Pirates Fire Pitching Coach Jeff Andrews

by Charlie on Sep 29, 2008 2:34 PM EDT Comment 14 comments

The Post-Gazette reports. It's hard to say how much blame Andrews deserved for the pitching staff's failures. As I wrote yesterday, some of the Pirates' pitching issues were actually the result of bad defense, although the pitching itself also was pretty awful.

The Pirates also fired first base coach Lou Frazier.

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An Attaboy for Huntington!

The dismissal of Andrews had to be done, and the fact that it was done immediately is a feather in Huntington’s cap.

As for Frazier, he always made me uncomfortable and a little nervous every time a runner reached first base, he went over and grabbed him by the shoulders and then whispered in his ear.

Huntington’s taking immediate action - I like it!!!

by thegunner on Sep 29, 2008 2:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Totally

It was all Lou Frazier’s fault.

by bolton on Sep 29, 2008 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

How the hell does Tony Beasley keep HIS job, and Frazier loses his?

by KPatrick on Sep 29, 2008 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I totally agree... unless Beasley was just following orders?

by humbucker on Sep 29, 2008 10:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Down goes Frazier!

Hey, it had to be said.

Best of luck to both guys.

by Vlad on Sep 29, 2008 4:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Another pitching coach and...

another reversal of fortune for the starters?

I can see it already.

Snell and Gorzo bounce back as Maholm and Duke revert to 5.00+ earned run averages. Let’s hope the Bucs can find a guy who will gradually improve the majority of their pitching staff and not be so hit and miss (no pun intended) like recent pitching coaches.

by RDV across the sea on Sep 29, 2008 4:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Understand how it could affect Snell

But is a new coach really going to help Gorzo regain velocity on his fastball? Snell could be fixed with good coaching but Gorzo’s down year was a result of being out of shape/ being overused last year

by patmeares on Sep 29, 2008 5:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heads had to roll

When a pitching staff with so much “potential” performs so poorly failing to live up to expectations then something needs to be done. I’ve been an advocate that pitching coaches can have a profound impact upon their pitchers and Andrews simply had too many “underachievers” to be kept around for another year. Anytime your two best starters completely fall apart then the blame has to be left at the feet of the pitching coach for failing to make adjustments to improve their performance. Snell was signed to a long contract based upon the belief he was on the verge of a breakout season and instead he became one of the worst pitchers in all of baseball. I’m glad Andrews is gone and hope we can sign a replacement that has some ideas on what went wrong with Snell and Gorzo.

by Illinois Pirate Fan on Sep 29, 2008 7:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good post. Too many of our pitchers took a step backwards with Andrews as the coach. Although I’m sure there were other factors, this firing hopefully demonstrates to the rest of the staff that everyone will be help accountable.

Anyone know why Frazier was fired, saw that he was the outfield coach as well but that doesn’t seem to answer my question.

I made most of my life decisions at a Foghat concert... I stand by them.

by Chester J Lampwick on Sep 30, 2008 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

From what I've heard...

…he took the job with the understanding that it’d be for only one year. We had another guy in line for the spot, but he backed out at the last minute due to family stuff.

by Vlad on Sep 30, 2008 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So, how long.....

…before Bob Walk’s name starts getting tossed around for the pitching coach position? Heck, no one else is wearing #17 these days.

by Brakeman8 on Sep 29, 2008 9:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ha! and then the "whirlybird" pickoff motion...

… becomes mandatory throughout the Bucs’ system!

by humbucker on Sep 29, 2008 10:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Candidates

I’d love to see Rick Peterson or Leo Mazzone on staff.

by Vlad on Sep 30, 2008 9:01 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gorzo, Snell & Duke....

…should each donate 1/2 a year salary to Andrews for costing him his job. I can’t argue that the change had to be made. Maybe the next guy can explain to those three that their sizable paychecks are for being professional athletes 365 days a year…not just on the 32 days they are starting a major (or minor) league game.

Get in shape. Stay in shape. Be ready to go when spring training begins. Don’t come into the season overweight and out of shape.

by Nosmo King on Sep 30, 2008 9:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs