Jim Sankey: Extra Innings: Pirates success: Enjoy it while it lasts

Apr. 25—Heading into last night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the National League Central Division first-place Pirates (ahh, read that again) were riding the longest active winning streak in the majors (seven). Their 16-7 record ranked tops in the National League and trailed only the 19-3 Tampa Bay Rays among all major-league teams.

Your surprising Pittsburgh Pirates were on a pace for 113 wins.

We can still use Pirates and success in the same sentence. It's first time in a long time that fans have been able to wear proudly their Pirates t-shirts this late in the season.

Their seven-game winning streak was the longest since taking 11 straight games in mid-July 2018. Last week, they recorded a five-game winning streak for the first time since 2019 and the first in Derek Shelton's three-plus seasons as manager.

And while reports of a Shelton extension had been rumored earlier this month, the Pirates chose the team's best start since going 16-5 in 1992 to announce his new deal.

The Bucs also were doing their part to support that consensus that the game's most important part comes from players who stand above everyone else on a baseball field — the pitcher's mound. Entering last night's game against an 12-11 Dodgers team being paid $227 million, good statistics were all over the place:

—Strong starting pitching resulted in an MLB-best 11 consecutive quality starts and 12 of 13 times the starting pitcher worked at least six innings with three or fewer runs allowed. Those 13 games produced a major-league best 2.13 ERA, while the bullpen produced an MLB best 11 saves, led by David Bednar's individual best eight saves. Pittsburgh relievers gave up an MLB fewest three home runs, helping the team go 14-0 when leading after eight innings.

—Meanwhile, on-base percentage by Bucco bashers improved from last year's 28th to 12th, while their 15th ranking of 8.1 percent walk rate of last season improved to a seventh-ranking of 10.1 percent so far in 2023.

—The Pirates had the third-most strikeouts in MLB last season, but have the 12th fewest as of writing this column.

—They ranked 18th in home runs last year, but have improved to ninth so far in 2023.

—The Pirates were second with 25 steals and a 10th rank, while their 83.3 percent success rate was 10th and thirty 30 attempts led the NL.

It's true that the Pirates have padded their stats over the first 14.2 percent of the season, having played three last-place clubs so far; in addition, slow starts by the Cardinals (9-14), White Sox (7-16) and Astros (12-11) have also helped.

And certainly a $227 million payroll ought to get you better than the 12-11 record the Dodgers brought into PNC Park last night.

Giving fans hope for the next six weeks of games following tomorrow's final of three scheduled games against LA is a schedule that brings the Pirates games against the NL West last place Rockies, NL East cellar dwelling Nationals, the 8-13 Tigers, NL Central fourth-place Cardinals, AL West fourth-place Mariners, NL West fourth-place Giants and the MLB-worst Athletics.

And while the team is having fun and rightfully enjoying the way they are playing, Andrew McCutchen, who has enjoyed early season success, reminds what all baseball teams know: Like no other sport, the 162-game schedule is filled with stretches of wins and losses, ups and downs.

"Guys are feeling good with the way things are going, and you're gonna get some confidence from that," McCutchen said last week. "But I'm one of the guys who has been around long enough to say that's good and all ... but we've got a lot of work to do.

"We have to continue to do the small things," McCutchen added. "I don't care what the score is. I don't care how good the pitching is or how many runs we score. We have to do the small things right. We have to continue to keep pounding away at that because ultimately that's what's going to win the game. and that could be what loses the game."

As for now, we need to enjoy the success while it lasts and hope that it lasts well into the summer. You never know ... .

JIM SANKEY is the Pittsburgh Pirates columnist for Allied News. His work appear weekly during the Major League Baseball season.

JIM SANKEY is the Pittsburgh Pirates columnist for Allied News. His work appear weekly during the Major League Baseball season.