Hurdle’s hip has him hobbling
The old baseball saying is that no one is 100 percent in September.
Indeed, every player has assorted bumps and bruises while fighting both the physical and mental fatigue that comes from a season that begin in mid-February with the beginning of spring training and doesn’t end until Sept. 28. For the 10 teams that qualify for the playoffs, the season goes even longer.
It is safe to say that no Pirates player is hurting as much as their manager. Watching Clint Hurdle hobble from the dugout to the mound to make a pitching change is just plain painful.
Hurdle is need of hip replacement surgery and plans to have the operation within days of the Pirates’ season ending.
Doctors suggested Hurdle have the surgery during the four-day All-Star break in July. However, Hurdle declined because he would have had to miss a handful of games and also because St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny had asked him to be part of the National League coaching staff at the All-Star Game in Minneapolis.
Certainly, it would be understandable if Hurdle had pitching coach Ray Searage handle pitching changes and bench coach Jeff Banister go onto the field to ask for replay challenges. However, Hurdle is steadfast in his belief that those jobs are the manager’s responsibility.
So Hurdle, quite admirably, keeps gutting it out.
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If the Pirates make a posteason run, the pick here for surprise key contributor is right-handed reliever John Axford, who was claimed off waivers last month from the Cleveland Indians.
Axford has started to gain Hurdle’s trust in recent weeks and is being used in more high-leverage situations. Furthermore, Axford has pitched well in the postseason, allowing just two runs and seven hits in 12 2/3 innings over 12 games for a 1.42 ERA while striking out 18.
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Even though he has a shot to win the batting title, many people in baseball question Josh Harrison’s viability as an everyday major league player.
Perhaps he will end up being a one-year wonder. However, based on how well he has played this season, the Pirates have to give him a chance to continue playing regularly next season.
Harrison is adamant that he can produce like this on a yearly basis given the opportunity and, really, who can doubt him at this point?