Like their neighbors, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Washington Wild Things baseball team will look for a formula in the offseason to end their losing ways.

But unlike the Pirates, who will enter 2010 owning the longest consecutive-years losing streak in North American professional sports history at 17 seasons, the Wild Things will try to stop their losing ways at one.

After seven years as one of the Frontier League's most successful franchises both on and off the field, Washington had its first losing season in its eighth year of existence.

The independent minor league club finished at 43-53 when the regular season concluded on Sept. 6. Only four of the Frontier League's 12 teams won fewer games.

Attendance also dropped in 2009 with the Wild Things attracting 133,881 fans for an average of 2,789 a game. They had averaged better than 3,000 a game and about 155,000 a season during the previous six years. Capacity at Consol Energy Park is about 3,200.

This season marked the second in a row Washington failed to make the league's four-team playoffs, after reaching it in each of its first six seasons when the club compiled an overall record of 349-205 (65 percent winning percentage).

"We did everything we could to put a competitive team on the field [in 2009]," said Ross Vecchio, in his eighth year as the Wild Things general manager. "We just got some bad breaks."

Vecchio said the formula he intends to use to get the team back on the winning track in 2010 is to "get some pitching help and add more athleticism."

The Wild Things' team ERA of 5.63 was 10th out of 12 teams. On the offensive side, Washington did finish second in the league in home runs with 128, but Vecchio feels the club needs to improve its team speed and defense -- thus the need for more athleticism.

Injuries, an in-season retirement (catcher Kris Rochelle) and a few players not performing to the level they had in the past, all played a part in the Wild Things' first losing season.

Vecchio points out that losing players to injury or other reasons is especially tough for independent minor league teams.

"Independent minor league teams don't have replacements in place," he said. "If someone is injured at Altoona [the Pirates' AA minor league team], they can bring someone up from the club below and keep plugging away. We can't."

Even though it was a down year for Washington, the 2009 season did have plenty of highlights for the Wild Things.

• Outfielder Chris Sidick, a Canon-McMillan High School graduate, set Frontier League career records for hits (460) and games played (430). Sidick, who batted .240 (81 for 338) with a team-best 24 stolen bases, has played five seasons for Washington and is expected to return for a sixth in 2010.

• Designated hitter Jacob Dempsey tied for the league lead in home runs with 31 and led the Frontier League in RBIs (95) and extra base hits (56). It was the second consecutive season he led the league in RBIs.

• Third baseman Grant Psomas, a Keysone Oaks graduate, won the annual Home Run Derby contest before the Frontier League all-star game. He also homered in the game itself. Psomas, who played minor league ball in the New York Mets and Florida Marlins organizations before joining Washington, hit .254 (91 for 358) and was second on the team in home runs (24) and RBIs (72). Unfortunately for the Wild Things, this was Psomas' first and last season with Washington because he will be 27 next spring, which is above the Frontier League's maximum playing age.

Another highlight was the excellent July the Wild Things put together, going 16-9. At the end of the month, it appeared Washington was ready to make a charge toward a playoff spot. But, the club went 8-19 in August and fell by the wayside.

Vecchio said the 2010 Wild Things will likely return with less than half of the players who finished the 2009 season, but that has been the scenario even during winning years.

The Wild Things' general manager will most likely try to re-sign the power-hitting Dempsey, as well as three players with area ties -- Sidick and pitchers Michael Lucas (Trinity grad) and Keith Meyer (Schenley grad). Lucas, a relief specialist, had Washington's lowest ERA at 3.24 in 35 appearances.

In securing players, Vecchio must stay within the Frontier League salary cap. This year, it was $72,000, split between 22 to 24 players who make between $600 to $1,600 a month -- most at the lower end. Ticket prices for Washington Wild Things games remain very affordable, starting at $4 with $12 being the top price.

A winning team can make a trip to see the Wild Things play more enjoyable for fans, but in the world of minor league baseball, strong customer service and promotions are just as important if not moreso.

"Presentation, energy, excitement are important," said Vecchio. "We try to change. You don't want people going away from our games saying 'It's the same thing.' You need to make it fun. You look for new promotions, whether it be a unique bobblehead or something else."

And so after an unusual subpar season, it's "Wait till next year" for the Washington Wild Things' faithful.

"We look forward to building for 2010," said Vecchio.