| 2008 Pittsburgh Pirates | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | National League |
| Division | Central |
| Ballpark | PNC Park |
| City | Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania[1] |
| Record | 67–95 (.414) |
| Divisional place | 6th |
| Owners | Robert Nutting |
| General managers | Neal Huntington |
| Managers | John Russell |
| Television | FSN Pittsburgh |
| Radio | WPGB-FM (Steve Blass,Greg Brown,Lanny Frattare,Bob Walk,John Wehner) |
The2008Pittsburgh Pirates season was the 127th season of the franchise; the 122nd in theNational League. This was their eighth season atPNC Park. It was the first under new presidentFrank Coonelly, general managerNeal Huntington, and managerJohn Russell. Unable to improve on their 68–94, last place finish during the2007 season, the Pirates had not had a winning record or made it to the playoffs since1992, and finished 67–95 for their 16th straight losing season. The season was the final of play-by-play announcerLanny Frattare, whose 33-year tenure as Pirates' broadcaster was the longest in franchise history.[2][3]
On November 5, 2007,John Russell was introduced as the Pirates manager, replacingJim Tracy.[4] Team management cited three areas that the franchise hoped to improve: "refocused emphasis on fundamentals", holding players to a higher standard, and signing younger players.[5] The Pirates won their season opener against theAtlanta Braves, by the score of 12–11, in 12 innings.[6] The Pirates played their home opener against the division-rivalChicago Cubs on April 7, losing 10–8, also in 12 innings.[7] The Pirates started out the season with a 7–7 record after the first half-month; however, after a five-game losing streak they began to struggle, finishing out April with an 11–16 record. The Pirates losing continued as they dropped three of four to theWashington Nationals to begin May. The team fought back, winning six straight games—the most consecutive since2004,[8] to bring their record within one victory of a .500 record. Throughout the remainder of May the team struggled, but never fell more than four games under .500. Throughout the early months of the season closerMatt Capps was perfect, gettingsaves in 15 consecutive opportunities. However, on June 10, Capps gave up a two-run home run to the Nationals, losing his first decision of the season.[9] In addition, Capps would blow saves in two of his next three appearances; however, he achieved his first win of the season after an extra-inning victory over theBaltimore Orioles.[10]
Pittsburgh went 6–9 in interleague play,[11] including two wins against theNew York Yankees who returned to Pittsburgh for the first time since the1960 World Series.[12] On July 12, in a game against theSt. Louis Cardinals, the Pirates came back to win a game that they trailed by six runs in the seventh inning. It was only the second time in the past 25 years that the Pirates won at home after scoring runs in the seventh, eighth, ninth, and extra innings.[13] The Pirates finished out the remainder of July with a 6–9 record—50–58 overall. On the final day of July, the Pirates made a deal with the Yankees to send outfielderXavier Nady and pitcherDámaso Marte in return forJeff Karstens, Daniel McCutchen,Ross Ohlendorf andJosé Tábata.[14] Later in the day the team became involved in a three-team deal in which the Pirates sentJason Bay to theBoston Red Sox in return for four players from theLos Angeles Dodgers.[15] The Pirates won seven of the first 18 games in August before dropping ten consecutive games to close out the month. Pittsburgh entered the final month of the season 21 games below the .500 mark. On September 7, the Pirates lost their 82nd game of the season, tying them with the Philadelphia Phillies as the only two franchises in professional sports history to have losing records in 16 consecutive seasons.[16][17] The Pirates concluded their season on September 28 with a victory against theSan Diego Padres.[18] The team became the second in the Pirates' 122-year history to have no pitchers to win 10 games.[19] The performance of the pitchers lead the team to fire pitching coachJeff Andrews after the season.[20]
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs | 97 | 64 | .602 | — | 55–26 | 42–38 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | 90 | 72 | .556 | 7½ | 49–32 | 41–40 |
| Houston Astros | 86 | 75 | .534 | 11 | 47–33 | 39–42 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 86 | 76 | .531 | 11½ | 46–35 | 40–41 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 74 | 88 | .457 | 23½ | 43–38 | 31–50 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 67 | 95 | .414 | 30½ | 39–42 | 28–53 |
| 2008 Game Log (67–95)[21] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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April (10–16)
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May (15–13)
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June (12–15)
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July (12–14)
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August (7–21)
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September (10–16)
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| Legend: = Win = Loss = Postponement Bold = Pirates team member | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source:MLB Standings Grid – 2008 | |||||||||||||||||
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| Team | AZ | ATL | CHC | CIN | COL | FLA | HOU | LAD | MIL | NYM | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | STL | WAS | AL |
| Arizona | – | 3–5 | 2–4 | 2–4 | 15–3 | 2–7 | 4–2 | 8–10 | 2–5 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 10–8 | 11–7 | 3–4 | 4–2 | 6–9 |
| Atlanta | 5–3 | – | 0–6 | 3–3 | 4–3 | 10–8 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 3–6 | 11–7 | 4–14 | 2–5 | 5–1 | 2–5 | 2–5 | 6–12 | 8–7 |
| Chicago | 4–2 | 6–0 | – | 8–7 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 8–9 | 5–2 | 9–7 | 4–2 | 3–4 | 14–4 | 5–2 | 4–3 | 9–6 | 3–3 | 6–9 |
| Cincinnati | 4–2 | 3–3 | 7–8 | – | 1–5 | 6–2 | 3–12 | 1–7 | 10–8 | 3–4 | 3–5 | 6–9 | 4–3 | 5–1 | 5–10 | 4–3 | 9–6 |
| Colorado | 3–15 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 5–1 | – | 5–3 | 3–3 | 8–10 | 4–3 | 3–6 | 0–5 | 5–2 | 9–9 | 11–7 | 3–4 | 4–3 | 7–8 |
| Florida | 7–2 | 8–10 | 3–4 | 2–6 | 3–5 | – | 4–2 | 3–4 | 5–1 | 8–10 | 10–8 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 2–5 | 14–3 | 5–10 |
| Houston | 2–4 | 3–3 | 9–8 | 12–3 | 3–3 | 2–4 | – | 4–3 | 7–8 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 8–8 | 3–3 | 7–1 | 7–8 | 4–2 | 7–11 |
| Los Angeles | 10–8 | 2–4 | 2–5 | 7–1 | 10–8 | 4–3 | 3–4 | – | 4–2 | 3–4 | 4–4 | 5–2 | 11–7 | 9–9 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 5–10 |
| Milwaukee | 5–2 | 6–3 | 7–9 | 8–10 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 8–7 | 2–4 | – | 2–4 | 1–5 | 14–1 | 4–3 | 6–0 | 10–5 | 6–2 | 7–8 |
| New York | 3–3 | 7–11 | 2–4 | 4–3 | 6–3 | 10–8 | 2–5 | 4–3 | 4–2 | – | 11–7 | 4–3 | 2–5 | 5–1 | 4–3 | 12–6 | 9–6 |
| Philadelphia | 4–3 | 14–4 | 4–3 | 5–3 | 5–0 | 8–10 | 4–3 | 4–4 | 5–1 | 7–11 | – | 4–2 | 4–2 | 3–3 | 5–4 | 12–6 | 4–11 |
| Pittsburgh | 3–4 | 5–2 | 4–14 | 9–6 | 2–5 | 2–3 | 8–8 | 2–5 | 1–14 | 3–4 | 2–4 | – | 3–4 | 4–2 | 10–7 | 3–4 | 6–9 |
| San Diego | 8–10 | 1–5 | 2–5 | 3–4 | 9–9 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 7–11 | 3–4 | 5–2 | 2–4 | 4–3 | – | 5–13 | 1–6 | 5–1 | 3–15 |
| San Francisco | 7–11 | 5–2 | 3–4 | 1–5 | 7–11 | 3–3 | 1–7 | 9–9 | 0–6 | 1–5 | 3–3 | 2–4 | 13–5 | – | 4–3 | 7–0 | 6–12 |
| St. Louis | 4–3 | 5–2 | 6–9 | 10–5 | 4–3 | 5–2 | 8–7 | 4–2 | 5–10 | 3–4 | 4–5 | 7–10 | 6–1 | 3–4 | – | 5–1 | 7–8 |
| Washington | 2–4 | 12–6 | 3–3 | 3–4 | 3–4 | 3–14 | 2–4 | 3–3 | 2–6 | 6–12 | 6–12 | 4–3 | 1–5 | 0–7 | 1–5 | – | 8–10 |
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| 2008 Pittsburgh Pirates | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
Pitchers
| Catchers Infielders | Outfielders | Manager Coaches
| ||||||
| Opening Day Starters | |
|---|---|
| Name | Position |
| Nate McLouth | CF |
| Freddy Sanchez | 2B |
| Jason Bay | LF |
| Adam LaRoche | 1B |
| Xavier Nady | RF |
| Ryan Doumit | C |
| José Bautista | 3B |
| Jack Wilson | SS |
| Ian Snell | SP |
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
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Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
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(October 29, 2007 – March 24, 2008)
(March 25, 2008 – October 29, 2008)
| Rd | # | Player | Pos | DOB and Age | School |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Pedro Álvarez | 3B | (1987-02-06)February 6, 1987 (aged 21) | Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee) |
| 2 | 48 | Tanner Scheppers | RHP | (1987-01-17)January 17, 1987 (aged 21) | California State University, Fresno (Fresno, California) |
| 3 | 79 | Jordy Mercer | SS | (1986-08-27)August 27, 1986 (aged 21) | Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, Oklahoma) |
| 4 | 114 | Chase d'Arnaud | SS | (1987-01-21)January 21, 1987 (aged 21) | Pepperdine University (Malibu, California) |
| 5 | 144 | Justin Wilson | LHP | (1987-08-18)August 18, 1987 (aged 20) | California State University, Fresno (Fresno, California) |
| 6 | 174 | Robbie Grossman | OF | (1989-09-16)September 16, 1989 (aged 18) | Cy-Fair High School (Cypress, Texas) |
| 7 | 204 | Benji Gonzalez | SS | (1990-01-16)January 16, 1990 (aged 18) | Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School (Gurabo, PR) |
| 8 | 234 | Jeremy Farrell | 3B | (1986-11-11)November 11, 1986 (aged 21) | University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia) |
| 9 | 264 | Matt Hague | 3B | (1985-08-20)August 20, 1985 (aged 22) | Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, Oklahoma) |
| 10 | 294 | Drew Gagnon | RHP | (1990-06-26)June 26, 1990 (aged 17) | Liberty High School (Brentwood, California) |
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: VSL Pirates