The Pirates have fired third base coach Rick Sofield and reassigned first base coach Nick Leyva, per a team announcement. Leyva will take over as a senior advisor for baseball operations.
“It was a difficult decision, but we felt it was the right time to make this change on our Major League staff,” said general manager Neal Huntington (Twitter link via Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).
It was only a year ago that Sofield was in serious contention for the Padres’ managerial job, for which he was reportedly the favorite at one point. That position ultimately went to Andy Green, leaving Sofield to return to the Pirates for what proved to be his fourth and final year on manager Clint Hurdle’s staff. The 59-year-old Sofield, who previously managed the Pirates’ Low-A affiliate in 2012, was also Pittsburgh’s baserunning and outfield coach. Under Sofield’s watch this season, Pirates baserunners made the second-most outs in the league at third base and ranked last in taking extra bases on singles and doubles, according to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review.
Sofield’s dismissal “blindsided” him, he told Biertempfel. “I’m heartbroken … but you’ve got to respect people doing that they think is best,” he added (Twitter link).
Sofield was the Pirates’ first base coach before switching roles with Leyva in advance of the 2015 season. Leyva had been part of Hurdle’s coaching staff since he took the helm as Pittsburgh’s skipper in 2010. Along with serving as the Pirates’ first base coach, Leyva was the club’s infield coach. In his new role, the 63-year-old will work as a minor league advisor, per Biertempfel.
I don’t wish against anybody to lose their job but baseball is a business and Sofield has made tons of mistakes. It was something that had to be done.
A good move. But I hate to read that he’s heartbroken. He’s a very likable guy.
I’m sure this will help lol
Well they got it right a little bit. Honestly think hurdle needs to go. He is a horrible game and player manager. People think he is so great because he got to the playoffs when if you think about it wasnt all that impressive. Sire its hard to make the playoffs but look at what happened. First session ok we got to the division and lost in 5 games to the eventual champs. The next two sessions we get annihilated, and embarrassed. Then this season we dont even make .500. Time for hurdle to go.
What the hell are you talking about…sessions??
He had three shots at the playoffa and the last two were utter failures. Hurdle is one of the worst managers in the league.
The Pirates need new everything… a new owner, nutting is garbage, a new manager, hurdle has made some really bad decisions, but just because he turned them around, everyone seems to praise him, and worse of all Neal Huntington, terrible is an understatement, every choice that guy makes is laughable, I’m surprised he hasn’t traded McCutchen for a bag of used baseballs yet
You sir are an idiot. 3 straight years of playoff baseball. Bottom line is that does not happen by luck.
But he is right though. Minus NH ill give him a pass because he has to work with nutting. Who is a complete cheap skate. If he would put any kind of real money into this club we wouldnt have to worry about cole leaving or any one else who has real talent. We were lucky with cutch because he has loyalty and took one of the biggest home town discounts to date. He could have made over 100 million with the yanks, dodgers, or any team with a payroll. Has far as hurdle goes he is horrible. He for whatever reason keeps pitchers on after they let up 5-6 runs in an inning, doesnt know how to reat his starters, and is overall just a horrid excuse for a manager. Hurdle was just lucky that he was in the right place at the right time.
I totally agree firing Sofield. Pitching staff a mess. Don’t hear savior Ray
Getting a lot of praise now. When are they going to dump Locke. Can’t
Keep trying to live off mid stream pitchers, example Vogelsong, Neise,
Need to spend some money and get a quality starter. Pirates don’t have
much to offer in a trade. Cutch value has dropped since last season
but remains best choice to trade. If Cole can return to old self and
With Jameson T good number 1 and 2 from their it’s a crap shoot.
Watson is not the answer for closer, best set up man. Hope
They don’t lose Rodriguez .Could be team MVP. Polanco needs
a lot of help with defense and base running. Love Cervilli attitude
But he can’t throw out runners and too many errors and past balls.
Stewart needs to go. Team has too many coaches not sure what
They all do.
I agree Stewart should go, it’s time for Diaz. S. Rod, however, is good as utility but will never be team mvp