Pirates Have New Manager at the Helm

On a day when Joe Torre was introduced as the new manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Pittsburgh Pirates also found themselves a new lead in John Russell. Russell spent the past two years managing the Phillies' Class AAA affiliate. Pirate GM Neal Huntington cited Russell’s energy, passion and experience as the reason for the hire, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Russell, 46, has never managed in the majors but was the Pirates' third base coach from 2002 to 2005. “I am proud to be the new manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates. It is my responsibility to restore the culture of pride and passion in the clubhouse,” he said. Russell also vowed that his club “will not be outworked or out-prepared.” (More MLB stories.)