The Pittsburgh Pirates have a chance to make history. The Bucs, as they are more commonly known, have accomplished many things in their MLB lifetime. They have made the record books. This organization has had many MVPs. They have been involved in multiple World Series and won five. The Bucs have won 100 games in a season and have lost 100 games in a season. They are actually on a two-year 100-game loss streak right now. What makes it extremely interesting is it looks like there is no way that streak is going to reach three. As a matter of fact, it looks to be just the opposite and this could put the Pirates in the record books yet again.
Close But No Cigar
The Bucs are on pace to be the only team in history to lose 100 games in one season and then come back the next year and win 100. The closest team was the Arizona Diamondbacks. In their inaugural expansion year of 1998, they lost 97 games. The D’backs came back the next year and won 100 games. That is an amazing accomplishment and they did it in their second year in MLB, but it still is not 100 losses to 100 wins.
On the flip side, no teams have won 100 games and then lost 100 games the next season. The 1914 Philadelphia A’s had 99 wins. The 1915 A’s lost 109. The most losses a 100-win team had in the next year was the ’71 Cincinnati Reds with 83.
The ’62 Mets Are Feeling Better
Funny how the A’s are involved in this scenario. The 2023 Oakland A’s are on pace to have the dreaded 100-loss season back-to-back. At the current rate, the A’s are on pace to lose 128 games. You can hear the ’62 NY Mets chanting now to please end their 60-year run as most losses in a year. They achieved an outstanding 120 losses in that miserable 160-game season in 1962. Additionally, the Washington Nationals, who cleaned house last year, are right there on the bubble. They are on pace to lose 102 games which would complete the back-to-back season failures.
Pittsburgh is on pace to win 112 games. That would be a 50-game turnaround. Five-o, fifty more wins, and 50 fewer losses. This is their chance to make history. It is a long and grueling season. They already lost their rising superstar, Oneil Cruz for the first four months, yet somehow have stayed on top. Andrew McCutchen has put up unbelievable numbers in his return to the Steel City. The 2013 NL MVP lit a fire in the team. As I wrote in The Dreaded 100 Loss Season, the Bucs made some moves in the right direction leading to 2023. The odds makers placed them at 67.5 wins for the season. At this rate, you will be able to cash the over in the middle of the summer.
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