Clint Hurdle

This winter is going to be long and hard for Pennsylvania sports fans, as the Pittsburgh Steelers ended a promising season with a Super Bowl loss to the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Pirates begin what will likely be a record setting 19th straight losing season.
 

Yes, the word optimism and the Pittsburgh Pirates does not ordinarily fit into the same sentence, but their are a few reasons for the city of Pittsburgh to look for the light at the end of an 18-year-long tunnel.

The Pirates are coming off a 105 loss season, but with the additions of some veteran players and the continued development of the young players in the current lineup, the Pirates could be better this season. 

Alright, kicking off my 30-team preview, we're starting in the wonderful city of Sixsburgh. A city of rich sports tradition, and champions all around.

Whether you're on the frozen pond, or on the gridiron, Pittsburgh knows what it takes to win championships. Even the dismal Pirates were once synonymous with success back in the early 1900s as well as the entire 1970s.

It's been a little over two weeks since the Pittsburgh Pirates last interviewed a candidate for the open managerial position.  They've yet to name a manager and many believe that the Pirates were waiting for the New York Yankees to get eliminated from the playoffs.

Could they be waiting for another guy and another team to get eliminated from the playoffs?  Maybe Texas Rangers hitting coach Clint Hurdle?

It makes sense.

Most write-ups regarding the firing of Clint Hurdle can't help but focus immediately on the improbable great baseball the Rockies played in September and October of 2007, and who could blame them considering it's his only accomplishment in seven years. They also talk about how unpopular and duplicitous he was with his players.

But such emphasis is dishonest. The real story of Hurdle's tenure isn't that he was fired 18 months after a World Series, or disgruntled players, but rather how he was still managing in 2007 after five years of atrocious baseball.

The speculation is over for Clint Hurdle. The Rockies have scheduled a 2:30 news conference to announce that Hurdle has been relieved of his duties and that Jim Tracy will take over on an interim basis.

The firing comes on the heels of a three-game sweep at the hands of the Dodgers, putting the Rockies 10 games under .500 and 14-1/2 games out of first place in the National League West.

Troy Tulowitzki comes up to the plate in the eighth inning in last night's game against the Atlanta Braves.

Down 8-1 already, Tulo swings at a high strike, and grounds into a double play.

What does manager Clint Hurdle decide to do?  Bench one of the only bright spots on the team.

News flash Clint, if the city of Denver could fire you as easily as you benched Tulo, we would've done it earlier.  

The Rockies are 15-23, and 11.5 games out of the first-place Dodgers' grasp. 

The good will generated by "Rocktober" is officially over, at least for me.

After today's 11-4 loss in Pittsburgh, Hurdle's record as the manager of the Rockies stands at a paltry 530-619. That's a .461 winning percentage in 8-plus seasons at the helm since taking over for Buddy Bell 22 games into the 2002 season.

With only one winning season in that bunch, largely the result of the aforementioned run in 2007, it's time for a change in leadership. Pitching coach Bob Apodaca should be sent packing as well.

Here we are on May 9 and the Rockies have once again found themselves behind the 8-ball in the National League West race, doomed by a chronic case of projectile dysfunction. 

If these symptoms persist for longer than four more weeks, please consult your physician, as side effects may include irritability, violent mood swings, and an early onset of Broncos fever.

At 11-17, the Rox find themselves 8.5 games behind the first place—and now Manny-less—Dodgers. 

With the 2009 season in full swing the Colorado Rockies have yet to show they are even a contender for the NL West.

The Rockies have a division worst 11-16 record, going 9-13 in the NL West for April, which is the teams longest stretch of division games.