All hail Clint Hurdle, skipper of the Pirate ship Unexpected, which has sailed to within site of Playoff Land with an under-powered engine. Whether this voyage is the result of adept captaining, a vigorous crew or a lusty wind at their back, no one actually knows, but Capt. Hurdle will get the credit because that's easy and convenient.
Ironically, only now that the ship has temporarily run aground will the skipper really demonstrate his leadership skills. With the expected catching up with the Unexpected, the crew might react in several ways: they might lose faith, they might jump ship, they might rally or they might keep on doing their best until a wave washes them back into deeper water.
Since pushing to the lead for the second NL Wild Card, the Bucs have lost their way, dropping six of seven and 13 of 19, and falling into a mash-up of teams chasing the Cardinals. The pitching, about middle of the pack all year thanks mostly to a valiant bullpen, has sputtered a bit the last month. The offense, also known as Andrew McCutcheon, is chugging fitfully along, more or less as it has all season. Though the performance isn't much different, the team is beginning to veer off course, outscored by 30 runs in 19 games.
Veteran clubs understand that the winds of a long baseball season blow variably over time, and know the difference between patience and complacency, urgency and panic. Young teams, like Pittsburgh's, rely more on the man steering the ship. Right now, the Pirates need one with a steady hand on the till, an unwavering gaze on the destination and a heavy foot on the accelerator. Let's see if that's what Clint Hurdle has and if he can wrest from the crew equal measures of patience and urgency. If he does, then we have evidence of great managing.
1 comment:
Dude can write, and he's right too.
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