It's difficult to imagine a more funereal atmosphere in sports than the Pirates' clubhouse over the last few weeks of the 2009 season.

The team lost 27 of its final 36 games, including a 4-2 setback Sept. 7 against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park that ensured a record 17th straight losing season.

The mood most days was bleak, and it was mirrored in the Pirates' 62-99 final record.

A year later, the Pirates are on pace to lose 108 games. Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Florida Marlins gave the Pirates a 40-81 record — one loss shy of clinching their 18th consecutive losing season.

"Sometimes late in the year you start to see guys dragging a little bit," manager John Russell said. "I don't see that with this group. They still really want to continue to play. When this season's over, I think a lot of these guys will wish that it wasn't — and that's a good thing."

If the Pirates notch their 82nd loss in the next seven games, it will mark the earliest the Pirates have done that since the run of losing seasons began. Only the 2001 club dropped 82 games before the end of August.

Yet, no one is sulking. The clubhouse is a rather businesslike and, often, upbeat place.

"There's more energy in here this year," closer Joel Hanrahan said. "We're having more fun playing the game. It's a young group. Nobody's looking around like, 'I wonder who's going to get traded.' This group will be here for a while. There's some good pieces here, and they're getting better."

"It's not like we're (feeling) down or anything," outfielder Lastings Milledge said. "It's a matter of getting the right timing — when everything clicks and we're all doing what first-place teams do.

"It's not like we're not working toward that. We just haven't reached our full potential yet. One day, one season, it will be like nobody can get us out and nobody can beat us. But it takes time to get to that."

The players and current front-office team realize they are not responsible for most of the Pirates' misery.

"We hate losing, and we've said that from day one," GM Neal Huntington said. "But there is a process we need to go through. Of our short-term goals, we've hit just about every one of them. Unfortunately, the one we've missed is the one the fans care about the most: winning more games at the major league level."

Since 2008, the Pirates have invested $31 million in signing bonuses for draft picks. This year's total of $11.9 million includes $6.5 million for top pick Jameson Taillon and $2.25 million for second-rounder Stetson Allie.

"They've seen some losing here," said Allie, a hard-throwing right-hander. "I'd like to help change that as much as I can."

It will take more than signing a few draft picks — or international free agents, such as Mexican pitcher Luis Heredia, whom the Pirates yesterday acquired for $2.6 million — to turn around nearly two decades of losing.

At some point, the Pirates will have to add one or two experienced, impact players via free agency and the trade market.

"We're definitely going to take a long look at that this offseason," Huntington said.

Additional Information:

Can't win for losing

The Pirates haven't had a winning season since 1992: Here is a look at 18 seasons of futility:

2010: Last above .500 on April 20 (7-6)

2009: Lost game 82 on Sept. 7; Last above .500 on May 2 (12-11)

2008: Lost game 82 on Sept. 7; Last above .500 on April 14 (7-6)

2007: Lost game 82 on Sept. 15; Last above .500 on April 27 (11-10)

2006: Lost game 82 on Sept. 5; Never above .500

2005: Lost game 82 on Sept. 6; Never above .500

2004: Lost game 82 on Sept. 21; Last above .500 on May 29 (23-22)

2003 : Lost game 82 on Sept. 19; Last above .500 on April 22 (10-9)

2002: Lost game 82 on Sept. 10; Last above .500 on May 14 (19-18)

2001: Lost game 82 on Aug. 27; Never above .500

2000: Lost game 82 on Sept. 11; Never above .500

1999: Lost game 82 on Oct. 2; Last above .500 on Aug. 15 (59-58)

1998: Lost game 82 on Sept. 14; Last above .500 on June 6 (31-30)

1997: Lost game 82 on Sept. 26; Last above .500 on Aug. 26 (67-66)

1996: Lost game 82 on Sept. 7; Last above .500 on April 18 (8-7)

x-1995: Lost game 82 on Sept. 24; Never above .500

y-1994: Didn't lose 82; Last above .500 on May 13 (17-16)

1993: Lost game 82 on Sept. 22; Last above .500 on June 5 (27-26)

x-144-game schedule

y-114-game schedule

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