Aug 16, 2002 2 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Left-hander Jimmy Anderson, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ most experienced starting pitcher, was removed from the rotation Thursday by manager Lloyd McClendon. “The bottom line is we have to have results. You have to get it done. If you can’t, we’re going to go out and find someone else who can get it done,” McClendon said. “This isn’t a country club. This is a professional baseball team. Guys have to perform.”

Anderson (8-13, 5.70 ERA) wasn’t expecting the demotion and wasn’t happy with it.

“It really doesn’t make a lot of sense. I don’t make the decisions. I just have to live with it and I’ll try to do the best I can out of the bullpen,” Anderson said.

Asked if he was confused or angry, Anderson said, “Probably a combination of both.”

Anderson allowed five runs and eight hits in three innings in his most recent start, a 9-5 loss Tuesday to St. Louis. It was his 25th start of the season and the 89th of his career.

Anderson has exasperated McClendre to master fundamentals, such as holding runners on base.

“Is there still time for a young, 25-year-old left-hander to get it together? Yeah,” McClendon said. “Hopefully, this will enlighten him, encourage him and motivate him to get things back on track and be the pitcher we think he can be.”

Anderson is eligible for salary arbitration after this season, when the Pirates must decide if he still has a future with them.

“I don’t know what kind of message he (McClendon) is trying to send,” Anderson said. “I thought I’ve been throwing the ball well. Evidently they didn’t think so. It’s a decision they made.”

The Pirates haven’t decided yet who will replace Anderson in the rotation Sunday against Milwaukee.