Bucs extend Clint Hurdle

According to Rob Biertempfel of the Trib, the Pirates are extending manager Clint Hurdle’s contract through the 2014 season. There is an option for 2015 as well.

Hurdle has led the team to a 22-game improvement over the last two seasons, although both campaigns included historic second half collapses. He is known to mismanage the club at times, whether it be with bunting or the bullpen. While the team has shown flashes of brilliance under Hurdle’s direction, they’ve still continued their consecutive losing seasons streak, which is the longest in professional sports.

Talking to him at PirateFest the past two years, he seems like a great guy, and he’s been focused on re-bonding the city with the team. Hopefully the Pirates can snap their losing streak while he’s here; it looks like they’ll have at least another year or two to accomplish that.

Go Bucs

Photo: Keith Allison/Creative Commons
  • Blake Must

    Why didnt the Pirates let the year play out and then make a decision?

    • fromforbestofederal

      Blake,
      If the Bucs flop again this year, there’s still a decent chance he gets fired, even with the extension. The contract basically just guarantees that he gets paid in 2014, regardless of whether or not he’s on the bench. Managers don’t make much to begin with, and we assume Hurdle has a relatively low salary, so it shouldn’t be a big deal to pay him if they let him go.