Pirates peaked too early (opening week) in 2007

Pittsburgh suffered through its 15th consecutive losing season.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — All one needs to know about the latest in a seemingly endless run of Pittsburgh Pirates losing seasons is this: They peaked in the opening week.

The Pirates received three successive well-pitched games by Zach Duke, Ian Snell and Tom Gorzelanny while sweeping the Astros in Houston, creating a wave of optimism among their fans that a club built around young pitching might be turning the corner.

It was only an illusion. The Pirates were business as usual after that — and that meant losing a lot during a 15th consecutive losing season.

A season after they endured a 13-game losing streak under manager Jim Tracy, they came out of the All-Star break with 14 losses in 16 games. They were nearly as bad at season’s end, losing 13 of their final 15 while being swept by the Padres (4 games) and Cubs (3 games).

Tracy may be gone

Tracy, who could find himself as the Pirates’ ex-manager as early as today despite having one year left on his contract, didn’t think this 68-94 season felt much like last year’s 67-95.

“I feel good about some young players now that they’ve got a couple of years under their belts,” he said. “But it goes without saying some things still have to be fixed. No question about it.”

The changes are already occurring.

Kevin McClatchy resigned as chief executive officer and was replaced by new team president Frank Coonelly. General manager Dave Littlefield was fired last month after six-plus losing seasons and 37-year-old Neal Huntington, a former aide to Indians general manager Mark Shapiro, replaced him a week ago.

And Coonelly, in less than a month on the job, has done something neither McClatchy nor Littlefield ever did: Challenge the players to start winning, and immediately.

One away from record

The Pirates’ streak of 15 consecutive losing seasons is one of the four longest in major pro sports history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, and only the 1933-48 Phillies’ 16-season streak was longer. Coonelly has made it clear he doesn’t want a 16th such season occurring on his watch.

“There is no reason based on the roster we have right now that we can’t be competitive now,” Coonelly said.

A few reasons why the Pirates should be optimistic going in 2008:

UGorzelanny, despite going winless in his final three starts, was 14-10 with a 3.88 ERA.

USnell (9-12, 3.76) also pitched well despite his record and a terrible month after the break. Matt Capps (18 saves in 21 opportunities) emerged as a reliable, strike-throwing closer.

UFreddy Sanchez bounced back after missing nearly all of spring training with a knee injury to hit .304 with 11 homers and 81 RBIs and made nearly every play at second base. Jack Wilson went on a late-season surge to hit .296 and teamed with Sanchez to form an excellent double play combination on a good defensive team.