When the Pirates score four-plus runs, they're 25-12. When it's fewer than four runs, they're now 13-44, as of the 4-3 loss tonight in Kansas City, Mo.
Crazy, right?
Well, wait ... since we're following a 4-3 result: As a team, they average 3.39 runs per game, which is 30th of the 30 teams in Major League Baseball. If they'd only rank as high as 22nd in this category, they'd be averaging more than 4.0 runs.
One would think Ben Cherington and his Analytics Army might've cracked this complex code, but they don't even need to be average offensively. They just need -- and needed all along -- to not be, you know, historically horrendous.
Imagine if they cared about this.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
THE ASYLUM
Dejan Kovacevic
2:49 am - 07.10.2025DowntownWhite-collared geeks unite ...
When the Pirates score four-plus runs, they're 25-12. When it's fewer than four runs, they're now 13-44, as of the 4-3 loss tonight in Kansas City, Mo.
Crazy, right?
Well, wait ... since we're following a 4-3 result: As a team, they average 3.39 runs per game, which is 30th of the 30 teams in Major League Baseball. If they'd only rank as high as 22nd in this category, they'd be averaging more than 4.0 runs.
One would think Ben Cherington and his Analytics Army might've cracked this complex code, but they don't even need to be average offensively. They just need -- and needed all along -- to not be, you know, historically horrendous.
Imagine if they cared about this.
Want to participate in our comments?
Want an ad-free experience?
Become a member, and enjoy premium benefits! Make your voice heard on the Steelers, Penguins and Pirates, and hear right back from tens of thousands of fellow Pittsburgh sports fans worldwide! Plus, access all our premium content, including Dejan Kovacevic columns, Friday Insider, daily Live Qs with the staff, more! And yeah, that's right, no ads at all!
We’d love to have you!