SEASON IN REVIEW Bucs 11th straight losing year gets costly at box office

The team has lost $30 million in its first three seasons at PNC Park.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- This is exactly how Pittsburgh Pirates fans envisioned it when spring training began.
Kenny Lofton batting .300-plus for a division championship team. Aramis Ramirez enjoying another big RBI season. Jeff Suppan contributing lots of innings and efficient starts. Scott Sauerbeck retiring key left-handed batters.
And general manager Dave Littlefield making key trades that produce a division title.
But while it turned out to be a great season for numerous players on their opening-day roster, it wasn't for the Pirates themselves. For them, it was yet another lost year -- a club-record 11th consecutive losing season (75-87) that featured more of everything that went wrong during many of the previous 10 seasons.
There were more cries of woe from owner Kevin McClatchy, who handed out some of the worst contracts in baseball history ($84 million just to Derek Bell, Pat Meares and Jason Kendall), then complained the club lost $30 million in its first three seasons in PNC Park.
Lack of direction
There was the prerequisite lack of direction by a front office that tried to accelerate a long-stagnating rebuilding effort by signing numerous veterans, only to end the season with eight rookies.
At least Littlefield's trades helped get one team into the postseason. The joke in Chicago is he will get a World Series ring should the Cubs go all the way after dealing them Ramirez, Lofton and first baseman Randall Simon for little in return.
Suppan and Sauerbeck also made the postseason with Boston, and closer Mike Williams ended up in the Phillies' bullpen.
Brian Giles, the affordably priced left fielder who was one of the Pirates' most productive players of the last 25 years? He's long gone, too, dealt to the Padres for yet more prospects.
If the Giles trade angered fans, the Ramirez trade infuriated them, given that the Pirates may wind up only with minor leaguer Bobby Hill in return. Littlefield was sympathetic to the fans' unrest, but said the trades "reflected the reality of where we're at."
"The goal is not to be a .500 team but to be a championship team, and for that we need more talent," he said.
Injuries also hurt
Trades alone didn't weaken the Pirates. Second baseman Pokey Reese (.215) tore up a thumb and didn't play after early May. No. 1 starter Kris Benson (5-9, 4.97 ERA) was shut down at midseason with a sore shoulder, amid questions from his teammates about his commitment, toughness and durability.
There were some bright spots, though not many.
Manager Lloyd McClendon refused to give in to the constant chaos, earning praise from opposing managers and a one-year contract extension. Rookie center fielder Tike Redman became a starter after the Lofton trade and hit .330. Kendall enjoyed a comeback year, batting .325 following consecutive injury-ravaged seasons.
Kip Wells (10-9, 3.28 ERA) was 5-2 with a 1.50 ERA in his last seven starts. He likely would have won 15 games on a better team as a bullpen that failed in 24 of 68 save opportunities repeatedly blew leads for him.
Shortstop Jack Wilson hit .256 and had more RBIs (62) than Kendall (58). Reggie Sanders, playing for his sixth team in six seasons, had 31 homers with 87 RBIs and brought an upbeat attitude to an ever-changing clubhouse. Matt Stairs hit 20 homers as a part-time player and had 40 of his 57 RBIs in PNC Park.
Where is team headed?
The question now, just as it was after the last 10 seasons, is where the Pirates are headed from here.
"The record's been disappointing," McClendon said. "But we're moving in the right direction."
However, the payroll will probably be cut by $15 million, to the high $30 million range, giving Littlefield less flexibility to sign more affordable veterans. A number of top prospects are getting closer, but might not be ready by opening day 2004.