Will John Russell and his staff be around for 2011?

The decision of their fate could come after October 3rd, the final game of the Pirates season.

There has really been no indication of who will stay and who will go as of yet. But you can assume changes will be made to the staff after having a disastrous season.

One mostly likely to stay could be bench coach Jeff Bainster who has been in the Pirates organization for 25 years. (He was promoted in August after Gary Varsho was fired).

John Russell’s original staff –all hired in 2007– consist of: hitting coach Don Long, third base coach Tony Beasley and bullpen coach Luis Dorante.

“The staff-evaluation process is a challenge anytime you’re in a non-winning environment,” Huntington said. “When you transition the club toward youth essentially three times in three years, with the number of players we’ve been through, the coaching changes we made in the middle of the season, we’ve certainly added to the challenge in evaluating our coaches.”

General Manager Neal Huntington did express the importance of good signs from the team through the remainder of the season.

“It’s important for us not only to continue to work hard but also to make a positive impact on these players, to get them to grow up individually and collectively.

“We look forward to the time where wins and losses become the primary evaluation tool. We’re not there. There’s a lot more that will go into the evaluation of our organization as a whole.”

John Russell’s does have a contract through 2011 but President Frank Coonelly has said, “nobody’s job is absolutely safe” even if they have a contract next season