PNC PARK Bucs open second half in cellar



Despite some successes, the Pirates appear headed for another losing season.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates will begin the second half of the season Friday in a very familiar position for a team apparently headed for a 12th consecutive losing season.
Not even a 10-game winning streak and a burst of 12 victories in 16 games just before the All-Star break got them out of last place in the NL Central.
As a result, the rest of the Pirates' season -- which begins at PNC Park against Florida -- effectively will serve as a three-month training camp for the future.
The surprise is, after so many failed prospects and futile rebuilding efforts during the past dozen years, the first half offered hope for Pirates fans that the nonstop losing won't continue indefinitely.
Plus signs
Five plus signs from the first half:
The kids -- The Pirates have been the majors' youngest team most of the season, and every rookie has shown promise.
Left-hander Oliver Perez (5-4, 3.24 ERA, 117 strikeouts in 97 1/3 innings) is already close to being one of the NL's most dominating starters.
Left fielder Jason Bay (.304, 12 homers, 39 RBIs) might be having a huge season if he hadn't missed 40 percent of the first half with a sore right shoulder.
Sean Burnett (3-2, 2.35 ERA) has been everything expected of the organization's top left-handed prospect, and more.
Smack Wilson -- Shortstop Jack Wilson is one of baseball's surprise stories, with a .332 average that is nearly 100 points above his career average. If he can keep it going, his $1.85 million arbitration award will look like a bargain.
Hack Wilson -- Outfielder-first baseman Craig Wilson (.286, 17 homers, 48 RBIs) always wondered what he could do if he played everyday. Now he knows. Despite several extended slumps, he is on pace to hit 30-plus homers and drive in 90-plus runs.
Retreads -- Jose Mesa has resuscitated his career at age 38, with 22 saves in 23 attempts. First baseman Daryle Ward (.276, 10 homers, 33 RBIs) was a huge surprise until he badly injured a thumb, a setback that derailed his Comeback of the Year-quality season.
Lockerroom -- No longer the cliquish group they were in past seasons, the Pirates rebounded from a disastrous stretch of 21 losses in 25 games to go on their longest winning streak in eight years.
Disappointments
Of course, no Pirates season would be without its disappointments going into the second half:
Starting pitching -- Expected to be a strength, it flopped badly except for Perez and Burnett.
Kris Benson (6-7, 4.42 ERA) is auditioning for an all-but-certain trade to a contender, yet has been inconsistent and unreliable.
Kip Wells (4-6, 4.71 ERA) also hasn't translated his considerable promise into performance.
Ryan Vogelsong (2-7, 6.93) proved that being one of the top pitchers in spring training means nothing when the games count.
The power -- Except for flurries from Ward, Bay and Rob Mackowiak, Craig Wilson has been the only reliable power threat. Catcher Jason Kendall went longer without a homer than any NL regular.
Defense -- It hasn't helped that Wilson and Mackowiak have started nearly everywhere, but the defense -- not expected to be great -- has been far less than good.

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