Results tagged ‘ rangers ’
Washington happy for Clint Hurdle’s new gig
Texas Rangers Skipper Ron Washington chatted on MLB Network’s “Hot Stove” on Monday. He had this to say on Clint Hurdle being hired by Pittsburgh as new manager:
“I’m very happy that he got an opportunity to manage again. I know that is it something that he has in his heart, that he really wanted to do. We certainly will miss him.”
“In Hurdle we trust.” Thanks to @chrissytinaaa for making the photo!
Walker named to Rookie All-Star team
Pirates second baseman Neil Walker was named to the Topp’s Major League Rookie All-star Team.
It is the second straight year a Bucs player has been named to the starting roster. (Andrew McCutchen was chosen in 2009)
Walker is the 17th Pirates player to earn a spot on the team since 1959 when Topp’s starting handing out the award.
In 110 games with the Bucs, Walker hit .296 with 12 homers, 29 doubles, 66 RBIs and 57 runs scored.
The complete roster for the Topp’s Major league Rookie All-Star team is: 1B Gaby Sanchez, 3B Danny Valencia, SS Starlin Castro, OF Austin Jackson, OF Mike Stanton, OF Jason Heyward, C Buster Posey, RHP Stephen Strasburg, LHP Jaime Garcia and RP Neftali Perez.
Brandon Webb also on Pirates radar
The Pirates are also reportably after starting pitcher Brandon Webb. The right-hander has spent all seven major league seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is 87-62 with a 3.27 ERA, averages 7.3 strike outs per nine innings. Webb also averages around 200 innings pitched each season.
Webb missed the entire 2010 season and only logged four innings in 2009 due to right shoulder bursitis and had surgery by Dr. Keith Meister of the Rangers on August 3, 2009.
Webb was drafted in the eighth round of the 2000 draft. He won the Cy Young award in 2006 and is a three-time all star and led the National League in wins in both 2006 and 2008.
Webb is known for his sinker and according to Sports Illustrated: “Webb said he probably uses it at least 80 percent of the time, and it used to be closer to 90 percent”
Webb also throws a change that clocks in the mid-80′s as well as a curve in the low 70′s.
Baseball writer at MLBFanhouse.com’s Ed Price tweeted this: #Pirates GM Huntington said “We’ve got some flexibility and are kicking some tires.” Possible high-upside fit is RHP Brandon Webb.
Baseball writer for ESPN.com and Baseball America’s Jerry Crasnick tweeted this:
Teams with an interest in Brandon Webb: Dodgers, Pirates, Twins and Rangers. And don’t rule out Nationals, Reds & Cardinals
Hanrahan and Walker happy with new skipper
New Pirates Skipper Clint Hurdle attended the Steelers game on Sunday night as well as the Pens game on Monday (not taking much time to win fans over).
Also in attendance at the Steelers game were Pirates Neil Walker and Joel Hanrahan, who got to meet their new manager for the first time.
“He believes in guys having their say, but he’s also going to put his foot down and demand hard work,” Hanrahan said. “It sounded to me like he’s not going to take any crap from anyone.”
Said Walker: “It seems like he has a lot of passion for his job and getting us moving in the right direction and likewise, obviously. I’m excited to see the fire in his eyes in November. It was definitely cool to see, and I’m really looking forward to seeing him more.”
Clint Hurdle also seemed to hit it off with both Walker and Hanrahan as well.
“We were watching a football game and I didn’t want to give them 20 questions, but I did engage them in conversations,” Hurdle said. “I told them how excited I was for this opportunity personally and how excited I was to be able to work with them as two of the young players that have taken steps forward.
“I do know they’re hungry. I see the disappointment. I felt it [Sunday] night. They want to engage, and they’re ready to fight right now.”
Hurdle has said he wanted to get in touch with as many players as possible whether it be on the phone or at mini-camps. Hurdle wants to be familiar with all the personnel so that they can dive right into spring training without many introductions.
“Phone calls are great when that’s all you have available,” Hurdle said. “But there’s nothing like being able to touch somebody, look them in the eye and have a conversation with them.”
“We’re going to simplify some things in some areas and we’re going to challenge them in some areas,” Hurdle said. “For me, it’s about the individual taking on his own accountability. If we can get every guy who breaks camp with us in spring training to improve in one area, our team will be better.”
Neil Walker has texted several of his teammates discussing Hurdle and how he is looking forward to working with him.
“When you’re talking about a club that’s struggling, it’s important to kind of do things in a different way and look at things in a different light as opposed to following suit and hoping the next day is better than the last,” Walker said. “He took the Rockies from the bottom to the top, and that sort of stuff obviously doesn’t happen overnight. But having a guy who’s gone through those situations makes it a little easier on him and gives us the trust and belief that he knows what he’s doing.”
Joel Hanrahan also had good things to say about Clint Hurdle. The closer is good friends with Jason Jennings and LaTroy Hawkins who played with Hurdle in Colorado.
“I told him congrats on the year they had in Texas, but that’s over with now, time to start with us, and I think he kind of liked that,” Hanrahan said. “But it’s nice having a guy who knows what it takes to get there.”
Pirates hire Clint Hurdle as new Skipper
After a month and a half of interviews (eight) and waiting, the Pirates finally have a new manager. Former Texas Rangers hitting coach Clint Hurdle will become the next skipper for the Bucs replacing John Russell.
The deal is for three years and the Pirates will formally announce him during a press conference on Monday at 11 AM ET.
Hurdle –most notably known for his time spent in Colorado as the Rockies Manager– has a career record of 534-625. Hurdle has had experience with a young team and the Pirates hope that he can be the guy to lead the Bucs to not only a winning season, but also to a World Series.
According to John Perrotto of the Beaver County Times, he has other reasons to want to move to the Steel City. Hurdle’s eight-year-old Daughter suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome. The Children’s hospital that’s located in Pittsburgh’s neighbor hood of Shadyside is the nation’s best for children with Prader-Willi.
Francoeur in a Pirates uni?
Jeff Francoeur became a free-agent on Wednesday after he cleared waivers and refused an assignment to the minors. The 26-year-old batted .249 with 13 home runs and 65 RBI during the 2010 season with both the Mets and Rangers.
Although there has been no reports as of yet, I think Francoeur would make a good fit in Pittsburgh. The Pirates are in need of an everyday right fielder with some power. He is a great defender, great arm (he leads the majors in outfield assists since his major league debut) as well as a good bat –a career .268 hitter. Francouer made $5 million during the 2010 season.
Francouer has made it known he wants to be an everyday player despite crushing lefties (.300) better than righties (.231) in 2010. The Pirates –if they decided to sit him against right handed pitchers on occasions– could use John Bowker or Garrett Jones who both hit better against righties.
If the Pirates could trade Ryan Doumit (owed $5.1 million for 2011) to free up some payroll I think they should sign him. A huge upgrade over Lastings Milledge, Dewlyn Young, and/or any of the others who played there during the 2010 season.
Hurdle interviewed by Bucs for Managerial position
The Pirates interviewed Clint Hurdle for the vacant managerial job on Thursday afternoon. He was the first to be interviewed in the past three weeks and the eighth to be considered for the job.
Hurdle was unavailable to be interviewed until the Rangers finished their run at the World Series (He is the Rangers Hitting Coach).
Hurdle, 53, was previously the Colorado Rockies manager from 2002 until he was dismissed during the 2009 season. Hurdle lead the Rockies to the World Series in 2007 and finished with a record of 534-625 during the eight seasons as skipper.
Drafted by the Royals in the first round of the 1975 players draft, two years later made his major league debut. Hurdle’s career spanned 12 years and he played five different positions. He spent time in a Royals, Reds, Mets and Cardinals uniform and finished his career with a .259 average.
Hurdle’s managerial career started in 1988 when he managed the Class A St. Lucie Mets. He managed the Double-A and Triple-A teams for a combined four years before being hired by the Rockies’ in 1994 as the organization’s Minor League hitting coordinator. He was then named hitting coach in 1997.
Hurdle is also rumored to be interviewing with the Mets for their open managerial position as well.
The Pirates could make a decision by Friday. Jeff Banister is also still in consideration for the position. He ended the 2010 season as the Pirates bench coach after Gary Varsho was fired. Banister has been in the Pirates organization for the past 25 years.
Hurdle to be interviewed on Thursday
President Frank Coonelly on why the Pirates were taking so long to hire a new manager:
“First, we wanted to make sure we went through a very detailed and comprehensive search process that identified quality individuals who would be the right fit for the Pirates. Second, most clubs who are in the playoffs understandably will not grant permission to talk to one of their coaches until their post season run in complete, and we had an interest in talking with Clint Hurdle, the rangers hitting coach.”
“Now that the series is over, we are set to talk to Mr. Hurdle tomorrow and should be in a position to make a decision shortly thereafter.”
What are the Pirates looking for in a manager?
“Relentless and passionate teacher who will relentlessly pursue excellence throughout our organization. The manager who we hire must instill confidence and determination so that our players relentlessly pursue excellence in every aspect of their preparation and execution.”
Hurdle to be interviewed by Bucs
Multiple sources are reporting that Rangers hitting coach Clint Hurdle has been cleared to interview with the Pirates for the managerial position.
The Bucs have not interviewed any new candidates since October 14th (Tosca).
Hurdle was unable to interview for the position during the Rangers run for the World Series.
Of the seven candidates interviewed only three have not been ruled out. Jeff Banister, Carlos Tosca and Bo Porter —who was hired as the Nationals third base coach.
Ex-Bucco Sanchez makes history in game one
Freddy Sanchez made history during game one of the world series against the Rangers on Wednesday night. Sanchez hit three doubles in his first three at-bats becoming the first player in world series history to do so.
“Obviously, for no one to have done that yet, it’s something special,” Sanchez said. “For just a little guy like me to go out there and be able to do it.
Sanchez helped the Giants defeat the Rangers 11-7 and take a 1-0 series lead. He went 4-for-5 with three doubles, three RBI and two runs scored.
“A couple of those pitches we wanted to get a little deeper in on him,” Texas manager Ron Washington said of Sanchez. “But that guy can hit, man.”
“Freddy is a great player — I mean, this guy did win the batting title one year,” Bochy said. “He can hit, and he can hit good pitching, and he showed that tonight, and really, throughout the playoffs.
Kristy Robinson
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