Pirates: Five things to know
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Outlook | Cactus/Grapefruit League stops
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Five things to know about the Pittsburgh Pirates:
1. By the numbers: The Buccos have had 17 consecutive losing seasons, a major North American professional sports franchise record. They lost 99 games last year (only worse record in the majors: The Nationals) and have lost 94 or more in each of the past five seasons. The Bucs haven't even won as many as 70 games since 2004 (72-89). One bright spot was pitcher Ross Ohlendorf, who really enjoys working in PNC Park, where he went 8-2 with a 2.64 ERA in 2009, including 5-0 with a 1.64 ERA over his final 10 home starts.
2. By the numbers II: Just four players remain who were on the roster when general manager Neal Huntington assumed control in September, 2007: Pitchers Zach Duke and Paul Maholm, catcher Ryan Doumit and infielder Steve Pearce. "I guess it's an honor to be one of the guys left," Duke says. "The new front office came in and decided we needed more talent in the system, better players, and to be one of the guys they decided to move forward with, it's nice to be around and to know they think I'm one of the pieces for a better future as well. It's a good feeling."
3. It will be a better future -- for both Duke and for the Pirates -- when the guys in the lineup start to score some runs. The Pirates ranked dead last in the majors in runs scored in 2009, which makes Duke's 11-16 record and 4.06 ERA look far more special. Duke ranked 12th in the NL in innings pitched, and his three complete games were the most by a Pirate since Jeff Suppan's three in 2003. Those 16 losses? The Pirates scored a total of just 23 runs while Duke was on the mound. Ugh.
4. Huntington supplemented a young roster by signing five free agents for 2010: New closer Octavio Dotel, setup man Brendon Donnelly, lefty reliever Javier Lopez, outfielder Ryan Church and infielder Bobby Crosby. The plan is for the quintet to give the kids someone to lean on during the growing process. Add the acquisition of second baseman Akinori Iwamura from Tampa Bay and the Pirates will have a decidedly different look in 2010.
5. The Pirates hope Jeff Clement can successfully move from catcher to first base this spring. They project Clement as a power-hitting first baseman eventually, though he'll need lots of work with the glove. If Clement can play first, slugger Garrett Jones will remain in right field and veteran Ryan Church will add depth to the bench. If the Pirates have to send Clement back to the minors for more work, Jones likely will move to first and Church or Brandon Moss would play right. Jones slugged 21 homers in 358 plate appearances (82 games) last season, though 16 of them came with the bases empty. His challenge will be to avoid a sophomore slump as pitchers hone in on his weaknesses. He did a good job last summer of closing some of the holes pitchers found.
