PITTSBURGH Attendance drop not a concern, yet

The Pirates' average for 15 games is down nearly 5,000.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- At least there weren't many witnesses to one of the Pittsburgh Pirates' worst homestands in years.
The Pirates wrapped up their most unsuccessful stay at home since 1993 by going 3-9 on a 12-game homestand against the Mets (1-2), Cubs (1-2), Giants (1-2) and Dodgers (0-3).
What made it even worse for general manager Dave Littlefield were consecutive losses in as many nights Friday and Saturday that saw the Pirates squander late-inning leads against the Dodgers.
"We didn't win some games that were in our grasp," he said before Los Angeles' 6-2 victory Sunday. "If we had two more wins (from those games) and two fewer losses, then it's not as frustrating."
But Littlefield isn't fretting about the attendance; the Pirates are averaging 17,828, down from 22,529 a season ago and 30,837 in their first season in PNC Park in 2001.
The Pirates had 15 April home dates, the most in the majors except for the Phillies and Expos, which played 16 each. The Expos get an asterisk, too; they played only six in Montreal and 10 in Puerto Rico.
Rarely draw well in April
With plenty of cool weather, the Pirates rarely draw well in April. But on one of the few good-weather nights they've enjoyed so far, they attracted a club-record walkup sale of nearly 10,000 while drawing 31,518 against the Cubs on April 19.
"We've had some tough weather," Littlefield said Sunday. "The number of games we've had in April is more than we've had in the past. But there's still a general feeling that we've got to improve the product on the field and show what we've talked about ... that we are improved. We've got to prove it.
"I'm sure the 2.4 million we drew (in 2001) are saying, 'We've heard this before.' "
It may seem as if the schedule-makers didn't give the Pirates a break by giving them so many early season home games. But they have only one home stand -- of 10 games -- in September, when they also don't draw well, once students have returned to classes and football season starts.
"I'm not discouraged," Littlefield said.