August surges by the Pirates and Reds have conjured memories of the 1973 National League Least.

That, too, was a division nobody knew how to win. The morning of Aug. 28, 1973, the standings of the NL Eastern Division looked very close to today's Comedy Central, where only the Cubs are above .500.

Let's go back 34 years:

Those Mets, led by Tom Seaver, Rusty Staub and Tug McGraw, went from worst to first by going 23-9 the rest of the way, shoplifting the division with a then-record low of 82-79. (The Pirates, in their first season without Roberto Clemente, split their remaining games to finish 80-82, in third place, 2¹/₂ games out.) The Mets then beat the Cincinnati Reds in the playoffs before losing the '73 World Series to the Oakland A's in seven games.

I'm not suggesting the Pirates can repeat the Mets' feat. A loss Sunday left the Pirates nine games back, too much ground for even a reasonably hot team to make up in less than five weeks. The Pirates would have to finish 25-8 to top .500. That's .758 ball, and that's ridiculous.

But the recent good play still leaves a reason to watch. With three of the original teams from the National League Least now in the Comedy Central, the Pirates have a chance to be class clowns at this hapless reunion.

Remember how, in school, a teacher would tell the class clown, "Just because you don't want an education doesn't mean you have to ruin it for everyone else."

Was that argument persuasive to any self-respecting clown? Nay, it was an argument for the jokester to pursue his craft, it being his only realistic hope of influencing the lives of many.

Likewise, the Pirates soon could destroy the dreams of hundreds of thousands of fans across America's Heartland. Fans in Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Louis and even Cincinnati believe their teams can win the division because the rules clearly state somebody must. Why should there be so much hope while Pittsburgh suffers? The great Honus Wagner himself would understand the need for schadenfreude, a German word meaning, "joy taken from the troubles of others."

If the Pirates continue the good baseball they have played to begin August with 15 wins and 10 losses, fans in more than one city will be muttering in their souvenir beer mugs in October, "I can't believe we'd still be playing if we hadn't lost those games to the Pirates."

Houston fans already know that pain. A doubleheader against the Reds tonight continues a stretch of 23 consecutive games against Comedy Central teams, which the Pirates began well by taking two of three from the Astros.

After these four games at PNC Park with the Reds, the Pirates go to Milwaukee for three, to St. Louis for four, and then come home to play the Cubs, Brewers and Astros in three-game sets.

The advantage may be with the Pirates. They're 27-27 against Central teams and 34-26 against teams with records below .500. Given that most of the pressure is now on opponents, that also favors the Pirates, as they have played best when games don't mean much.

After these 23 divisional contests, the Pirates have a tough four-game set in San Diego, then three in Wrigley Field, before finishing out the season at home against the Diamondbacks and Cardinals. Likely as not, those games also will be big for the visitors.

If the Pirates win all 10 remaining series, and sweep one, that would get them to .500. If they go 23-10 the rest of the way, they still lose 82 and guarantee themselves a shot at tying the all-time record of 16 consecutive losing seasons next year.

When I told another fan they could win all the remaining series and still finish 80-82, his reply was simple: "It might be good enough."

Winning the division that way would be a weirdly just reward for enduring 15 years of futility, but chances are it will take 82-85 wins. Folks can write or e-mail their guess at the date of the Pirates' 82nd loss this season. Optimists can send the date of their 82nd win, but only 2007 dates will be accepted.

By the way, this August run should show fans it hasn't been "the little things" that have been missing, but big ones. The Pirates lead the NL in scoring this month because they lead in home runs (41) and OPS (.872, an on-base average of .367, plus a slugging average of .505). Get on base, hit the long ball and win.