Red Sox management give Pirates chance for better manager and excuse to boot McClendon by firing Little

During Boston’s improbable run to the American League Championship Series, two former… During Boston’s improbable run to the American League Championship Series, two former Pittsburgh Pirates contributed to the late season success of the Red Sox.

Pitchers Jeff Suppan and Scott Sauerbeck, both Pirates at one point last season, joined the Red Sox in midseason and helped take Boston to the brink of the World Series. Now, the Red Sox have returned the favor.

No, the Red Sox haven’t traded Nomar Garciaparra or Pedro Martinez to the Pirates. In fact, Boston isn’t even aware of the favor they have done for the Pirates.

That’s because Boston, in firing manager Grady Little, has offered the Pirates, along with every other team in Major League, the opportunity to hire one of the most successful managers over the past two years.

Over the past two years, Little has a record of 188-136, a winning percentage of approximately .600, and one playoff berth. Sure, Little made a mistake in allowing Martinez to pitch late into game seven of the ALCS against the hated Yankees. But anyone, after gaining the assurance of one of baseball’s most dominant pitchers, would have made the exact same move.

When the game is on the line, you want and expect your best players to perform in the clutch. When Michael Jordan had the flu in game five of the 1997 NBA Finals, do you think coach Phil Jackson considered sitting Jordan? Of course he did! But Jordan assured Jackson that he could still perform, and he did, scoring 38 points. Little did what all coaches should do – he listened to his players. And he was fired for it.

Now the Pirates have the opportunity to hire Little, get rid of ineffective manager Lloyd McClendon and compete for the National League Central Division crown. Sure, the Red Sox have such superstars as Martinez, Garciaparra, and Manny Ramirez, but they also have a lot of solid role players who Little managed effectively in guiding the Red Sox to consecutive 90 win seasons.

What has McClendon done over the past two years? Last season, he squandered a lineup of power hitters, former All-Stars, and role players as the Pirates finished yet another season under .500.

In fact, over the past two years, McClendon has a record of 147-176, a winning percentage of .450, and two consecutive fourth-place finishes in the weak National League Central Division. Now, I’m not a math major, but I’d say that .600 is much better than .450. Does it take a brain surgeon to realize the upgrade that is sitting out in the open, ripe for the picking?

Following the midseason fire sale of its most recognizable players, the Pirates have accumulated one of the major league’s finest farm systems, filled with players dripping with talent and potential.

Add to that the presence of Jason Bay, one of the Pirates’ youngest sluggers, and Tike Redman, one of the fastest players on the team, the Pirates’ potential is exponential. However, Lloyd McClendon is not the right man to lead this team. A new manager, such as Little, would energize this team and guide it to a place it hasn’t been in 11 years – the postseason.

If it’s that clear to me, why doesn’t General Manager Dave Littlefield see the opportunity that sits before him? Making poor administrative decisions over the past seven years (such as Jason Kendall’s contract) put the Pirates in their current situation. Now the Red Sox have dangled a line to pull them out of the mess they’re in, and the Pirates have yet to reach for it. Will they grab the line and use the Red Sox’s mistake to pull them back to respectability? Or will they let yet another opportunity pass them by? Only time will tell.