Pirates fire GM Dave Littlefield

[chuckywang]

Link

 

What took them so long?

 

Littlefield's dismissal is effective immediately, the team said in a statement. A formal announcement will come at a news conference Friday afternoon. The decision comes after six-plus seasons in which the team showed little progress on the field or in its farm system.

 

The firing came with only three weeks left in the season and the Pirates in their customary spot in last place in the NL Central, with a 61-79 record -- three losses away from a 15th consecutive losing season, one off the major league record.

[anabiono]

matt morris

 

:lol:

[Southpaw191679666239]

Darn. Now where will Jim turn for quick help? :lol:

[Jake]

\:D/ =D> :P

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[Jake]

and the Pirates in their customary spot in last place in the NL Central

 

Wait a sec - We didn't come in last place last year! :roll: :-#

[Roast]

Hahaha, about time.

[BigbadB]

Wow, that firing came only about 6 years too late.

 

But, thanks for Aramis!

[NCCubFan]

and the Pirates in their customary spot in last place in the NL Central

 

Wait a sec - We didn't come in last place last year! :roll: :-#

Cubs fans know that. :D

[Post Count Padder]

Wow, what took so long? I bet Jake is doing a little dance at the moment.

[Southpaw191679666239]

Wow, what took so long? I bet Jake is doing a little dance at the moment.

 

 

Look up...

[UK1679666180]

We'll see what they do. If they're smart, they'll go for Logan White. If not, another retread.

[CuseCubFan69]

We'll see what they do. If they're smart, they'll go for Logan White. If not, another retread.

 

Dare we hope for Mr. Phillips to be their next GM?

[TruffleShuffle]

and there was great rejoicing in pittsburgh

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

crap, I was hoping he would trade us Bay for a box of peanuts before he left

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I wonder if the Pirates will go after Jockety.

[Electron Blue]

*crosses fingers for the Astros to give him an interview*

[Jake]

I wonder if the Pirates will go after Jockety.

 

I suspect Jockety is using the Pirates for leverage. Note: The rumors are that he was being considered for the President's postitiion. I wonder if that will change now that Littlewit has been fired.

[CuseCubFan69]

How the one and only Steve Stone?

[chuckywang]

How the one and only Steve Stone?

 

The one and only Steve Stone fine. How you?

[fromthestretch]

How the one and only Steve Stone?

 

The one and only Steve Stone fine. How you?

 

:lol:

[RynoRules]

Why do this now? The only thing I can think of is that they are sending a message to Jocketty or whoever that they are interested.

 

That is unless he got caught having sex with the owner's wife or something. :wink:

 

Congrats, jake!! I enjoy your posts and hope you will be here when the Rats win the 2010 WS!!!

[Jake]

Why do this now?

New President/DEO coming in. Gives him the clean slate to hire his own man.

 

I suspect Tracy will be let go the day after the season ends.

[NCCubFan]

Why do this now?

New President/DEO coming in. Gives him the clean slate to hire his own man.

That's what I was thinking. The dirty work is done so the new President doesn't have to yield the axe.

[Omar]

How the one and only Steve Stone?

 

The one and only Steve Stone fine. How you?

 

:lol:

 

Everybody better get Stone'd!

[oldcubsfan]

Here's a list of potentials from the Pitt. press. I assume Houston is looking at a similiar list.

No Stoney on the list, but I wouldn't expect him to be.

--------------------------------------------

 

"With that in mind, let's take a look at 12 potential candidates, in alphabetical order, who could wind up being the next Pirates' GM. Two men not on the list are Florida vice president and assistant general manager Michael Hill and vice president of player procurement Dan Jennings as Marlins ownership has let it be known it will not grant other teams permission to interview either executive.

 

THE LIST

 

CHRIS ANTONETTI

 

The Cleveland Indians' assistant GM is considered one of the brightest minds in the game. He graduated magna [expletive] laude from Georgetown University with a degree in business administration and earned a master's degree from the University of Massachusetts the following year. He spent two seasons in Montreal's front office before joining the Indians in 1999, working his way from baseball operations assistant to director of major-league operations to assistant GM.

 

RUBEN AMARO JR.

 

The former outfielder stepped right from the clubhouse to his current role as Philadelphia's assistant GM following the 1998 season. Amaro grew up in the game as his father was a long-time player and coach in the major leagues. The younger Amaro has a degree in human biology from Stanford University. He played in World Series with Cleveland in 1995 and was a member of the Phillies' NL title team in 1993.

 

MIKE ARBUCKLE

 

The Phillies' assistant GM of scouting and player development was hired to oversee Philadelphia's scouting operation in 1992 then added the responsibility of being in charge of player development in 2000. He was an Atlanta Braves scout for 12 years and has an education degree from Northwest Missouri State and a master's degree in education from the University of South Alabama.

 

PAUL DePODESTA

 

A special assistant for baseball operations with the San Diego Padres, DePodesta first gained fame in the best-selling book Moneyball, where he was portrayed as a genius with statistical analysis while serving as Oakland's assistant GM. He was the Dodgers' GM in 2004-05 when they won the National League West in his first season and, ironically, had major philosophical differences with manager Jim Tracy, now the Pirates' skipper. DePodesta graduated [expletive] laude from Harvard with a degree in economics.

 

DAN EVANS

 

A special assistant to Seattle Mariners GM Bill Bavasi, many felt Evans received a raw deal in Los Angeles when Frank McCourt bought the Dodgers just before the start of spring training in 2004 and promptly replaced him with DePodesta. Evans is generally credited with putting together the nucleus of the Dodgers club that won the 2004 NL West title.

 

DAVID FORST

 

The Athletics assistant GM has turned down other opportunities to interview for GM jobs in the past and may not be interested in coming to the Pirates. However, the 29-year-old is considered one of the sharpest minds of the game and the heir apparent to Athletics GM Billy Beane, who has developed a fascination for soccer and seems bored with baseball. Forst graduated magna [expletive] laude from Harvard with a degree in sociology.

 

RICK HAHN

 

The Chicago White Sox vice president and assistant GM is universally considered one of the shrewdest young executives in the game, particularly with the business side of the operation. His resume includes degrees from Harvard Law School and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

 

TONY LaCAVA

 

The Toronto Blue Jays director of player personnel is considered one of the best talent evaluators in the game as he also drew high marks for his work in scouting and player development with the California Angels, Braves, Montreal and Cleveland. He graduated from Pittsburgh Central Catholic and Pitt, played in the Pirates' farm system, and lives in Oakmont.

 

JOHN MOZELIAK

 

While Cardinals GM Walt Jocketty has been mentioned as a possible candidate with the Pirates, his assistant GM is more likely to come to Pittsburgh. He has spent the past 12 years in a variety of roles working in the front office of one of baseball's model franchises, and many in the game believe he is ready for a GM job. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado.

 

KIM NG

 

The Dodgers vice president and assistant general manager is generally regarded as most likely to become baseball's first female GM. She also was an assistant GM with the New York Yankees and worked in the commissioner's office as a waiver rules specialists. She has a degree in public policy from the University of Chicago.

 

LOGAN WHITE

 

The Dodgers assistant GM and scouting director is highly regarded as GM material. He has had outstanding drafts since taking over in Los Angeles in 2002 and also gained high marks for his work as a scout with Seattle, San Diego and Baltimore. He graduated with honors from Western New Mexico University.

 

JACK ZDURIENCEK

 

Milwaukee's special assistant to the GM and amateur scouting director is responsible for the drafting of such Brewers stars as Prince Fielder, Ben Sheets, Ryan Braun and J.J. Hardy. Zduriencik, a New Castle native and one of the most popular people in the game, also was the Pirates' scouting director when they drafted Jason Kendall in the first round in 1992. He has an education degree from California University of Pennsylvania and a master's in physical education from Austin Peay University.

 

OTHERS TO WATCH

 

Milwaukee assistant GM Gord Ash; Detroit vice president/assistant GM Al Avila, Boston assistant to the GM Allard Baird, Baltimore VP of baseball operations Jim Duquette, Boston assistant GM Jed Hoyer, Cleveland player personnel director Steve Lubratich. "