OnlyBucs

092B3C232F201A2139203D26273E4E0 wrote: I added my “two cents” in another response to where the problems are. It starts at the top (Nutting). But again, we all know that he will never sell the team. But, in my opinion, I feel that even though the scouting department has been able to select players in the draft ahead of teams like the Yankees, Dodgers, and Cardinals, plus other very good teams, why is it that they have, and always seem to have a much stronger farm system? That is where the major overhaul needs to be. How did the Astros get better? They hired people in the Cardinals front office to select amateur players. Another example of a team that became good after they changed the G.M (Epstein), along with the scouting department, the Cubs. Go to the successful teams and see if there front office people are willing to come here. Is Nutting willing to basically replace the current scouting department? Also, much discussion has been made about why pitchers that don’t do well here, all of a sudden become very good when they go elsewhere. The pitch to contact is not working. Even Archer is doing much better. The coaches are allowing him to pitch to his strengths. Bobster and Possum, what do you think? The reason why I am asking you is that I also go back to 1960. I am thoroughly disgusted about the current state of the Pirates. If we have to trade players over the winter like Marte and Vasquez, let’s make sure that we get top level prospects for them. But, in order to do so, the problems are with the current general manager and the scouting department. I’m not blaming Hurdle for this mess. The greatest manager in the history of baseball could not save this team.
Totally agree with your post. We both have targeted the draft, scouting and player development as areas of concern

6B69737563060 wrote: I could easily see Hurdle electing to retire, with corresponding changes to his staff.


Clint is due a ridiculous amount of money. It would take a very retirement package for him to even consider leaving “voluntarily”.



Nutting is all alone if he’s planning to clean house.

5E594F47495E19156C4B414D4540024F43412C0 wrote: I could easily see Hurdle electing to retire, with corresponding changes to his staff.


Clint is due a ridiculous amount of money.  It would take a very retirement package for him to even consider leaving “voluntarily”. 



Nutting is all alone if he’s planning to clean house.


I hate to say, a house cleaning (GM, manager) doesn't change the situation we are in at all. Only one thing changes that.

I said the other day that if the Pirates get swept in Anaheim and they go 0-6 on this trip and make it 11 losses in a row that Hurdle should be fired on the off day on Thursday. At some point enough has to be enough here and listening to both Huntington and Coonelly speak in the last week you gotta believe that patience is running out on Hurdle and sitting back and doing absolutely nothing as you lose every game just can’t be tolerated much longer. Even if they make Prince the interim manager for the rest of the year which won’t do much  it’s better then just sitting back night after night getting embarrassed and doing absolutely nothing about it. Somebody has to lose their job soon here if this losing every night continues to goes on another week.

I don't see any circumstance where Huntington and/or Hurdle are fired any time soon. Both are signed through 2021, and Sir Owner Bob is not going to pay them to sit at home and watch Dr. Phil while also paying their replacements. I will be flabbergasted if either are fired before the All Star break next year, at the earliest.

536D62626861666568684C61766B040 wrote: I don't see any circumstance where Huntington and/or Hurdle are fired any time soon.  Both are signed through 2021, and Sir Owner Bob is not going to pay them to sit at home and watch Dr. Phil while also paying their replacements.  I will be flabbergasted if either are fired before the All Star break next year, at the earliest.
I don't see them being fired just to improve the baseball operation, which Nutting doesn't seem to care about. It's all financial to Nutting so if he sees CH and/or NH as reducing his profits, they could be replaced. Poor attendance doesn't seem to matter to Nutting. They can always have fireworks and bobble heads to get enough fans. The payroll is low and they get luxury tax payouts. But they will be negotiating a new TV deal after the season. The network will likely be concerned about the direction of the team that they are paying to broadcast. Advertisers are not as enthusiastic to sponsor games when fewer people will be watching. The network can't force Nutting to spend more on the team but changes in the problematic leadership that has led to the current disaster could be seen as an encouraging sign by the network just in time to negotiate the new TV deal. IMHO, this could be a factor influencing a decision on the status of NH and/or CH whereas Nutting probably wouldn't consider replacing them if money wasn't on the line in a new TV deal to be negotiated.

Does anyone know what share of the team Nutting owns?



Maybe the minority partners can prod him into doing something. At the very least, the media should be trying to contact them to see if they are OK with this.

Now I'm one to think that most of the hurdle-aimed hatred is misguided armchair-quarterbacking minutiae. People decide that his decisions wrong before they even hear what they are or what the reasons are. I think that if you took a survey of 30 MLB fanbases leaguewide you'll find that about 29 1/2 of them have the same exact things to say about their managers. I think people here will dislike the manager no matter who it is; and if CH makes a decision, then ipso facto it's the incorrect one and worthy of scorn.



I'll stand by that, but with all that said when the team's fallen apart like it has since the ASB something must be happening (or not happening) behind the scenes. I think it's totally possible he's gone after this year. People act like nutting has never eaten a contract before.

Due to this collapse I believe Clint, and possibly a couple of his coaches will be fired. Huntington is also on the hot seat, and he may also be let go, but if he stays I think there will be some changes in the scouting department. Possibly a new scouting director.

00323E3E2A183B323F3A3532530 wrote: Now I'm one to think that most of the hurdle-aimed hatred is misguided armchair-quarterbacking minutiae.  People decide that his decisions wrong before they even hear what they are or what the reasons are.  I think that if you took a survey of 30 MLB fanbases leaguewide you'll find that about 29 1/2 of them have the same exact things to say about their managers.  I think people here will dislike the manager no matter who it is; and if CH makes a decision, then ipso facto it's the incorrect one and worthy of scorn. 



I'll stand by that, but with all that said when the team's fallen apart like it has since the ASB something must be happening (or not happening) behind the scenes.  I think it's totally possible he's gone after this year.  People act like nutting has never eaten a contract before.


I agree with a lot of what you said. I also think that Hurdle gets persecuted for doing what the rest of the managers in MLB do (formulaic managing, holding the closer back for the save stat, etc). I have long argued that he is just a good human being, keeps an even keel, and is a good manager of people. I like that he doesn't get to high or too low. However, a good manager finds away to not allow streaks like this. A good manager doesn't lose 23 of 27. There is no way that is acceptable. This team isn't talented like other teams, but they absolutely aren't that bad. This streak and the dismal baseball played on a nightly basis is largely on Hurdle. He's the boss. It falls on him.