OnlyBucs

There's been a lot of discussion about this in our game threads as well as on talk radio. So maybe a thread devoted to the topic will be a good idea as the day to day events can contribute to the discussion rather than losing it in a past game thread.



IMHO, the easy answer is "no" for Coonelly, NH and Hurdle. Some underlings could go just to spin it to the public that the org isn't satisfied with losing. But anyone who follows the Pirates knows by now that Nutting isn't very interested in winning unless it can be done cheaply and profitably. Profit is the only priority and it apparently can be accomplished without many fans in the seats. NH's job is to assemble a team as inexpensively as possible and take the heat by having to explain the lack of quality moves with pure BS. But he struggles at drafting, evaluating and developing which makes a bad situation worse. Hurdle is at best a mediocre MLB manager who plugs his players into formulas and calls it a day. That probably works with the Yankees or Astros rosters but more creativity is required to improve a team that lacks such overall talent. But we see the same issues every year and all it did was earn contract extensions for NH and Hurdle from an owner who sees them as adequate for his purposes.



HOWEVER.....

The TV contract is due for renegotiation. And while Nutting may be satisfied with the status quo, the network might not be. Will Root Sports (or whatever they call themselves next year) offer as much for the rights knowing fans will be tuning out due to poor play exasperated by a GM and a mgr lacking in the ability to improve the team and no incentive for the owner to replace them? Would a bold move by Nutting to replace one or (hopefully) both send a message to the broadcast rights negotiators that fans will remain more interested in watching in order to increase the fee Nutting receives for the rights? Profit is the name of the game. And if Nutting can increase his profit via the broadcast fees by dumping NH and/or Hurdle, I think he would pack their bags and drive them to the airport. So this upcoming contract could be the only hope for changing the dynamic of the team. I doubt Nutting would increase spending but the team might at least improve as much as a better GM and mgr could make a difference.

If they lose 95-100 games they aren’t gonna have a choice I don’t believe. You can’t lose that many games and just completely collapse like they have done and not have it fall on either the manager and his coaching staff or GM. So my answer is unsure for now but if this continues to go on and gets bad enough by seasons end then yes I think heads will roll.

I would like to see Frank, Neal and Clint go.



I think Clint goes no matter what. Neal will let him go to try and save his job.



Although Frank could pre-empt that and fire both NH and Clint.



And if Nutting cared he would just go and fire all three.



No matter what a scapegoat is needed for this season and I don't think injuries can carry the day there. The scapegoat has to be higher up and that will be at least Clint.

I think Hurdle is all but gone. I really believe he has lost this team. The time for him to go is now. Either appoint Bannister or Prince as interim managers. I would prefer Bannister. Neal Huntington is on the hot seat as well, but he may survive. I don’t think Coonley is going anywhere. He is spokesperson for Nutting, who just remains in the background and does and says nothing.

I would think there will be some changes. All a team in the Pirates position has to offer is hope for the future. Changes suggest there is that hope.

292B313721440 wrote: I would think there will be some changes. All a team in the Pirates position has to offer is hope for the future. Changes suggest there is that hope.
I totally agree. There is no way a team can sell tickets this offseason if they lose 90 plus games, and don’t make changes. If they make no changes they will be lucky to draw 1 million fans next year. They have to make changes to give the fans hope that they are a much better organization than the one the previous season.

I hate to disagree, but I’ve got to disagree. All three are still here because they are willing to work for someone like Nutting and keep their mouths shut.



Most guy in those positions are way too competitive for Nutting.



Ray S may get the ax, but I doubt that.

3D3A2C242A3D7A760F28222E2623612C20224F0 wrote: I hate to disagree, but I’ve got to disagree. All three are still here because they are willing to work for someone like Nutting and keep their mouths shut. 



Most guy in those positions are way too competitive for Nutting.



Ray S may get the ax, but I doubt that. All valid points VA with Nutting for sure. He does not wanna pay guys as well to not work for him like he would have to do if he fired both Clint or Neal or even just one of them. But like the other post said if this team loses 95 games Nutting is gonna have no choice really if he hopes to sell tickets next season.

537465616479467265646479000 wrote: I hate to disagree, but I’ve got to disagree. All three are still here because they are willing to work for someone like Nutting and keep their mouths shut. 



Most guy in those positions are way too competitive for Nutting.



Ray S may get the ax, but I doubt that. All valid points VA with Nutting for sure. He does not wanna pay guys as well to not work for him like he would have to do if he fired both Clint or Neal or even just one of them. But like the other post said if this team loses 95 games Nutting is gonna have no choice really if he hopes to sell tickets next season.




I don’t think he cares. He’ll blame fans.

696E78707E692E225B7C767A7277357874761B0 wrote: I hate to disagree, but I’ve got to disagree. All three are still here because they are willing to work for someone like Nutting and keep their mouths shut. 



Most guy in those positions are way too competitive for Nutting.



Ray S may get the ax, but I doubt that. All valid points VA with Nutting for sure. He does not wanna pay guys as well to not work for him like he would have to do if he fired both Clint or Neal or even just one of them. But like the other post said if this team loses 95 games Nutting is gonna have no choice really if he hopes to sell tickets next season.




I don’t think he cares. He’ll blame fans.

The fans have absolutely nothing to do with the failures of this team both on the field and within the organization. It’s time for Bob Nutting and Coonelly both to be accountable for once in they’re lives and stop blaming the great fans of this team for their ineptitude when it comes to running this franchise.