At least this team is beating the teams they need to be beating, the rest of the NL Central. Unfortunately this will do them no good in the playoffs (if they even make the playoffs) as they will only win one game max.
Actually you can't even compare the two at all. While embarrassing, the Pirates had a winning record that season. This A's team is on pace to win less than 40 games. Only two other teams in the modern era can say that.
Three days ago Oakland was on pace to go 35-127 this year, the second worst record in the modern era. That Pirates team would still wipe the field with the A's.