What's That Sucking Sound?

Oh it's just the Pittsburgh Pirates.

One good thing about the club enduring one of the crappiest seasons in 50 years? They're assured the no. 1 pick in the 2011 June amateur draft.

Well on their way to their first 100-loss season since 2001, it will be impossible to finish with a worse record than any other of the 29 teams in major league baseball. Hey, someone has to finish last.

Manager John Russell makes nice use of the word "abysmal" after his team's 100th loss:

An abysmal season, as far as the record goes. Awful. You can't sugarcoat the record.

The Bucs last enjoyed the no. 1 pick in 2002, but they blew it on Bryan Bullington. The right-hander didn't even win his first big league game until this season, as a Kansas City Royals pitcher.

Pittsburgh picked second in two of the last three drafts, taking third baseman Pedro Alvarez in 2008 and high school right-hander Jameson Taillon this season. El Toro is still with the team, and even hit a grand slam off Dave Bush this July before going yard again the very next inning. All I know about Taillon is that he's a highly-touted pitching prospect, he's Canadian, and he's kind of adorable.

Anyway, the Pirates won't top their 112-loss season from back in 1952, but with five games left and a 56-101 record, it's going to be a long offseason.

[USA Today] | [Bucs Dugout] | [Rum Bunter]