Results tagged ‘ matt walbeck ’
Bucco news and notes: 1/9/11
- Players have started checking into Pirate City in Bradenton, Fl., on Sunday for the mini-camp that begins on Monday.
Pirates catching prospect Tony Sanchez was not on the list of those attended, but did check in Sunday morning according to Trib reporter Rob Biertempfel.
He reports: “c Tony Sanchez wasn’t on list of minicamp attendees I was given, but he’s en route to Bradenton.”
“Pirates C Tony Sanchez just checked into Pirate City. “You (media) guys here to get back in shape, too?”
- Former Pirates Double-A manager Matt Walbeck has taken a job to be next manager of the Single-A Rome Braves. Walbeck was fired after the 2010 season. He led the Curve to the Eastern League Championship title and was named Double-A Manager of the Year.
Walbeck said he was “surprised” by the move at the time, but Pirates issued a statement saying, “We appreciate Matt’s efforts and wish him the best in his future endeavors but felt that it was best that we allow him to pursue other opportunities.”
Walbeck had a .543 winning percentage, four manager of the year awards, and three championships in six seasons.
- The Pirates are no longer perusing lefty Brian Fuentes. Rob Biertempfel of the Trib reports: “FA lefty Brian Fuentes would have been good fit in Pirates ‘pen, perhaps even some closing opps, but team is no longer pursuing him. ($$)”
Altoona Curve fires Manager
On Wednesday night the Pirates told Double-A Altoona Manager Matt Walbeck that he would not return for next season.
Walbeck, the Eastern League’s Manager of the Year, led the Curve to the Championships where they defeated the Yankees Double-A Team Trenton Thunder.
The Pirates have not announced the reason behind the decision to release Walbeck from his duties, but Kyle Stark (Director of Player Development) said that it was best to allow him to peruse other opportunities.
“We appreciate Matt’s efforts and wish him the best in his future endeavors but felt that it was best that we allow him to pursue other opportunities,” General Manager Neal Huntington said.
Walbeck told the Altoona Mirror that the Pirates did not give him an explanation for the move.
“No, not really,” Walbeck said. “Just that it wasn’t going to be a good fit. There were some things about how I have some aspirations and am highly driven and words like that, but, apparently, it wasn’t going to work out.”
“I am surprised,” Walbeck said by phone. “After having gone through a pretty solid year … to have made improvements and helped develop players get to Pittsburgh, certainly I’m surprised. Of course. I did everything, I felt like, to help the club and the organization and was good for the community.”
Kristy Robinson
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