Oct 1, 2002 By Alan Robinson Ap Sports Writer 4 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Pittsburgh Pirates playfully popped champagne bottles and raised celebratory toasts during the final weekend of the season in Chicago. The merrymaking seemed a little odd – normally, such tributes are reserved for championship teams, not those wrapping up a franchise-record 10th consecutive losing season.

But while the Pirates fell only one loss short of a fourth 90-loss season in five years during the most sustained stretch of losing in their 115-year history, manager Lloyd McClendon says a 72-89 season was worth toasting.

“What we’ve accomplished this year was tremendous,” said McClendon, whose 2001 team lost 100 games. “There’s not many teams in the major leagues that improved by 10 games. Certainly, we’ve had some hard times. But we can start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Of course, it could be reasoned, improvement should be expected because it’s hard to get much worse than 100 losses. The better record was achieved largely by a 15-4 record against the awful Brewers; the Pirates were 57-85 against the rest of baseball, 25-45 against .500 or above teams and 14-27 against playoff teams.

“We’re not a contending team,” Brian Giles said. “We improved, we got better, but we’re nowhere near where we need to be.”

Now, the biggest unanswered question is whether McClendon will be back for the final season of his contract. His .415 winning percentage is the fifth worst of any Pirates manager who has led the club two or more years since 1900.

General manager Dave Littlefield, a let’s-get-better-in-a-hurry type who wouldn’t seem likely to be amused by champagne feasts to toast a losing season, has yet to tip his hand.

“We’ve improved, we’re more competitive but by no means is anybody satisfied,” Littlefield said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”

The biggest improvement came in a pitching staff that lowered its ERA from 5.05 in 2001 to 4.21, thanks mostly to the addition of Kip Wells (12-14, 3.58 ERA) and Josh Fogg (12-12, 4.35 ERA) and Kris Benson’s successful return from reconstructive elbow surgery.

Benson, out for 18 months, was 0-4 in his first nine starts but won his last five decisions to finish 9-6 with a 4.70 ERA.

Mike Williams, the closer, was dependable all season, with 46 saves in 50 opportunities – the most ever by a pitcher on a losing-record team.

“Yeah, I’m proud of what I did,” he said. “But it would be better if we were winning.”

Salomon Torres also made a remarkable return, going 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in five late-season starts after being out of organized baseball for five years.

Offensively, the progress was far less measurable.

Giles (.298, 38 homers, 103 RBIs) carried the offense for a fourth straight season despite walking 135 times, 45 more than last season. Aramis Ramirez (.234, 18 homers, 71 RBIs) slumped following his breakthrough 34 homers, 112 RBIs season, allowing pitchers to frequently pitch around Giles.

Ramirez injured an ankle April 17 during a fight in Milwaukee and, McClendon said, “That was our season right there.”

Second baseman Pokey Reese (.264, 4 homers, 50 RBIs) was a nice addition, and he and shortstop Jack Wilson (.252, 4 homers, 47 RBIs) were the NL’s best double-play duo.

Elsewhere, there wasn’t much. Jason Kendall (.283, 3 homers, 44 RBIs), still bothered by thumb injury that occurred early last season, had his worst season in the first year of his $60 million, six-year contract.

Kevin Young (.246, 16 homers, 51 RBIs) was one of the majors’ least productive first basemen, and is still owed $7 million next year.

And the Pirates never did settle on a right fielder or center fielder, changing the lineup almost nightly.

Craig Wilson (.264, 16 homers, 57 RBIs) and Rob Mackowiak (.244, 16 homers, 48 RBIs) showed power, but struck out 236 times, 120 by Mackowiak. There was little off the bench.

“We were short on talent, but we never used that as an excuse,” McClendon said. “People have to understand it’s not about the manager, it’s about the players. We’re improved, we’re more competitive and we’re moving in the right direction.”