OnlyBucs

Quite a few major league managers have gotten the axe in recent weeks.



That said, there have been no rumors about any team asking for permission to speak with Clint. Perhaps its his recent 4 year extension, but also may reflect limited interest in his services.



While I agree with others that who the Manager is may be an overstated role on a team, the Pirates' decision to stay with Hurdle was a real disappointment to me.

Were other managers who are under contract contacted or permission asked?

I've never heard of such a thing happening at all, but it's not like I read every article.

I think it would be highly unusual to ask permission to interview a manager who only weeks earlier signed a 4-year extension. It doesn't seem very practical. If Hurdle even consented to listen to an offer it would suggest to his current employer that he'd rather be somewhere else. That would make it very awkward if he didn't get that job and remained with the Pirates. I don't think Hurdle is a good manager and I'm disappointed he was given the extension. But I would not expect any other team to approach the Pirates about him at this point, so I don't think that's an indication of how other organizations view him.



As for the 4-year deals Hurdle and NH got, it concerns me that (1) the organization may now believe the Pirates are several years away being competitive and feel that Hurdle and NH will need that much time to rebuild, or (2) Nutting has no plans to spend enough to become competitive again so there's no point in a change at mgr or GM.

When I see requests to interview people for manager spots on other teams, it's always a coach - bench coach - pitching coach - whatever. There seems to be an unwritten rule to allow people to move up, so they usually allow coaches to be interviewed. I can't imagine someone would ask to interview for a lateral move.

775A57464150470704350 wrote: I think it would be highly unusual to ask permission to interview a manager who only weeks earlier signed a 4-year extension. It doesn't seem very practical. If Hurdle even consented to listen to an offer it would suggest to his current employer that he'd rather be somewhere else. That would make it very awkward if he didn't get that job and remained with the Pirates. I don't think Hurdle is a good manager and I'm disappointed he was given the extension. But I would not expect any other team to approach the Pirates about him at this point, so I don't think that's an indication of how other organizations view him.



As for the 4-year deals Hurdle and NH got, it concerns me that (1) the organization may now believe the Pirates are several years away being competitive and feel that Hurdle and NH will need that much time to rebuild, or (2) Nutting has no plans to spend enough to become competitive again so there's no point in a change at mgr or GM.


I agree with you about Hurdle being contacted.



Question: What would have been a good contract for Huntington and/or Hurdle? Its pretty rare for a GM and Manager to agree to a one year deal. But would a two year deal be considered a "lame duck" contract?



I am not concerned with the length of the contract. If there isn't improvement, they both can be fired while under contract. It happens all the time. It happened with Littlefield, Tracy and Russell.

7D767E7277766D282E596078717676377A76190 wrote: I think it would be highly unusual to ask permission to interview a manager who only weeks earlier signed a 4-year extension. It doesn't seem very practical. If Hurdle even consented to listen to an offer it would suggest to his current employer that he'd rather be somewhere else. That would make it very awkward if he didn't get that job and remained with the Pirates. I don't think Hurdle is a good manager and I'm disappointed he was given the extension. But I would not expect any other team to approach the Pirates about him at this point, so I don't think that's an indication of how other organizations view him.



As for the 4-year deals Hurdle and NH got, it concerns me that (1) the organization may now believe the Pirates are several years away being competitive and feel that Hurdle and NH will need that much time to rebuild, or (2) Nutting has no plans to spend enough to become competitive again so there's no point in a change at mgr or GM.


I agree with you about Hurdle being contacted.



Question:  What would have been a good contract for Huntington and/or Hurdle?  Its pretty rare for a GM and Manager to agree to a one year deal.  But would a two year deal be considered a "lame duck" contract?



I am not concerned with the length of the contract.  If there isn't improvement, they both can be fired while under contract.  It happens all the time.  It happened with Littlefield, Tracy and Russell. 


Considering how bad the team has been the past 2 seasons, I believe 2-year contracts would have been more appropriate if they were to be extended. A 1-year contract suggests very thin ice so why bother to extend at all? A 2-year deal suggests they have more time but need to get things turned around soon. The 4-year deals suggest a lack of urgency to right the ship.

Yeah, I did/do not agree with firing either of them, and thought an extension was in order--just not such a long one. But like dog said that won't stop them from being fired if owners feel like it.

1C2E22223604272E2326292E4F0 wrote:



Yeah, I did/do not agree with firing either of them, and thought an extension was in order--just not such a long one.  But like dog said that won't stop them from being fired if owners feel like it.


As long as that owner doesn't mind paying the new hire as well as the guy being fired.

The Pirates traded for Chuck Tanner.



I would take Manny the Barbecue king for Clint. (not that I think Hurdle is awful but I think a change would help shake things up).