PITTSBURGH — The Pirates have spent two years talking about how important it is to change the losing culture of the franchise.
But, two years after Frank Coonelly joined the organization as club president and hired Neal Huntington as general manager, it is easy to wonder if the culture has really changed.
The Pirates are 59-96. Neither manager John Russell nor the players show much outward emotion after defeats, causing many fans to question if losing is too easily accepted by a franchise that has had 17 consecutive losing seasons, which is a major North American professional sports record.
However, Huntington insists the culture is indeed changing and the Pirates are bothered by the idea that they could wind up losing 100 games for the eighth time in the franchise’s 123-year history and just the second time in the past 55 years.
Though the Pirates whipped the National League West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers 11-1 on Monday afternoon at PNC Park, they still have to go at least 4-3 on their season-ending road trip to Chicago and Cincinnati that starts today to avoid 100 losses.
“Our manager is about as passionate about winning as you can find,” Huntington said. “He might not yell and scream. You’re not going to see me running around the press box yelling and screaming or throwing things, either. That doesn’t mean we have any less fire than anybody else in the game.”
Huntington said it is sometimes difficult for young players to separate team goals and individual goals because they are focused on proving they belong in the major leagues.
“Our players are young,” Huntington said. “We’re trying to help them develop. I think they know that if they go 2-for-4 and we lose that it’s not a good night. It’s a young step for a young player in survival mode who is focused on his own opportunity.
“We’re in the process of changing the culture. It’s not going to change overnight. It didn’t take months or two years to get where it is. We need to get the talent level to where it’s supposed to be and that culture will change.”
q q q
Injury update: Shortstop Ronny Cedeno missed his fifth straight game and said he continues to feel significant soreness in both hamstrings when he tries to run. Cedeno is still hopeful of playing again this season but admitted that with six days left in the season that he might not return.
Luis Cruz started at shortstop again and was 2-for-4.
q q q
Attendance update: The Pirates finished with a season attendance of 1,577,853, their lowest in the nine-year history of PNC Park. The previous low was 1,583,031 in 2004.
The Pirates averaged 19,480 in 81 home dates this season. That is the third-lowest average in the major leagues behind Oakland (17,450) and Florida (18,771) and the worst among teams with a baseball-only facility.
The Pirates’ total attendance was also down 31,223 from last year’s mark of 1,609,076.
q q q
Up next: The Pirates open a season-ending seven-game road trip at 8:05 tonight when they face the Cubs in Chicago to begin a four-game series. Kevin Hart
(4-8, 5.48) is scheduled to start for the Pirates against Ryan Dempster (10-8, 3.68).
Hart has lost six straight starts, compiling a 7.31 ERA in that span, and is 1-7 with a 6.93 ERA in nine starts since the Pirates acquired him from the Cubs on July 30 in a trade.
Local Sports
Bucs brass says winning still goal
- Local Sports
-
-
2012 AAABA League schedule
A look at this season's schedule:
-
2011 AAABA in Review
A look back at the 2011 AAABA season:
-
AAABA League Preview
A look at this season's Johnstown AAABA League:
-
Pirates pick up fourth straight victory
There were times earlier in his career when James McDonald would run into trouble and innings would slow to a crawl. Even worse, runners would disappear, and not in a good way.
Too much thinking. Not enough attacking. -
Sympathetic Pirates add to Cubs’ slide
Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates can relate to what the Chicago Cubs are going through.
Perhaps more than anyone, they know what it feels like to be on an extended losing streak
– 12 in a row, in the Cubs’ case. -
AAABA League will open after busy offseason
The AAABA League opens on Tuesday at Point Stadium with two new, but familiar managers, a new but familiar sponsor, an expanded interleague schedule and two new franchises committed to the 2013 season.
A lot of activity took place during the offseason, including the AAABA national committee’s vote to expand the age limit to 21 years old beginning in 2013. -
Richland's Lumley settles for pair of silver medals
Paige Lumley was on an emotional roller coaster and seeing silver on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Richland senior had state record jumps twice during the triple jump competition, but ended up with a silver–medal leap of 40 feet,
1¾ inches.
Defending state champion, second-seeded junior Lanae Newsome of Brookville, won with a jump of 40-3½. -
Ridge’s Dull takes second with school-record time
Matt Dull finished his athletic career with his best on Saturday at the PIAA Track and Field Championships at Shippensburg University.
The Chestnut Ridge senior ran a career-best time of 38.12 to finish second in the 300 hurdles final, also setting another school record. -
Hit batsman lifts Pirates over Cubs
Matt Hague was hit by a pitch from Rafael Dolis with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 11th straight loss with a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
Hague took a 96 mph fastball from Dolis (2-4) in the back near the shoulder blade, scoring Jose Tabata and eliciting an incredulous look to the sky by the Cubs reliever. -
Generals return to defeat Sting
It’s been a dramatic month for the Johnstown Generals.
There were two postponed games that left the immediate and long-term future of the franchise in serious doubt just two weeks ago. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
2012 AAABA League schedule
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Raw Video: Earthquake Shakes Evacuees in Italy
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
