https://naviga.triblive.com/sports/as-historic-slump-worsens-pirates-clint-hurdle-faces-question-about-his-job-security/
As historic slump worsens, Pirates’ Clint Hurdle faces question about his job security
For perhaps the first time during his nine years as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Clint Hurdle was forced to confront a public question about his job security.
After another lopsided defeat — 11-1 to the Washington Nationals on Wednesday — Hurdle was asked if he is concerned his job is in jeopardy.
“My focus is on doing my job, not if my job’s in jeopardy,” said Hurdle, who’s been a major league manager during every season but one since 2002. “It never has been since I’ve had an opportunity to be a manager. Those are decisions that other people make.”
The last-place Pirates (52-74) are 8-29 since the All-Star break. If they continue that pace over the season’s final 35 games, it will be the worst post-break winning percentage in MLB history.
Hurdle has four winning seasons as Pirates manager, the only four over-.500 seasons the franchise has had since 1992. But late-season swoons, some worse or longer-lasting than others, have plagued his teams during four of the other five seasons he’s managed the Pirates.
The Pirates have been outscored 35-9 during the six games of this homestand. The average attendance during the three games of the series against the Nationals so far has been 10,770.
A night after passionately walking off the postgame news-conference podium while defending his team’s effort, Hurdle appeared more at ease responding to a question about his job security.
“I’m 62 years old, man,” he said. “I’m going to manage for as long as people have me manage, and if they don’t have me manage, I’ll go home. My job is to do everything I can to get this club to play better baseball, to finish games and execute better.”
Another listless and lopsided defeat that brought the #Pirates crashing back down to earth following their inspired win against the Nationals on Tuesday.https://t.co/1DCilgbxQd— Tribune-ReviewSports (@TribSports) August 22, 2019
A small sample of Pirates players late Wednesday revealed Hurdle has the support of the clubhouse.
“As for ‘Skip,’ we play for him every night,” first baseman Josh Bell said. “He’s the only big league manager that a lot of the guys have known for the most part, so we all fight for him. We all have his back. I’m sure he’s not worried about (his job).”
Starting pitcher Joe Musgrove said Hurdle’s job security is “not my concern at all.”
“He’s in control of what he’s in control of, and we’re in control of doing our jobs,” Musgrove said. “I know a lot of pressure goes back on him when we’re not doing our job, and that’s not necessarily fair to him. But we’ve got to play better as a team.”
Hired before the 2011 season, Hurdle’s tenure is the longest for a Pirates manager since Jim Leyland (1986-96). He is 718-702 with them and has the fourth-most wins in franchise history. Hurdle’s 1,252 overall victories, including his eight seasons at the helm of the Colorado Rockies, are 39th-most all-time.
Nine games behind the fourth-place Cincinnati Reds, the Pirates appear likely to finish last in the division for the first time under Hurdle.
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