Want to hear something that might surprise you? The Pirates are the third-most popular team in Pittsburgh, at least when it comes to ratings and branding studies. And according to Dejan Kovacevic of DK on Pittsburgh Sports, it isn’t close.
What the Pirates are closing the gap on, however, is the expectations they carry when starting their 162-game campaign.
Yeah, that’s right. The Pirates now have to meet expectations. But this time, unlike the past two decades, they are positive.
It puts them right in the neighborhood of the Steelers and Penguins with those, too.
For so long, the Pirates were the red-head stepchild of Pittsburgh, as their two-decade long losing streak signified. Sure, the Penguins weren’t always on top during that time (see Beech; Kris), but turned it around thanks to Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby, Kris Letang and Marc-Andre Fleury. Before you knew it, the Penguins were selling out each game, and carried the expectations to not just make the playoffs — where they have been regulars — but it’s been Stanley Cup or bust more times than I can remember, according to the fans, at least.
Which, when thinking about it, is truly ridiculous.
It’s not just playoff time that the expectations are there for the Pens, either. The regular season — this one included — has seen fans complain and fear for the worst when the Pens had the second-best record in hockey. Now, they have 73 points and by point total, they are tied for the eighth-best record in the league. Not where they’ve been, but still, a reason to complain? Eh, I’m not too sure.
But again, as a fan, you have the right to do so if you want to. I’m not one of those writers who will try to tell you how to feel. I just call it as I see it.
But that’s what winning does. It spoils a fan base, like it or not. It’s happened with the Penguins, and it’s most definitely happened with the Steelers.
Remember when the Steelers went 8-8 in two straight seasons? How could you forget it, actually. It’s like the world ended in Pittsburgh. Fire Mike Tomlin. Fire Todd Haley. Trade Ben Roethlisberger. Where is Mike Wallace? Don’t touch Dick LeBeau, though.
Two years of being the definition of average…and that’s the result.
Some teams would love to be 8-8. Hell, a coach would get an extension for that in Tampa Bay or Oakland.
But that’s not Pittsburgh. Those cities and teams don’t have the history that the Steelers do. But even the almighty Yankees aren’t on top every year — and they don’t even have a salary cap to deal with.
But when the Steelers go 8-8, they didn’t meet expectations that were set upon the team by the past and the fans. This year, with a weak schedule, they lived up to those expectations, before ultimately falling to the Ravens in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Next year, with the hardest schedule in the league, we will see if they can meet the expectations — realistic or not.
Welcome to the club, Pirates. Three years ago, you were America’s darling, as you entered the All-Star break with playoffs in sight. We know how that ended, and aside from some Yinzers, there wasn’t much backlash about it; even if a Homer Bailey no-hitter locked up a 20th consecutive non-winning season.
Two years ago, America was again joining with Pittsburgh — well, except Cincinnati and St. Louis, but I’m still waiting to confirm if they matter — in pulling for the Pirates. The expectations weren’t high that year, but the hope was. The hope that the young talent would put it together to finally make the playoffs after two long decades.
Sure enough…”Cueeeee-toooooo” happened.
A win in the one-game Wild Card playoff game happened.
With that, grown men shed tears in knowing that their kids could finally witness what they did years ago. The Pirates won a game in the playoffs.
Last year, Pirates fans still considered themselves the underdog and unappreciated (follow ANY Pirates fan on Twitter, and you’ll see what I mean. It’s OK to mute them now and then. They are a fun, but sometimes an overly-passionate crowd) when it came to the rest of the league. They wanted to prove that their team wasn’t a one-year wonder.
And once again, the Pirates made the Wild Card game, but ultimately fell to Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants — the eventual World Series Champs. But there was a different feel during that game last year than there was in the previous year against the Reds.
Against the Reds, it was the “we’re happy to be here” feel. But against the Giants, I can’t remember reading one fan saying there were nervous about the game. In fact, they had the expectation that the Pirates would win.
Oh boy. There’s that “E” word again.
So what are the expectations this year for the team? They aren’t the underdog anymore, and they won’t take people by surprise. They know with a star-studded roster, deep bench, young talent waiting to emerge and arguably the best player in baseball that the Pirates offer a challenge. ESPN, after all, did rank the Pirates as the third-best team in baseball, behind the Nationals and the Cardinals.
Ninety-five wins? Clinching the division? Making it to the World Series? Or, sigh, winning the World Series?
I guess if the Pirates are truly joining the Steelers and the Penguins, the last one might be realistic for some.
