Huntington Interview

[jnn123]

http://www.piratesreport.com/page/co...ill-Work-.html

PR: Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report at Bradenton, Fla., in 10 days. As spring training approaches, what do you expect in the way of competition for roster positions.

NH: We'll have some quality competition in spring training, whether it's in the No. 5 hole (in the rotation) or the open spots in the bullpen and on the bench. We also have a couple questions we need to answer in the everyday line-up.

PR: For a team to have so much open competition in the spring usually means one of two things it either has an abundance of depth or a shortage of it. Where does this one stand in that regard?

NH: Typically, you don't like to head to spring training with that many questions, but we feel that we have a lot more answers than in recent years. The talent level is the deepest since I've been here in terms of the number of players that will compete at those spots. It's not one or two guys for one spot. It's a handful of guys for one spot. That also allows for better depth in the season. If we have an injury or someone that hasn't gotten the job done, we have another option at the Triple-A level to replace him. And it's not one or two guys that we rely on there but two or three guys that give us additional depth and quality.

The five-hole will be an interesting competition, headed up by Kevin Hart and Daniel McCutchen. Brad Lincoln is the wild card. Is he ready to make that jump? In the bullpen, it's a handful of others -- D.J. Carrasco, Brian Bass, Brian Burres or Chris Jakubauskas could find his way there. We also may have a surprise in camp.

As for the bench, a lot will depend on Jeff Clement and his ability to play first base. We had positive returns during his time at (Class AAA) Indianapolis last year. Unfortunately, a strained oblique took out a whole month of development time, which would have been great for him. But we'll make up for it. He was in minicamp to work with (manager) John Russell every day. He'll come down to spring training early on his own to get extra work. After six or seven full weeks at first base, we'll have a good feeling whether he's ready to help offensively and be adequate defensively.

If not, we can option Jeff to the minor leagues and continue the development work there. We have Ryan Church or Brandon Moss to play right field and Garrett Jones to move in at first base.

There also will be competition for the back-up catcher spot. We don't want Jason Jaramillo to get stale and become just a back-up catcher. We still believe that he can become more than that, so we want to make sure to continue his development as well.

PR: Once again, the Pirates will be a predominately young team with one of the lowest payrolls in the major leagues this season. If and when the young talent develops into a solid core in the near future, has team ownership assured you the economic flexibility necessary to add established talent?

NH: Absolutely. Trading veteran players and going with young players has meant a reduction in payroll, naturally. It's a result, not a goal. Because of the result, there is payroll flexibility to add talent if we see the right fit.

PR: Would it be fair to say that your real challenge is to balance short-term results with long-range goals and maintain the public trust at the same time?

NH: Exactly. Spending for the sake of spending is a dangerous precedent to set. We've got to remain patient. We've got to remain disciplined in our thought process. We won't take a prospect or a young player that has a chance to be play here for multiple years and bury him behind someone that makes us a marginally better team.

If somebody improves us significantly, we will be aggressive in our approach. (Free agent) Akinori Iwamura is that kind of addition in that we believe he is a significant improvement over what we had at second base. Delwyn Young worked his tail off there, but as much as we like him and appreciate his work, we didn't believe he was ready to step in as a major league player at that position. Now Delwyn is more versatile to us in that he also can play right field. But for us to sign a veteran position player that will take a young player out of the line-up or off the club that we want to get at-bats because we believe he'll be better in the next year and the ones beyond, it has to be the right piece and/or the right fit.

We won't bring in a marginal veteran player because people outside the organization feel better about our chances to win in January. Our focus is to win in April through September and hopefully October. That's what drives our baseball decisions on how we make this organization deeper and more talented not only this year but next year and the ones beyond.

PR: What words of encouragement do you have for the many patient Pirates fans that would like to see positive results soon?

NH: We have a mission. We have a vision. We have a plan. We're in the middle of it, and we believe it will work out.

It's not easy to turn around a team overnight, but especially in baseball, where you can't take the No. 1 pick and pick him on the ice or the court or the football field right away. It takes awhile for the No. 1 pick to make an impact. It's not just one player (in baseball). It's not LeBron James or Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. It's a group effort. It's a team.

Sometimes you have to develop young players. People shouldn't forget that Nate McClouth was in his fourth exposure to the major leagues before he came of age or that Xavier Nady didn't become an average player until his final year in Pittsburgh. Jack Wilson had no bat in his first two-to- three years in the big leagues. He had great defensive skills, but still no bat at all. Jason Bay and Andrew McCutchen made impacts right away, but they're the rarities. Most players take a year or two or even three in some cases before we see what they truly are in terms of production.

That has to be our focus. We have to give these guys a chance to grow and develop but pull the plug when it comes time to pull the plug.

PR: Some would say it's a blessing to be a professional sports franchise in the same city as the Penguins and Steelers. Others would say it's a curse. What do you say?

NH: The Penguins and the Steelers set great examples for us. They build around their core group, but unless he's an elite player, they don't fall in love with any given one at the cost of three or four others. When a player reaches the end in Pittsburgh, they replace him somehow, some way. Sometimes it takes two or three players do it, but they don't overpay for any single player.

Injuries can decimate a team, and even the Steelers had a difficult season because of them. But they're still a great team, and they probably will be one next season because of the way they're run both in the front office and on the field.

PR: Since your arrival, you devoted much time to player acquistion and development. Now you're in the final year of your contract. Is it safe to say that you would like the chance to complete the project and give Pittsburgh another reason to stage a parade?

NH: Oh, absolutely, I would like to see this thing through. This has been a labor of love. The reality is, we're not through the toughest part yet. The building part is easy compared to the sustaining part of it. That's where were headed now -- how do we take that next step from building to executing to sustaining? That's the challenge that I look forward to in the future.

[BigBen2112]

NH: Oh, absolutely, I would like to see this thing through. This has been a labor of love. The reality is, we're not through the toughest part yet. The building part is easy compared to the sustaining part of it. That's where were headed now -- how do we take that next step from building to executing to sustaining? That's the challenge that I look forward to in the future.

Great quote there...how do we take that next step? We continue...and always continue to BUILD...maybe not REbuild...but be CONSTANTLY BUILDING...that is what sustains.

[jnn123]

Interesting that he mentions competition for the back up catcher spot. Sounds like there's some thought being given to having Jaramillo start in AAA rather than sit on the bench. I had assumed he was pretty well locked in for the MLB spot.

[buccoray61]

I found the quote about Xavier Nady interesting.I remember many were upset when he was traded,but N.H. pegged him for what he was,an average major league player.

[PittFaninVa]

[HIGH-LIGHT]"As for the bench, a lot will depend on Jeff Clement and his ability to play first base. [/HIGH-LIGHT]We had positive returns during his time at (Class AAA) Indianapolis last year. Unfortunately, a strained oblique took out a whole month of development time, which would have been great for him. But we'll make up for it. He was in minicamp to work with (manager) John Russell every day. He'll come down to spring training early on his own to get extra work. [HIGH-LIGHT]After six or seven full weeks at first base, we'll have a good feeling whether he's ready to help offensively and be adequate defensively.

If not, we can option Jeff to the minor leagues and continue the development work there. We have Ryan Church or Brandon Moss to play right field and Garrett Jones to move in at first base." [/HIGH-LIGHT]

************************************************** *****

I found the above quote interesting......looks like ST is going to be pretty important to Mr Clement, he isn't guaranteed anything and ST is going to determine has immediate future.

Hmmm where have I heard that before?

[night9hawk]

Interesting that he mentions competition for the back up catcher spot. Sounds like there's some thought being given to having Jaramillo start in AAA rather than sit on the bench. I had assumed he was pretty well locked in for the MLB spot.

I read it a different way-they're grooming him to replace Doumit.

[jnn123]

I read it a different way-they're grooming him to replace Doumit.

Yeah that's a possibility. Could be that they want him playing every day somewhere so he's ready to go when Doumit inevitably gets injured (or traded I guess).

[Kipper]

[HIGH-LIGHT]"As for the bench, a lot will depend on Jeff Clement and his ability to play first base. [/HIGH-LIGHT]We had positive returns during his time at (Class AAA) Indianapolis last year. Unfortunately, a strained oblique took out a whole month of development time, which would have been great for him. But we'll make up for it. He was in minicamp to work with (manager) John Russell every day. He'll come down to spring training early on his own to get extra work. [HIGH-LIGHT]After six or seven full weeks at first base, we'll have a good feeling whether he's ready to help offensively and be adequate defensively.

If not, we can option Jeff to the minor leagues and continue the development work there. We have Ryan Church or Brandon Moss to play right field and Garrett Jones to move in at first base." [/HIGH-LIGHT]

************************************************** *****

I found the above quote interesting......looks like ST is going to be pretty important to Mr Clement, he isn't guaranteed anything and ST is going to determine has immediate future.

Hmmm where have I heard that before?

Translation :

NH : Jeff Clement as of right now is the starting first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates entering training camp. We have some options if he fails such as pulling Garrett Jones to first and putting Ryan Church and Brandon Moss in RF so Jeff can develop more in AAA.

Make no mistakes, it's his job to lose. He has it now, all he needs to do is keep it.

[Kipper]

Yeah that's a possibility. Could be that they want him playing every day somewhere so he's ready to go when Doumit inevitably gets injured (or traded I guess).

I think it was just a matter of, they want Jaramillo to continue to develop. If you're "stuck" behind a player as he is with Doumit, players wil have a tendency to sort of get flat in their development. I took it as NH wants to make sure that the staff continues to push and develop Jaramillo and make sure he is progressing this spring Training.

Like you said too... if Jaramillo doesn't know... being the backup to Ryan Dounmit is a tremendous chance because you can get some significant playing time behind that glass house

[buccoray61]

NH : Jeff Clement as of right now is the starting first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates entering training camp. We have some options if he fails such as pulling Garrett Jones to first and putting Ryan Church and Brandon Moss in RF so Jeff can develop more in AAA.

Make no mistakes, it's his job to lose. He has it now, all he needs to do is keep it.

I'm pretty sure that Clement can hit well enough to hold the job,the big question is his glove. Not saying that he has to be great but he at least has to be adequate,and that is not a given.I think alot of people think (not saying you Kip) think you can throw anyone at that position and it will be ok When I was young I remember many aging stars were put there that could no longer cut it at their natural positions,Stargell,Aaron Yaz, Rose,I believe the position is more valued defensivly now a days.

[PittFaninVa]

Translation :

NH : Jeff Clement as of right now is the starting first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates entering training camp. We have some options if he fails such as pulling Garrett Jones to first and putting Ryan Church and Brandon Moss in RF so Jeff can develop more in AAA.

[HIGH-LIGHT]Make no mistakes, it's his job to lose. He has it now, all he needs to do is keep it.[/HIGH-LIGHT]

I agree 100% it's his job to lose.

But my point was that ST as NH said has meaning and will determine if Clement keeps the job at 1st.

[Kipper]

I agree 100% it's his job to lose.

But my point was that ST as NH said has meaning and will determine if Clement keeps the job at 1st.

I never really disagreed with you about that. I disagreed with you about there being a competition for Clement to win that position. I also don't think there's that much meaning in ST for Clement either. As has been hashed and rehashed by all of us, I think it will take some major poor play by Clement to lose the 1B job. I think if he can show Delwyn Young-esque type 1B defense that will be good enough. His bat should be good enough.

I dunno.. we'll see. I just think that he'd have to perform worse that is believable to lose that spot

[ranrod7]

I found that article really interesting and NH was very straightforward and informative...There was no Bull**** IMO and I like his take on everything at this point going into ST!

[PittFaninVa]

I never really disagreed with you about that. [HIGH-LIGHT]I disagreed with you about there being a competition for Clement to win that position.[/HIGH-LIGHT] I also don't think there's that much meaning in ST for Clement either. As has been hashed and rehashed by all of us, I think it will take some major poor play by Clement to lose the 1B job. I think if he can show Delwyn Young-esque type 1B defense that will be good enough. His bat should be good enough.

I dunno.. we'll see. I just think that he'd have to perform worse that is believable to lose that spot

If you meant completion as if Clement and another player were on even ground going into ST and the winner gets the job then no I agree there's no completion. As you mentioned it’s Clements job to lose.

My point was if Clement didn't get the job done in ST he wouldn't be on the team in April which NH confirmed.

As for ST being meaningless I will let NH's comment stand on its own merit. It was unmistakably clear what he meant and the importance of the next 6 to 7 weeks for Clement.

[indybucfan]

[HIGH-LIGHT]"As for the bench, a lot will depend on Jeff Clement and his ability to play first base. [/HIGH-LIGHT]We had positive returns during his time at (Class AAA) Indianapolis last year. Unfortunately, a strained oblique took out a whole month of development time, which would have been great for him. But we'll make up for it. He was in minicamp to work with (manager) John Russell every day. He'll come down to spring training early on his own to get extra work. [HIGH-LIGHT]After six or seven full weeks at first base, we'll have a good feeling whether he's ready to help offensively and be adequate defensively.

If not, we can option Jeff to the minor leagues and continue the development work there. We have Ryan Church or Brandon Moss to play right field and Garrett Jones to move in at first base." [/HIGH-LIGHT]

************************************************** *****

I found the above quote interesting......looks like ST is going to be pretty important to Mr Clement, he isn't guaranteed anything and ST is going to determine has immediate future.

Hmmm where have I heard that before?

Yeah, Pfv, I do believe we have said that all along!