The Pittsburgh Pirates have the best bullpen ERA in baseball, standing at 2.72. The unit’s .212 batting average against is the best in the major leagues, so the Pirates clearly have themselves a dominant relief corps.
Due to its dominance, the Pirates’ bullpen has acquired the nickname “shark tank” as a tribute to its killer instinct, according to MLB.com. They “look for the smell of blood and go in for the kill,” according to closer Jason Grilli.
Well, the Pirates are sure taking their nickname literally, as they have installed a real shark tank — complete with two sand sharks — in the team’s clubhouse at PNC Park.
“I didn’t know if I had to pay to look at it. I asked, but there was no admission,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle joked. “But they’ve identified with it, they’ve embraced it, we’ll roll with it.”
The 150-gallon tank was installed by a local fish tank manufacturer, who also happens to be a season ticket holder, and includes several Pirates figurines and a pirate ship. Though the sharks themselves lie dormant most of the day, when some food gets put in the tank, they pounce — which sounds like a perfect metaphor for a reliever.
It may not be Marlins Park’s infamous backstop fish tanks, but check out the Pirates’ shark tank in the video below.
