The Pittsburgh Pirates are out of the running for a playoff spot this season, having been eliminated back on Roberto Clemente day. It's been a tough year for the major league squad, which extended its postseason drought to one decade.
However, not all is lost on an organizational level. The Pirates' Triple-A affiliate, the Indianapolis Indians, have been one of the best teams in the International League all year, and they wrapped up play last weekend with the best record in the league.
The team has had the pleasure of employing players like Nick Yorke and Bubba Chandler throughout the year, and numerous top prospects (like Billy Cook and Thomas Harrington) are still plying their trade in Triple-A.