OMEN
09-08-2007, 09:50 AM
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The Pirates had a 442-581 record under Dave Littlefield.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- In the end, the biggest disappointment to Dave Littlefield was he left the Pittsburgh Pirates in the same place they were when he arrived in mid-2001 -- last place.
Littlefield, like nearly all executives, was judged on won-lost record, and the Pirates' 442-581 record and .432 winning percentage in his six-plus seasons as general manager weren't nearly good enough.
Littlefield was fired Friday after the franchise showed negligible progress on the field and not nearly enough in its farm system. Director of player development Brian Graham will serve as the interim general manager until Littlefield's replacement is found, after a team president is hired.
"It's going to be an interesting offseason around here," shortstop Jack Wilson said.
Littlefield's firing came with three weeks left in the season and the Pirates in their customary last place slot in the NL Central at 61-79. They were three losses from a 15th consecutive losing season, one off the major league record.
"After spending the past eight months analyzing how this organization runs, it is clear to me from a baseball standpoint that this was an important move, the correct move and the right thing for the organization," said board chairman Bob Nutting, who became the controlling owner in January. "I'm not satisfied with the overall progress and performance."
No decision on the status of Littlefield or second-year manager Jim Tracy had been expected until after the season. Managing general partner Kevin McClatchy, who has run the day-to-day operations since 1996, is resigning when the season ends. His successor, who will have the title of president, is expected to evaluate Littlefield and Tracy.
Littlefield was under contract for 2008 and expected to return until being called by Nutting on Friday morning.
"In these jobs, you don't take anything for granted," Littlefield told The Associated Press. "There's been a change in the CEO and the ownership group and we have not won for an extended period, so not much surprises you. That's ownership's prerogative."
Tracy, also under contract for next year, was disappointed the man who hired him in October 2005 was let go.
"It's tough," said Tracy, who has a 128-174 record with Pittsburgh. "It's real tough. He's more than a friend to me. You hate to see people as passionate as Dave and who work as hard as they do at their craft lose their job. But decisions get made."
Tracy predicted Littlefield, the former top assistant to Tigers chief Dave Dombrowski when the two worked for the Marlins, will quickly find another job.
"I certainly want to stay in baseball but, where that takes me, I'm not sure," Littlefield said.
Associated Press
The Pirates had a 442-581 record under Dave Littlefield.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- In the end, the biggest disappointment to Dave Littlefield was he left the Pittsburgh Pirates in the same place they were when he arrived in mid-2001 -- last place.
Littlefield, like nearly all executives, was judged on won-lost record, and the Pirates' 442-581 record and .432 winning percentage in his six-plus seasons as general manager weren't nearly good enough.
Littlefield was fired Friday after the franchise showed negligible progress on the field and not nearly enough in its farm system. Director of player development Brian Graham will serve as the interim general manager until Littlefield's replacement is found, after a team president is hired.
"It's going to be an interesting offseason around here," shortstop Jack Wilson said.
Littlefield's firing came with three weeks left in the season and the Pirates in their customary last place slot in the NL Central at 61-79. They were three losses from a 15th consecutive losing season, one off the major league record.
"After spending the past eight months analyzing how this organization runs, it is clear to me from a baseball standpoint that this was an important move, the correct move and the right thing for the organization," said board chairman Bob Nutting, who became the controlling owner in January. "I'm not satisfied with the overall progress and performance."
No decision on the status of Littlefield or second-year manager Jim Tracy had been expected until after the season. Managing general partner Kevin McClatchy, who has run the day-to-day operations since 1996, is resigning when the season ends. His successor, who will have the title of president, is expected to evaluate Littlefield and Tracy.
Littlefield was under contract for 2008 and expected to return until being called by Nutting on Friday morning.
"In these jobs, you don't take anything for granted," Littlefield told The Associated Press. "There's been a change in the CEO and the ownership group and we have not won for an extended period, so not much surprises you. That's ownership's prerogative."
Tracy, also under contract for next year, was disappointed the man who hired him in October 2005 was let go.
"It's tough," said Tracy, who has a 128-174 record with Pittsburgh. "It's real tough. He's more than a friend to me. You hate to see people as passionate as Dave and who work as hard as they do at their craft lose their job. But decisions get made."
Tracy predicted Littlefield, the former top assistant to Tigers chief Dave Dombrowski when the two worked for the Marlins, will quickly find another job.
"I certainly want to stay in baseball but, where that takes me, I'm not sure," Littlefield said.
Associated Press