how he grips it," Shelton said. "If two days from now he was throwing a side and couldn't grip it, it was just be unfair, in terms of his development."
It doesn't sound like Brubaker will be down for long.
• Before the game, director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk met with the media.
First overall draft pick Henry Davis was placed on the seven-day injured list with a right oblique strain.
"At this stage we anticipate it being a bit longer," Tomczyk said about how long it will take for him to return.
Reading the tea leaves, it sounds like Davis might not return to game action before High-A Greensboro's season is over.
Roansy Contreras should throw a live batting practice this week, with the goal for him to get back into game situations soon.
Sam Howard (oblique) will get another rehab outing with Class AAA Indianapolis in the coming days, which should lead to conversations about his potential return to the majors.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
• Live file
• Scoreboard
• Standings
• Statistics
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Michael Chavis, 2B
2. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
3. Bryan Reynolds, CF
4. Yoshi Tsutsugo, 1B
5. Jacob Stallings, C
6. Kevin Newman, SS
7. Gregory Polanco, RF
8. Anthony Alford, LF
9. Bryse Wilson, RHP
And for Torey Lovullo's Diamondbacks:
1. Josh Rojas, SS
2. Ketel Marte, CF
3. Pavin Smith, RF
4. Christian Walker, 1B
5. Josh VanMeter, 2B
6. David Peralta, LF
7. Daulton Varsho, C
8. Drew Ellis, 3B
9. Tyler Gilbert, LHP
THE SYSTEM
• Indianapolis
• Altoona
• Greensboro
• Bradenton
THE SCHEDULE
The Pirates will start a four-game home series against the Cardinals Thursday. Mitch Keller (4-10, 6.35) will try to keep his hot streak against the Cardinals going, taking on Miles Mikolas (0-1, 1.00). First pitch is at 7:05 p.m. I've got you covered from PNC Park.
THE CONTENT
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