Pirates ‘not’ in select company
The 2011 Pirates find themselves in some select company and it’s not of the good kind.
They became just the 17th major league team since the All-Star Game was instituted in 1933 to have a losing streak of at least 10 games after the All-Star break despite being over .500 both at the break and the time the skid started.
The record is 11 straight losses that was set by the 1940 Giants and matched by the 1973 Cubs, the 1982 Braves, the 1991 Mets, the 1995 Astros, the 1999 Phillies and the 2009 Rays.
Three other teams had 10-game losing streaks since Major League Baseball went to its current three-division format in each league in 1994 — the 1995 Rangers, the 2008 Athletics and the 2010 Padres.
It’s instructive to look at the last three teams to accomplish the “feat” in order to see where the Pirates might go from here:
The ’08 Athletics were 51-44 at the break but finished 75-86. They then went 75-87 in 2009, 81-81 last season and were 53-65 entering the weekend.
The ’09 Rays, coming off an American League pennant, were 48-41 at the break and finished 84-78. They rebounded to win the AL East last season with a 96-66 record, but have fallen off to 63-54 this year.
Last year’s Padres were the surprise of baseball at the break as they led the National League West with a 51-37 record. However, they have taken a big fall this season to 53-66.
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This week’s Name to Remember is high Class A Bradenton third baseman Elevys Gonzalez, who is hitting .311 with five home runs and 69 RBIs in 106 games. He also has a .365 on-base percentage and a .453 slugging percentage.
The 21-year-old switch-hitting Venezuelan can also play second base and shortstop. He projects as a utility infielder in the majors unless he can increase his power or improve his range enough to play shortstop regularly.
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One of the best pitchers ever to hail from this region and one the best names in baseball history was in the news this week. When Mark Buehrle made his 18th consecutive start of allowing three runs or less, it marked the longest such streak by a White Sox’ pitcher since 1909 when Pittsburgh native Frank “Piano Mover” Smith also had 18 in a row.
How did Smith get the nickname?
When White Sox owner Charles Comiskey accused Smith of being a drunk during the 2008 season, the right-hander became upset and left the team, returning home to Pittsburgh for a month and taking a job in which he moved pianos.
Some things you just can’t make up.
John Perrotto is the national writer for BaseballProspectus.com.