Hurdle named new Pirates skipper
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Pirates will introduce former Rockies manager Clint Hurdle as their new manager at a news conference Monday.
Hurdle, the batting coach for the AL champion Texas Rangers, will replace John Russell, who was fired the day after the Pirates completed a 105-loss season – their worst in 58 years and their 18th consecutive losing season.
Russell’s 299 losses in three seasons matched the most in the club’s 123-season history.
The Pirates interviewed eight candidates, but only Hurdle and longtime Pirates minor league field coordinator Jeff Banister remained in the running. Banister’s scant major league experience – two months as the Pirates’ interim bench coach this past season – was a major drawback.
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