Mystery Disease Kills Thousands
Gay Marriage Vote Puts Heat On Christie
One night after their most dramatic win of the season, the Pittsburgh Pirates have fired pitching coach Joe Kerrigan and bench coach Gary Varsho. There's not much in the way of details at the moment, but both general manager Neal Huntington and manager John Russell stressed that the decision was Russell's to make and that the skipper felt it was best for the young club to move forward without either coach. Varsho has been the bench coach all three seasons that Russell has managed the Pirates, while Kerrigan joined the staff in 2009. They'll be replaced by Jeff Banister and Ray Searage, respectively. Banister is currently a coordinator in the Pirates' minor league system, while Searage was hired to be Kerrigan's assistant.
It's hard to tell exactly what happened, but Kerrigan is well known for his strong personality and Varsho has gotten into clubhouse feuds with at least two Pirates, Lastings Milledge and Ronny Cedeno, in 2010. Former Beaver County Times beat writer John Perrotto was told by a source that Varsho's personality was a source of conflict for the club.
That outspokenness stands in direct contrast with Russell's very laid-back style. Perhaps the manager simply felt that their style of coaching didn't mesh well with a team that's mostly made up of very young players now. Kerrigan certainly didn't have much success with the pitching staff in 2010, as their 594 runs allowed is third-worst in the National League.
Certainly Kerrigan and Varsho aren't to blame for the Pirates' NL-worst 39-71 record, but changes during and after a season with a record like that are inevitable. If there are underlying problems with the coaching staff it's likely that either Varsho or Kerrigan won't stay quiet about it forever, especially given the outspokenness that the club is apparently upset with. If that's the case, perhaps the full story will reveal itself in due time.
How Long Will Santorum's Surge Last?
Washington Gay Marriage Legislation Signed Into Law By Governor Chris Gregoire
House GOP Offers Deal In Big Fight
Officials Confirm: Prescription Drugs Found In Whitney Houston's Room
Obama Budget Signals Shift From Austerity Measures To Campaign Promises
Feds Recover Record Number Of Health Care Fraud Judgments
U.S. Green-Lights Google's Massive $12.5 Billion Purchase
Syrian Rebels Fight Off Attack On Key Town
Downgraded: Moody's Cuts Credit Ratings Of Italy, Portugal And Spain
Republicans Slam Obama Birth Control Rule, Ignoring State Contraception Mandates
WATCH: Fox News Pundit's Disturbing Comments About Rape
Monsanto Guilty Of Chemical Poisoning Of French Farmer
Topless Protesters Target 'Gas Gangsters'
WATCH: 25 Million Tons Of Japan Tsunami Debris Headed Directly Our Way
Pacifist Activists Deride Bishops Over Birth Control Coverage
WATCH: Anderson Cooper's Hilarious Adventures With Adele
Pressure Mounts On Mortgage Giants To Pursue Principal Reductions
WATCH: Bill Maher Rips GOP Concept Of 'Elites'
When Will The New iPad Be Announced?
Wall Street Fears Volcker Rule Will Force Testosterone Monitoring
Huff TV: WATCH: Arianna Weighs In On Tony Bennett's Call To Legalize Drugs
