(Image from AP Images.)The Pittsburgh Pirates formally introduced their new manager Clint Hurdle today at PNC Park. This is the second manager hired by the current Pirates' front office. Hurdle replaces John Russell, who led the Buccos to a 186-299 record in his three seasons at the helm.
Hurdle managed the Colorado Rockies for six full seasons and parts of two others. The Rockies had one winning season under Hurdle. The team finished 90-73, earning the NL Wildcard berth. After sweeping the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks en route to the first NL Pennant in Rockies' history, the team lost in four to the Boston Red Sox.
After a 18-28 start in 2009, the Rockies' fired Hurdle. Hurdle then joined the Texas Rangers, who won the AL Pennant, as hitting coach.
Hurdle takes on a daunting job in Pittsburgh, though. You simply cannot downplay the fact that the Pirates' franchise has had a losing record in each of the last 18 seasons. Hurdle has to instill a winning culture into the locker room that has been missing for years. The talent is there, though. Jose Tabata and Neil Walker finished in the top 10 of this season's Rookie of the Year voting.
The nucleus of this team is strong (Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, Walker, Tabata, Garrett Freaking Jones), but Hurdle's job - like his job in Colorado - will be to get the nucleus in sync. The Pirates can make some noise in a weak NL Central if the players hit their stride at the same time.
- Jeff Laboon
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