2008 Pittsburgh Pirates season

MLB yearly infobox alt
name = Pittsburgh Pirates
season = 2008
misc =

current league = National League
y1 = 1887
division = Central Division
y2 = 1994
Uniform
ballpark = PNC Park
y4 = 2001
city = Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
y5 = 1882
owners = Robert Nutting
general managers = Neal Huntington
managers = John Russell
television = FSN Pittsburgh
radio = WPGB-FM
Steve Blass
Lanny Frattare
Greg Brown
Bob Walk
John Wehner|

The 2008 Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 127th season of the franchise. It was the first under new president Frank Coonelly, general manager Neal Huntington, and manager John Russell. Unable to improve on their 68 - 94, last place finish during the 2007 season, the Pirates have not had a winning record since 1992. The season was the final of play-by-play announcer Lanny Frattare, whose 33 year tenure as Pirates' broadcaster was the longest in franchise history. [cite news |first= Alan|last= Robinson|title= Frattare retires after 33 seasons with Pirates|url= http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-pirates-frattareretires&prov=ap&type=lgns|publisher= Yahoo! Sports|date= 2008-10-01|accessdate=2008-10-01] [cite press release |title= Pittsburgh Pirates play-by-play announcer Lanny Frattare to retire after 33 seasons|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20081001&content_id=3578907&vkey=pr_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit&partnerId=rss_pit|publisher= PittsburghPirates.com|date= 2008-10-01|accessdate=2008-10-01]

eason

On November 5, 2007, John Russell was introduced as the Pirates manager, replacing Jim Tracy. [cite news|last= Meyer|first= Paul|title= Pirates make it official, name Russell manager| publisher= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= 2007-11-05|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07309/831311-100.stm|accessdate= 2008-04-01] Team management cited three areas that the franchise hoped to improve—"refocused emphasis on fundamentals", holding players to a higher standard, and signing younger players. [cite news |first= Jenifer|last= Langosch|title= Results not there, but hopes high|url= http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080925&content_id=3547855&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit|publisher= PittsburghPirates.com|date= 2008-09-28|accessdate=2008-09-29] The Pirates won their season opener against the Atlanta Braves, by the score of 12–11, in 12 innings.cite web |last= Langosch|first= Jenifer|title= How's that for openers?|publisher= PittsburghPirates.com|date= 2008-04-01|url= http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080331&content_id=2474399&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit|accessdate= 2008-04-01] The Pirates played their home opener against the division-rival Chicago Cubs on April 7, losing 10–8, also in 12 innings. [cite web|last= Langosch|first= Jenifer|title= Bucs' comeback bid falls in 12|publisher= PittsburghPirates.com|date= 2008-04-07|url= http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080407&content_id=2500859&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit|accessdate= 2008-04-07] The Pirates started out the season with a 7–7 record after the first half-month, however, after a five-game losing streak they began to struggle, finishing out April with a 11-16 record. The Pirates losing continued as they dropped three of four to the Washington Nationals to begin May. The team fought back, winning six straight games—the most consecutive since 2004, [cite news |first= Jenifer|last= Langosch|title= Pirates' bats mostly silent in Game 2 |url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080512&content_id=2686502&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit|publisher= MLB.com|date= 2008-05-12|accessdate=2008-05-14] to bring their record within one victory of a .500 record. Throughout the remainder of May the team struggled, but never fell more than four games under .500. Throughout the early months of the season closer Matt Capps was perfect, getting saves in 15 consecutive opportunities. However, on June 10, Capps gave up a two-run home run to the Nationals, losing his first decision of the season. [cite news |first= Jenifer|last= Langosch|title= Capps' first blown save leads to loss|url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/gameday_recap.jsp?ymd=20080610&content_id=2884272&vkey=recap&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |publisher= MLB.com|date= 2008-06-10|accessdate=2008-06-11] In addition, Capps would blow saves in two of his next three appearances; however, he would achieve his first win of the season after an extra inning victory over the Baltimore Orioles. [cite news |first= Jenifer|last= Langosch|title= Capps' confidence unwavering|url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080617&content_id=2946853&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit&partnerId=rss_pit|publisher= MLB.com|date= 2008-06-17|accessdate=2008-06-18]

Pittsburgh went 6–9 in interleague play, [cite news |first= Dejan|last= Kovacevic|title= McLouth's two-run blast lifts Pirates past Yankees|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08192/896304-63.stm|publisher= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= 2008-07-10|accessdate=2008-07-13] including two wins against the New York Yankees who retured to Pittsburgh for the first time since the 1960 World Series. [cite news |first= Ron|last= Musselman|title= Pirates, Indians struggle with lack of attendance|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08167/890115-63.stm?cmpid=sports.xml|publisher= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= 2008-06-15|accessdate=2008-06-15] On July 12, in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Pirates came back to win a game that they trailed by six runs in the seventh inning. It was only the second time in the past 25 years that the Pirates won at home after scoring runs in the seventh, eighth, ninth, and extra innings. [cite news |first= Todd|last= Krise|title= A day later, Bucs reflect on victory|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080713&content_id=3127785&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit&partnerId=rss_pit|publisher= MLB.com|date= 2008-07-13|accessdate=2008-07-13] The Pirates finished out the remainder of July with a 6–9 record—50–58 overall. On the final day of July, the Pirates made a deal with the Yankees to send outfileder Xavier Nady and pitcher Damaso Marte in return for Jeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen, Ross Ohlendorf and Jose Tabata. [cite press release|title= Pirates acquire three starting pitchers and an outfielder for Nady and Marte|publisher= PittsburghPirates.com|date= 2008-07-26|url= http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20080726&content_id=3199059&vkey=pr_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit|accessdate= 2008-07-26] Later in the day the team became involved in a three team deal in which the Pirates sent Jason Bay to the Boston Red Sox in return for four players from the Los Angeles Dodgers. [cite press release|title= Pirates deal Bay for four prospects|publisher= MLB.com|date= 2008-07-31|url= http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080731&content_id=3231806&vkey=trade2008&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb|accessdate= 2008-07-31] The Pirates won seven of the first 18 games in August before dropping nine consecutive games to close out the month. Pittsburgh entered the final month of the season 21 games below the .500 mark. On September 7, the Pirates lost their 82nd game of the season, tying them with the Philadelphia Phillies as the only two franchises in professional sports history to have losing records in 16 consecutive seasons. [cite news |first= Dejan|last= Kovacevic|title= Pirates reach tragic number with 82nd loss|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08252/910405-13.stm?cmpid=sports.xml|publisher= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= 2008-09-08|accessdate=2008-09-08] [cite web|last= Langosch|first= Jenifer|title= Pirates not affected by 'the streak'|publisher= PittsburghPirates.com|date= 2008-04-01|url= http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080401&content_id=2478228&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit|accessdate= 2008-04-01] The Pirates concluded their season on September 28 with a victory against the San Diego Padres. [cite news |first= Bernie|last= Wilson|authorlink= Associated Press|title= Bucs finish with win; Padres have big decisions|url= http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap?gid=280928125&prov=ap|publisher= Yahoo! Sports|date= 2008-09-28|accessdate=2008-09-29] The team became the second in the Pirates' 122 year history to have no pitchers to win 10 games. [cite news |first= Dejean|last= Kovacevic|title= No 10-game winners for Pirates' pitching staff|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08269/914945-63.stm?cmpid=sports.xml|publisher= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= 2008-09-25|accessdate=2008-09-25] The performance of the pitchers lead the team to fire pitching coach Jeff Andrews after the season. [cite news |first= Dejean|last= Kovacevic|title= Pirates fire pitching coach Andrews|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08273/916024-63.stm|publisher= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|date= 2008-09-29|accessdate=2008-09-29]

Draft

The 2008 Major League Baseball Draft was held on June 5^th, the Pirates selected fifty players throughout. Pittsburgh's top five selections were as follows: [cite news |first= Jenifer|last= Langosch|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Bucs make third baseman top pick|url=http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080605&content_id=2845173&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit |work= |publisher= PittsburghPirates.com|date= 2008-06-05|accessdate=2008-06-07]