Pitching, first base coaches out

Pitching coach Jeff Andrews and first base coach Lou Frazier were fired Monday, a day after the Pirates finished the season with a 67-95 record.

The firing of Andrews isn't a surprise. The pitching staff was supposed to be a strength of the team and instead was the biggest reason – save the Xavier Nady and Jason Bay trades – that the Pirates recorded their 16th consecutive losing season.

The Pirates had the third-worst earned run average in the majors (5.08). They also allowed the second-most walks in the majors this season with 657, which was also a team record. The staff also reached a historic low as no pitcher recorded 10 wins for only the third time in the 122 history of the club. Also, the starting pitchers combined for a pitiful 33 victories.

I was one of the people who thought the Andrews hire was a good one. He had a strong rapport with most of the pitchers on staff because he coached most of them in the minor leagues and seemed to have a firm grasp as to how to make them winners. Unfortunately, just about every pitcher minus Paul Maholm regressed. Tom Gorzelanny was so bad he was demoted to the minors and Ian Snell went months between victories. Zach Duke may never get back the success he one had. It appears his 15 minutes of fame were up when the 2005 season ended.

As for Frazier, I don't really have a good reason he got fired. Seemed like a nice enough guy though. Sorry to see him go.