The Russell Era Ends

Being someone who was once told by my employer that my services were no longer necessary, I take no pleasure in seeing someone lose his job, so I do feel bad for John Russell today. He has bills to pay and a family to feed, so I hope he won't be unemployed for too long. (He also has a year left on his contract, so he'll still be cashing checks from the Pirates through 2011. So he's got that going for him, which is nice.)

Having said that, how can it be denied that this is a move that HAD to be made. Yes, we all know the hand that was dealt him - the few good players he had traded away, constant turnover, interfering GM, etc - and we will concede that no manager could have won with this bunch, but 299 losses in three years, combined with a complete blank page for a personality positively cried out for Russell's ouster. And you have to admit, some of the strategic decisions coming out of the dugout this season have been real head-scratchers. JR's video epitaph will be pitcher Sean Gallagher being sent to bat for himself in the 4th inning of a game with the Pirates down 7-2 and with runners on second and third in a game with the Mets in August. You all know the game I'm talking about. And there were others.

Also, from a purely business standpoint, the Pirates, who are going to have a hard time selling tickets this off-season anyway, would have had an impossible task of doing so if Russell were allowed to come back for 2011. That would have sent the message to the ticket buyers that the team could never have spun in a positive manner.

The other news from Piratesland today was that Neal Huntington was being retained as GM. The Russell firing would indicate that 2011 will absolutely be a make-or-break year for Huntington as General Manager. Another disaster on the major league level like this season and no amount of draft pick signings and Dominican Baseball Academies will make it possible for GM Neal to keep his job, I would think. The accountability that Nutting/Coonelly/Huntington have been preaching for three years came to bear today, and that shadow hangs over GM Neal's head as preparations for 2011 begin.

I'll offer no speculation on my part as to who the next skipper will be. I'm just hoping it won't be some retread who has been fired from three other manager's positions over the last 20 years.