MLB: 5 Things to Watch for in the Second Half of the Season

Will the Pittsburgh Pirates drop off again this season?

Jul 22, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen (22) congratulates relief pitcher Vin Mazzaro (32) after recording the final out against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

I don’t think so, but that’s not to say it won’t. Pittsburgh has had would-be great seasons the last two years, only to end in utter dissapointment.

Pittsburghs woes go back further than 2011. In fact, Pittsburgh hasn’t had a winning ball club since 1992! That’s twenty straight years of below .500 baseball. 2010 even saw the worst season for the Pirates in over 50 years with 105 losses.

In all actuality, the last two seasons were arguably worse. It wasn’t because the Pirates finished with a worse record, oh no, it was because the team showed great promise only to come up short. In 2011, the team was in first place in July.

After a questionable call, their season unravled and the Pirates finished with 90 losses. In 2012, the Pirates seemed to have the Wild Card spot locked up. During the final eight weeks, however, the team went 16-36 to not only lose the Wild Card spot but to finish in four place in the NL Central.

This year shows promise. Pittsburgh has lead their division this year as they were the first team in all of baseball to reach 50 wins this season.

Currently, they are only two games behind the St. Louis Cardinals with a record of 57-39 (St. Louis is 59-37). The Pirates also sent five players to the 2013 All-Star game, the most the team has sent since 1972. And, just like the Boston Red Sox proved in 2004, all losing streaks must eventually come to an end.