Maybe it’s just me, but I love following a losing team.
As long as they’re heading in the right direction.
I think the Pittsburgh Pirates are such a team. Technically, at the moment they’re a winning team, with a 5-4 record. They’re universally projected to be a losing team this year, despite the solid start.
The reality is that this won’t be a 5-4 pace team. That’s a pace for 90 wins. Even if you think this team can surprise, that still seems like an unrealistic expectation for the level of surprise.
But that’s season talk.
The fun of following a losing team headed in the right direction has nothing to do with the overall record.
You already know they’re a losing team. The record is the worst part of the adventure.
The best part? All of those small moments along the way.
Every bit of evidence that could be used as confirmation that Ke’Bryan Hayes is headed toward being a star player.
The small moments where guys like Michael Chavis and Ben Gamel step up with solid production.
The continued emergence of Wil Crowe as a dominant, multi-inning reliever.
Every chance we get to see Roansy Contreras pitch.
The eventual arrival of Oneil Cruz and other prospects who will help this team in the long-term.
It’s been less than ten games so far, but there have already been some good moments, and a winning team in a small sample size as a result.
Will the Pirates remain winners over their final 153 games?
Probably not.
Will they be exciting to watch, with a lot of small moments that will make you think more of future winning teams than the present losing season?
Absolutely.
Pirates Prospects Spotlight
Ji-Hwan Bae: Opposite Field Hitting Leads To Strong Opening Week
Pirates Links
Prospect Watch: Bradenton Bats Break Out for 17 Runs; Jones and Nicolas Pitch Strong Games
Daily Video Rundown: Jacob Gonzalez, Connor Scott, Sammy Siani
Pirates Discussion: Pirates 5, Nationals 3
P2Daily Articles:
Other Pirates Coverage:
- Cody Potanko: Pirates Takeaways: This Defense Has Some Gold Glove Candidates
- Cody Potanko: From the Pirates Clubhouse: Chavis, Crowe, Quintana, Shelton on Comeback Win over Nats
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Ji-Hwan Bae: Opposite Field Hitting Leads To Strong Opening Week
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