The Pirates announced Monday that they will not bring hitting coach Jeff Branson and assistant hitting coach Jeff Livesey back as Major League coaches for the 2019 season. No additional coaching changes are expected, per the press release.
“We appreciate all of the time, energy and effort that Jeff and Jeff put into the team,” said general manager Neal Huntington in an official statement. “Both are high-character, hard-working, good baseball men. We felt that this was the right time to take our Major League hitting program in a different direction.”
Branson, 51, appeared in parts of nine Major League seasons between the Reds, Indians and Dodgers from 1992-2001. Both Branson and Livesey had been in their roles with the Pirates since the 2014 season. Brandon spent 16 seasons with the Pirates organization, previously serving as a coach and, for five seasons, a manager in the team’s minor league system. Livesey, too, spent 16 years in the organization and has served as a minor league manager and as a minor league hitting coordinator. He’s also spent four seasons as a bench coach with the Hiroshima Carp of Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball and another as the bench coach for NPB’s Rakuten Golden Eagles.
YEA … FINALLY
Today Black Monday? Dbacks / Pirates’ hitting coaches’ fired
Long time coming. They need to get consistent power from Bell and Moran.
How about them cubbies
Easy now. They invented baseball remember.
Moran did not hit for power in college and was not projected to hit for power in pro ball. In college he had a Line Drive approach and did not show any effort to change it.
I don’t think anyone expects Moran to be an elite power hitter, but getting 15 homeruns out of him should be plasuable. Plus Bell should be hitting 20+ home runs.
Exactly. If Moran is slapping the ball the other way all the time, he really has no value.
That’s a pretty silly take.
If your name’s Jeff, you’re fired
Too bad that doesn’t apply to Jeff Wilpon.
I wish they’d fire Hurdle and bring Bannister back to manage.
Wow this a great suggestion. I like Bannister a lot Would be very happy. However, will never happen considering the extension. Horrible move to extend both when they did. They would NEVER EVER fire one or both now. Have no interest in paying guys that aren’t there. Great comment tho.
Should have also fired two other guys named Clint and Neal
You got that right!
Yes
I hate to see anyone get fired but it does not seem that the Pirates have developed the hitters that they need.,especially power hitters.Other teams like the Dodgers,Cardinals,and Brewers seem to find or develop them.They are placing the blame on the ML coaches but it may be more of an organizational problem.
Pirates fate lies with how quickly some of their prospects can reach the majors. I think the starting pitching and the bullpen will be as good if not better in 2019. Gonna be without Polanco for the first month or so, but he’ll be back. Started to look better in August before he got hurt. Bell is gonna be just fine. He’s young and a good hitter. Not totally sold on Moran, but if he plays good defense; hits .270 and gives us some modest pop (15-18 HR), I can live with that. The middle infield is a problem. Don’t see Nelson as an everyday SS or 2B. Is it time to give Adam Frazier 500 at bats? Dunno. Whatever the Bucs do, it’s gonna be tough to catch Chicago, Milwaukee or St. Louis..
Not many left. They’ve done a pretty bad job drafting.