Pittsburgh Pirates home stand report card for 5/30-6/6

PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 05: Elias Diaz #32 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with Gregory Polanco #25 of the Pittsburgh Pirates after hitting a two run home run in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park on June 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JUNE 05: Elias Diaz #32 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with Gregory Polanco #25 of the Pittsburgh Pirates after hitting a two run home run in the second inning against the Atlanta Braves at PNC Park on June 5, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 14: Manager Clint Hurdle #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on from the top step of the dugout during the eighth inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 14, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – MAY 14: Manager Clint Hurdle #13 of the Pittsburgh Pirates looks on from the top step of the dugout during the eighth inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on May 14, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Coaching

To me, this home stand went as Clint Hurdle went.

The Pirates lost three of four to the Brewers largely because of Hurdle’s poor decision making. Saturday afternoon, he inexplicably threw Clay Holmes in the sixth inning two-run game instead of starting the frame with Francisco Liriano, and the Bucs lost the lead and, ultimately, the game as a result. The next day, the Pirates had Milwaukee on the ropes with two on an nobody out in the ninth… until Hurdle decided to bunt Adam Frazier, killing any chance of a comeback. Against the Braves, however, Hurdle did his job well.

Wednesday night, Hurdle rode Joe Musgrove until Musgrove had nothing left, and gave his starter the chance to throw a complete game. Wednesday, he pulled Chris Archer at the right time, went with the right reliever (Liriano), and made sure his team wouldn’t lose the lead.

Next. 3 Takeaways From Series Victory Over Atlanta. dark

Hurdle will never be a great on-field manager, and I don’t even think he’s a good one. This week showed, however, that he’s capable of balancing poor decisions with intelligent ones.

C. . . .

Overall grade: C