The right summer to lose

PITTSBURGH -- Twelve consecutive seasons of sub .500 ball doesn't leave a pleasant taste in the mouths of Pirates fans. But for those looking for a silver lining to another season of playing the spoiler, one can be found.
If the Pirates have to suffer another losing year, they picked the right summer to do it.
Turn the page and glance down at the National League Central Division standings. The Pirates could be nursing a .500 record and they'd still be in the basement of the six-team NL Central, the largest division in the majors.
All five of their NL Central brethren have pennant fever as baseball approaches the All-Star break. Since winning their third straight NL East Division pennant in 1992, the Pirates' top goal has been to finish .500. They came close once (1997). Barring a tremendous winning streak, it won't happen this year.
Reasons for losing
Reasons why include the Bucs' records against their division rivals (St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers and Houston Astros), their woeful interleague mark and lack of success at home.
The NL Central boasts five of the league's best 10 teams, but only two can qualify for the playoffs.
Against the NL Central, the Bucs (31-43) are 18-26 after Tuesday's 3-0 win over the Cardinals at PNC Park. Against American League teams, the Bucs went 2-10. At home, the Bucs are 13-22.
If the Pirates were close to the break-even point of those marks, .500 for the season could be attainable. And it wouldn't matter.
At 15 games above .500, the Cardinals appear to be the class of the division even though their pitching staff doesn't have Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Kerry Woods and Mark Prior.
So as July approaches, Pirates general manager Dave Littlefield should soon be receiving calls from contenders.
Helped Cubs in 2003
Last year, the Bucs helped the Cubs get to within five outs of their first World Series since 1945 when they gave away slugging third baseman Aramis Ramirez and outfielder Kenny Lofton to Chicago for light-hitting infielder Jose Hernadez.
Pitchers Jeff Suppan and Scott Sauerbeck also came close to the World Series after they were sent to the Red Sox for essentially infielder Freddy Sanchez.
Littlefield's goal was to shed payroll and he succeeded magnificently. This year, the Bucs' GM has a lot less payroll fat to trim and probably a lot less interesting trade bait.
As long as catcher Jason Kendall continues to earn $10 million per season (through the 2007 season), he's available to any ballclub willing to pay so much to a solid singles hitter.
As for pitching, only starter Kris Benson, 29, and closer Jose Mesa, 38, are likely to spur much interest. Benson's numbers are unremarkable (5-7, 4.78 earned-run average) for the number-one draft pick of 1996, but he might make a difference on a club whose rotation has an injury problem.
Mesa is perfect
Mesa (1-0) has been perfect in his 18 save situations. And with only 32 innings, he's not been overused. A contending team with a struggling bullpen could use Mesa's skills a lot more than the Pirates. Cleveland is a possible trade target, but you have to wonder how loud the uproar would be if the Indians reacquired the closer who blew the save in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series.
Reliever Salomon Torres (4-3, 3.14) is available and might spark interest since his contract expires when the season ends.
Unlike last year when the Pirates had several rent-a-players doing well enough to spark outside interest (Lofton and outfielder Reggie Sanders), this year's lineup doesn't have much beyond the younger core players (shortstop Jack Wilson, outfielder Jason Bay and pitchers Kip Wells, Sean Burnett and Oliver Perez).
Could draw attention
An American League club looking for a designated hitter might nibble at Craig Wilson (club-leading 15 homers).
But it would be rather surprising -- no, shocking -- if any other club showed interest in the likes of first baseman Randall Simon, outfielder Abraham Nunez and infielder Chris Stynes.
Someday, the Pirates will play meaningful games in late summer, but not this one.
A .500 record this year would have earned the Bucs a small dose of respectability, but try cashing that at PNC Bank.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com.