With all most all of our pitchers struggling, How long till there wouldbe consideration for a change? I know its only the begining of the season but except for the Hopper who lost yesterday, is any of our pitchers having a good start to the season? Starters included.

You think they are going to put St. Claire on the hot seat after eight games? Keep dreaming.

 

Either way, I don't think it's his fault. Perhaps some of these guys just aren't that good. Robertson had poor numbers in Detroit before the Marlins acquired him. Anibal has had a labrum injury, which can be devastating.

 

Johnson just needs to settle in. He'll be fine. I think Ricky will be too. He started off slowly last year and was inconsistent. You can't really fault the pitching coach for that.

I'll be happy to have this conversation when the defense stops giving the opposition four or five outs an inning because as long as they do it's difficult if not impossible to determine where the fault is.

 

Right now (as I write this Maybin just knocked in the Marlins' third run), the game would be tied were it not for Cantu's error.

I'll be happy to have this conversation when the defense stops giving the opposition four or five outs an inning because as long as they do it's difficult if not impossible to determine where the fault is.

 

Right now (as I write this Maybin just knocked in the Marlins' third run), the game would be tied were it not for Cantu's error.

 

 

totally agree. robertson has had 2 solid outings and anibal looked pretty good. nolasco was iffy his last start and jj needs to settle down but i'm sure they'll be back to form in a game or two. the real problem is the defense playing behind our pitchers. st. claire has done a fine job and i commend the front office for bringing him on board.

I'll be happy to have this conversation when the defense stops giving the opposition four or five outs an inning because as long as they do it's difficult if not impossible to determine where the fault is.

 

Right now (as I write this Maybin just knocked in the Marlins' third run), the game would be tied were it not for Cantu's error.

 

 

Sure hard to argue this. Not that I would want to. I'm very high on the defensive abilities of guys.

 

But....Even tho we have two series under our belts and we won both of those, We have just lost 2 in a row to the Reds. Is it really surprising the reaction of some fans? "Fire everybody. Start anew."

03 is spot on about the defense. I don't trust anyone not named Cody Ross, and even he can't get a beach ball over the fence :lol

To be fair, quite a few people disliked the hire to begin with, so this isnt totally reaction to the first 8 games.

This is one of those suggestions I could argue the other side of myself but that said, my understanding of the reason Perry Hill isn't coaching for the Marlins this season is because when the Marlins inquired the Pirates prohibited it (being under contract to them). Some kind of discussions took place, the impression I got at the time was he was amenable to returning but Pittsburgh put an end to it pretty quickly. I believe he's out of baseball currently and boy couldn't we use him now.

 

No one likes being extorted, it looks bad and sets an awful precedent the next time you want to do a deal with anybody but (within reason, we're not talking about Coghlan or Morrison or you know the caliber I'm talking about) they liked Raynor enough to take him and keep him, maybe a trade of a player for a coach could be worked out that might bring Perry back in some consulting capacity to get these guys playing together as a team (defensively) again.

 

Wasn't it Randy Winn that was traded for mgr. Lou Pinella a while ago? So stranger things have happened. Andre Dawson and Tony Perez were great ballplayers with no doubt extraordinary understanding of the game but that does not appear to have translated into any great improvement in the field over the years no matter how many PR stories and interviews have suggested they were "out in the field with so and so just the other day working on fillintheblank and who better to learn from..." blah blah blah. I remember Perry Hill putting little markers in the infield grass to set up the defense and move players one way or the other depending on the batter and pitcher.

 

I just Googled Perry and the Pirates and found this, I wasn't far off the mark.

 

Updated: October 22, 2009, 11:23 AM ET

Hill under contract, wants out

 

By Buster Olney

ESPN The Magazine

Archive

 

Perry Hill, an infield coach held in extraordinarily high regard within the sport, is under contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates for 2010 after they exercised a contractual option -- but unless something changes, it appears that he will not work at all next season.

 

Hill went to the Pirates from the Florida Marlins after the 2008 season, and with Hill hitting fungoes and working with infielders, the Pirates' defense improved markedly and remained strong even after shortstop Jack Wilson was traded to the Mariners.

 

Pirates manager John Russell told MLB.com in the season's final weekend: "I knew the kind of impact [Hill] could make. You saw the pride he had and how he handled it, and the passion he had in coaching. And he's continued that all year long. He's been phenomenal. He has made a tremendous impact. He's been a huge part of why our infield and our defense has gotten better."

 

The Pirates held a contractual option for 2010 and wanted to keep Hill, and knowing that there was outside interest from other teams, the Pirates exercised the option -- while offering to restructure and extend Hill's contract.

 

But Hill was intent on leaving the Pirates' organization and has informed the team that he is "going home." Other teams are, of course, prohibited from hiring Hill, unless they were to work out a deal with the Pirates.

 

The news of the Pirates' decision was first reported in Pittsburgh papers last weekend.

 

Buster Olney is a senior baseball writer for ESPN The Magazine.

 

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

 

I'd forgotten this part (two excepts)

 

 

 

...The Pirates announced Saturday that Hill, the renowned first base coach and infield instructor, won't be returning for a second season. General manager Neal Huntington also said the team has exercised Hill's contract option for 2010, which would prohibit him from coaching elsewhere next year without the Pirates' permission. Hill, though, will not be paid if he is not working for the Pirates.

 

"We exercised the option to protect our club's interest," Huntington said.

 

The Pirates also promoted Triple-A pitching coach Ray Searage to the major-league staff yesterday in an unrelated staff move.

 

Huntington said Hill was offered a job within the organization as a consultant and that he hasn't received an answer on that proposal.

 

"The Pirates made their statement. It was time for me to go. I won't be back with the Pirates next year," Hill said.

 

Hill's departure wasn't unexpected. He wasn't happy the infield was overhauled during the season, with three of the four starters being traded: shortstop Jack Wilson (Seattle), second baseman Freddy Sanchez (San Francisco) and first baseman Adam LaRoche (Boston).

 

Huntington said he "aggressively" tried to retain Hill, picking up the option year and "offering to restructure and extend his contract."

 

"Perry told us it was time for him to go home," Huntington said. "He said it wasn't about the money. He just really wanted to go home and be with his family."

 

Hill, 57, has spent 15 seasons coaching in the majors and 25 in professional baseball. He is considered one of the top infield instructors in the game. The Pirates finished the season with the best fielding percentage and fewest errors in the major leagues.

 

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

 

Hill does want to coach, but not with Pirates right now

 

By Chuck Finder | 5:33 p.m. Wednesday

 

Perry Hill, the infield instructor who recently parted ways with the Pirates, insisted he wants to continue coaching, contrary to a statement made Saturday by general manager Neal Huntington.

 

"I never said I didn't want to coach," Hill said this afternoon. "I just didn't want to be with Pittsburgh. I definitely want to coach."

BTW, I only printed this stuff because I thought it was an interesting story...there is probably zero chance and I'm not even touting it, just fantasizing for a minute on a Weds PM knowing I have to listen to Dave Van Boring tonight. :banghead

Very interesting articles about Perry Hill. I don't think I ever really read why exactly he left the Marlins after 2008.

His wife was gravely ill with (I believe) some sort of cancer, or was it her heart I forget, anyways he stayed home with her and ultimately she recovered.

Arnsberg was available this offseason(he ended up with Houston). Did they talk to him at all?

Arnsberg was available this offseason(he ended up with Houston). Did they talk to him at all?

 

 

 

lolololololol

Whats funny about that? Its not like St. Claire was a slam dunk hire.

Whats funny about that? Its not like St. Claire was a slam dunk hire.

 

 

You probably weren't a fan of the Marlins in 2003 because if you were you would have read one of the many accounts of his firing and alleged violent and abusive behavior towards Admin Beinfest and Loria who made it a point the night they made the big change (to the Jack McKeon regime) to inform those being let go in person they had been relieved. To say there's bad blood there would be an understatement. Beinfest has repeated his account of that night many times.

Whats funny about that? Its not like St. Claire was a slam dunk hire.

 

 

You probably weren't a fan of the Marlins in 2003 because if you were you would have read one of the many accounts of his firing and alleged violent and abusive behavior towards Admin Beinfest and Loria who made it a point the night they made the big change (to the Jack McKeon regime) to inform those being let go in person they had been relieved. To say there's bad blood there would be an understatement. Beinfest has repeated his account of that night many times.

I have been a Marlins fan since 1993. However, the only part of the 2003 season I got to take part in was the World Series. I wasnt able to get back into it until summer 2004, so yes...I missed alot of stuff.