The Pirates officially extended their streak of losing seasons to 18 Friday night. That’s not big news, as it’s been clear for a while they would not finish at or above .500. However, I did not realize this:

This was the earliest on the calendar the Pirates achieved 82 losses in these 18 years, besting by a week the previous mark of Aug. 27, 2001. And that, of course, means they are on pace for the worst record in that span. The 2001 team, in christening PNC Park, went 62-100. This team is on pace for 53-109, a .327 winning percentage that would be the worst since 1953.

I suspect this would be easier to take if the team was improving. Hitting a new low just leads to more despair.