Sports Illustrated's Jon Heyman recently ranked Major League baseball's new managers and new Pirates' skipper Clint Hurdle scored very well. Heyman ranked Hurdle at No. 1 on his list ahead of the Braves' Fredi Gonzalez, and former Pirate managerial candidates Eric Wedge and John Farrell of the Mariners and Blue Jays, respectively. Here's what Heyman had to say.
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↵No matter, the Pirates wound up with exactly with the right guy. They interviewed what seemed like countless baseball people, but there's nobody who fits an organization that has endured 18 consecutive losing seasons better than an eternal optimist such as Hurdle. He spent this past year as the
Rangers' hitting coach and he helped improve their patience at the plate. And the Pirates, who appeared to target Eric Wedge early, were rewarded for their patience in waiting out the World Series and Hurdle. He did a nice job overall during his time managing in Colorado, but Hurdle eventually wore out the
Rockies with his perpetually gung-ho message, though, it took seven years to do so. Within seven years, the Pirates ought to break their 18-year losing streak, the longest in the four major sports.
Grade: A.
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