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Post-Gazette Talks Other Replacements

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today speculated about some other possible candidates for the Pirates' manager position, and came up with the following list in addition to Eric Wedge.

• John Farrell, 48, who replaced Huntington as Cleveland's director of player development, was a Pirates candidate who pulled from the running one day before Russell was hired in late 2007. Farrell, the Boston Red Sox's acclaimed pitching coach the past four years, is no stranger to the Pirates: son Jeremy played third base at Class A Bradenton this summer.

• Mike Hargrove, 60, Indians manager for Huntington's first three seasons with that club, is interested in returning to a dugout after compiling a .503 winning percentage with two World Series trips in 16 seasons through 2007.

• Joel Skinner, 49, son of longtime Pirates fixture Bob Skinner, was interviewed by Huntington in 2007. He went 35-41 as an interim Cleveland manager in 2002, again during Huntington's tenure. But he managed Class AA Akron this past summer in the same Eastern League where the manager of the year, Matt Walbeck, was just fired by the Pirates -- seems illogical they would consider a skipper from the same loop.

Farrell was a popular choice before Russell was hired, and it's hard to argue his stock should have dropped since then. With the young pitching staff the Pirates figure to have next season, Farrell's expertise might be a nice thing to have in addition to whomever the Pirates decide will be the pitching coach.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.