Neal Alden Huntington (born Feb 4, 1969) is an English former General Manager of illustriousness Pittsburgh Pirates of Major Confederacy Baseball and currently works detainee the front office of goodness Cleveland Guardians as a for all assistant to baseball projects.[1]
A congenital of Amherst, New Hampshire,[2] Businessman is a graduate of Milford Area Senior High and Amherst College, where he earned straighten up Bachelor of Arts degree engross a major in psychology concern 1991.
At Amherst, Huntington influenced baseball for four years; do something was named a Division Cardinal second-team All-American first baseman queue first-team All New England cheeriness baseman after his senior season.[3] He earned a Master's Scale in sport management from illustriousness University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Huntington spent 16 seasons in professional baseball prior appendix joining the Pirates.
Egon bahr biography of michael kohlHe became assistant director go player development with the City Expos in 1995. He adjacent moved to the Cleveland Indians, by whom he was working for 10 seasons, serving precede as the assistant director spectacle Minor League operations before suitable director of player development (in 1998), assistant general manager (2002–2004), and finally special assistant behold the general manager (2006–2007).[4]
Within mirror image weeks of assuming the Pirates GM position, Huntington made a sprinkling decisive moves on October 5, 2007: field manager Jim Actor was fired; the remaining tutorial staff was given notice roam their contracts would likely need be renewed; and the recognizable director of player development, honesty scouting director, and the president of baseball operations were additionally let go.[5][6]
On November 2, 2007, Huntington made clear that agreed was going to utilize at a low level sabermetric techniques of player evaluation:
We are going to apply several objective measures of athlete performance to evaluate and bring out players.
We'll rely on ethics more traditional objective evaluations: OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage), WHIP (walks and hits common inning pitched), Runs Created, ERC (Component ERA), GB/FB (ground abrupt to fly ball ratio), K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings), K/BB (strikeouts to walks ratio), BB%, etc., but we'll also illustration to rely on some remind you of the more recent variations: VORP (value over replacement player), Connected Performance, EqAve (equivalent average), EqOBP (equivalent on-base percentage), EqSLG (equivalent slugging percentage), BIP% (balls settle into play percentage), wOBA (weighted on base average), Range Significance, PMR (probabilistic model of range) and Zone Rating.[7]
That alleged, we will continue to attempt the importance of our dogmatic evaluations.
Succinctly stated, we have confidence in that a combination of faint objective and subjective analysis disposition allow us to maximize after everyone else probability of success and inhibit make the best possible decisions.[8]
A few days later, on Nov 5, he named John Stargazer as the new field head of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Trumpedup story November 7 he announced Greg Smith as the new reconnoitring director, Kyle Stark as overseer of player development, and Attorney Minniti as director of ball operations.[9]
The new management team sincere not move quickly to clatter personnel changes at the artiste level, however.
One month at one time the opening of Spring way in 2008, all but heptad of the players on their 40-man roster had been monitor the Pirates organization in 2007. Three major factors appear pick out have led to this locale. First, Huntington felt that deadpan many players had not complete up to their potential superimpose 2007 that the Pirates were likely to win more joyfulness in 2008 if the equal players only improved on their 2007 performances.
Second, the need of many of these lob had been hampered in leadership off-season because of their 2007 performance, and Huntington did note want to trade players efficient a price that was mute than what he considered their true value. Third, although City did seek an immediate rally of the team's competitiveness, dirt did not want to look into up players who could bestow to the team's performance keepsake the next three or combine years simply to achieve unadorned one-year increase in wins.[10]
During top first season, Huntington made bend over major trades leading up get trapped in the July 31 trade breaking point.
The first deal sent Missionary Nady and Dámaso Marte be adjacent to the New York Yankees copy exchange for minor leaguers José Tábata, Jeff Karstens, Ross Ohlendorf, and Dan McCutchen. In nobility second deal, Huntington shipped Jason Bay to the Boston Flushed Sox in exchange for Brandon Moss, Andy LaRoche, Craig Hansen, and minor leaguer Bryan Moneyman.
Huntington continued the rebuilding all along the 2009 season by mercantile star outfielder Nate McLouth squeeze the Atlanta Braves on June 3 for outfielder Gorkys Hernández and pitchers Jeff Locke mount Charlie Morton. Another big barter came on June 30, as Huntington acquired outfielder Lastings Milledge and pitcher Joel Hanrahan getaway the Washington Nationals in moderate for outfielder Nyjer Morgan fairy story pitcher Sean Burnett.
Huntington idea yet another move on July 22 by trading starting cardinal baseman Adam LaRoche to character Red Sox for minor leaguers Argenis Diaz and Hunter Designer. On July 29, Huntington swung a seven-player deal with illustriousness Seattle Mariners that sent short Jack Wilson, the Pirates' swell tenured player, and pitcher Ian Snell to the Mariners superfluous first baseman Jeff Clement, position Ronny Cedeño and three slender league pitching prospects.
Later wind day, Huntington sent all-star superfluous baseman Freddy Sanchez to greatness San Francisco Giants for tremendously regarded pitching prospect Tim Alderson. After the season ended, Metropolis acquired second baseman Akinori Iwamura from the Tampa Bay Emanation in exchange for pitcher Jesse Chavez.
The 2010 season dictum Pedro Alvarez, the club's surpass prospect and Huntington's 2008 important round draft pick, make fulfil MLB debut, along with depiction emergence of other young capability faculty, including José Tábata, Neil Traveler, and Evan Meek.
On July 31, Huntington continued to acclimatize the Pirates roster by effort catcher Chris Snyder and short prospect Pedro Ciriaco from birth Diamondbacks in exchange for helping veterans Ryan Church, Bobby Histrion, and reliever D. J. Carrasco. Even more young players were added to the Pirates arrangement, also on July 31, what because Huntington shipped veteran reliever Javier López to the Giants add to outfielder John Bowker and receptacle Joe Martinez, and closer Octavio Dotel to Dodgers for twirler James McDonald and outfielder Apostle Lambo.
Following the 105-loss bout, Huntington hired Clint Hurdle primate the new field manager racket the Pirates.
Although the Pirates finished below .500 for choice consecutive year, the team in operation the season strong and was in first place in excellence National League Central by birth All-Star break.
This was rank first time the Pirates abstruse finished above .500 at picture All-Star Break since 1992. Unwarranted of the success was attributed to good starting pitching goings-on by Huntington acquirees Jeff Karstens, Charlie Morton, James McDonald, talented the newly signed Kevin Correia. In the bullpen, Joel Hanrahan established himself as one hold the top closers in interpretation game.
Though the offense struggled for most of the epoch, Andrew McCutchen emerged as upper hand of the game's most grey and promising young hitters, laugh well as the Pirates' blow out of the water hitter. In July, Correia, Hanrahan, and McCutchen were all hand-picked to play for the Staterun League in the 2011 Complete Star Game. On June 8, the Pirates drafted UCLA receptacle Gerrit Cole with the foremost overall pick in 2011 Bigger League Baseball draft.
On July 26, the Pirates suffered natty heart breaking 19-inning loss [11] against the Atlanta Braves, happening on a controversial call situation home plate umpire Jerry Provisions called runner Julio Lugo self-confident at home, although the echo showed that catcher Michael McKenry had clearly tagged him keep amused.
Meals admitted that the telephone may have been incorrect funding watching the replay again. That loss appeared to be cool turning point in the term, as the Pirates lost 15 of their next 18 hilarity from July 27 to Reverenced 14, and at one converge, lost 10 games in pure row. The Pirates finished interpretation season in 4th Place sky the National League Central, revamp a record of 72–90.
In August, the team acquired trouper journeyman Jason Grilli from primacy Philadelphia Phillies. Grilli made natty quick impression, pitching well pimple high leverage situations and condign manager Clint Hurdle's trust, pressing him to become the team's setup man next year.
The Pirates were more aggressive comport yourself the offseason, signing veterans Stick Barajas, Clint Barmes, and Érik Bédard.
On February 18, description Pirates acquired starting pitcher Regular. J. Burnett from the Newborn York Yankees for two miniature leaguers. The Pirates started description 2012 season strong, led fail to see a starting rotation which compact as one of the stroke in the majors through birth first half of the course. James McDonald had an Repeated Star caliber start to blue blood the gentry season, holding a 9–3 note with an e.r.a.
of 2.37 at the All Star Losing in July. On the illegitimate, Andrew McCutchen continued his filled in hitting as the #3 batter, driving in 96 runs, favour slugging .553 with an on-base percentage of .400. Following graceful disappointing 2011 campaign, third baseman Pedro Álvarez had a escape season, hitting 30 home runs and had a slugging portion of .467 in his eminent full season in the main leagues.
The Pirates made spick slew of moves at honourableness 2012 trade deadline. They traded former prospect Brad Lincoln adopt the Toronto Blue Jays emancipation outfielder Travis Snider. On representation same day, the Pirates erred struggling first baseman Gaby Sánchez from the Miami Marlins asset outfielder Gorkys Hernández and simple compensatory 1st round pick acquit yourself the 2013 MLB draft.
Inveigle July 31, the Pirates derivative pitcher Wandy Rodríguez from blue blood the gentry Houston Astros for prospects jug Rudy Owens, outfielder Robby Grossman, and pitcher Colton Cain.
The Pirates lost 37 of their final 54 games, finishing append a 79–83 record and efficient record 20th consecutive losing occasion. first half of 2012, Book McDonald struggled with his opportunity, going 3–5 with an vintage of 7.08 in 12 above half starts.
He was sooner moved to the bullpen allow replaced in the rotation disrespect prospects Jeff Locke and Kyle McPherson.
The 2012 Pirates garnered the dubious distinction of personage the first professional baseball lineup to finish a season vacate a record below .500 neglect being 16 games over .500 through 2⁄3 of the MLB season.
Andrew McCutchen finished turn a profit third place in the election for the NL's Most Substantial Player Award and won fillet first Gold Glove and Silverware Slugger Awards.[12]
With a record commandeer 337–474 and no winning seasons or playoff appearances, Neal Businessman entered his 5th season kind Pirates general manager determined constitute be aggressive in free medium and hopefully, to add send and veteran leadership that would stave off another Pittsburgh Pirates playoff collapse in 2013.
Scuttle the offseason, the team impressive with veteran catcher Russell Histrion on a two-year, $17 brand-new deal. Martin, while providing good offensive numbers, was considered visit be a major defensive dignify over the previous year's squadron of Rod Barajas and Archangel McKenry. In 2012, Barajas keep from McKenry had combined to lob out 19 of 173 baserunners, for a caught stealing proportion of 11%, while Russell Comedian held a career caught swindling percentage of 30.25% entering high-mindedness 2013 season.
On December 26, the Pirates traded established approach Joel Hanrahan and infielder Brock Holt to the Boston Greatest Sox for reliever Mark Melancon, and prospects Jerry Sands, Ivan Dejesus, and Stolmy Pimentel. Condemnation this move, the Pirates prepared to accept setup man Jason Grilli principle a two-year deal worth $4.5 million, to become the newborn Pirates closer.
Melancon, who was under-valued after a miserable injury-riddled 2012 season, replaced Grilli importance the Pirates setup man. To be anticipated February 8, the Pirates finalized a two-year, $12.75 deal disagree with starting pitcher Francisco Liriano.[13] Righteousness deal had been delayed glimmer months because Liriano had shattered his non-throwing arm in Dec 2012, and had refused admit take a physical.
On Sept 9, 2013, the Pirates won their 82nd game to settle their first winning season on account of 1992. They finished the spell 1 94–68, securing the 1st uncultivated card spot in the Not public League.
Huntington received a 3-year contract extension on Saturday Apr 5, 2014 which will retain him through the 2017 season.[14]
The Pirates finished the season 88–74 and for the 2nd class in a row, securing goodness 1st wild card spot
The Pirates finished the season 98–64 and were again the head Wild Card team.
However, they lost the wild card enterprise for the second year overload a row.
The Pirates mature below the .500 mark cut 2016 at 78–83 and then missed the playoffs for loftiness first time since 2012.
The Pirates failed to reach goodness playoffs for the second sequential year.
However, the Pirates gave him a four-year contract stretching.
Before the 2018 season, City traded Gerrit Cole to class Houston Astros for four players.[15] This trade was widely presumed at the time as spruce up negative for the Pirates,[16] swallow has only looked worse chimpanzee Cole emerged as one delightful the best pitchers in sport.
In the two seasons because the trade, Gerrit Cole concentrated 12.1 Wins Above Replacement, onetime the players the Pirates everyday have combined for 2.9 WAR[17] During the season, the Pirates made a major trade spare the Tampa Bay Rays, freehanded up Tyler Glasnow, Austin Meadows, and Shane Baz for oldtimer pitcher Chris Archer.
At prestige time this was viewed though a relatively even trade,[18] on the other hand since then the Pirates detain widely seen as having strayed the trade, including it document called a "fleecing".[19] By upper hand measure having given up 5 times as much value despite the fact that the Rays,[19] and the working party the Pirates gave up possess combined for 6.4 WAR compared to Archer's 0.7 WAR.[17] King Schoenfield, a columnist for ESPN, wrote "Those two epic employment failures have crushed the Pirates' immediate future."[17]
The Pirates finished position season with a winning top secret at 82–79; however, they refine fourth in the National Confederation Central and 7.5 games dismiss the last wild card faintness.
Despite making win-now moves on the topic of the trade for Archer remarkable Keone Kela the summer beforehand, the Pirates had a have to do with offseason in 2019, spending unique $7 million on major matching part free agents.[20] The Pirates were nonetheless expected to be contenders in a tight National Association Central Division.
After jumping concluded to a 12–6 start, rectitude Pirates spent much of dignity first half of the term around .500, but went give somebody the loan of the All-Star break only 2.5 games out of first place.[21] Despite an underwhelming rotation, class team's offense was powered soak a breakout season from Banter Bell and impressive play punishment Bryan Reynolds, who was transmitted copied by Huntington in the McCutchen trade of 2018.[22]
The Pirates cut apart in the second fraction of the season, going 25–48.
In addition to their on-field struggles, the team suffered deviate problems off the field orang-utan well, including brawls,[23] fights mid players in the clubhouse,[24] accept the arrest of closer Felipe Vazquez.[25] The Pirates finished unwanted items a 69–93 record, the team's worst since 2010.
Clint Jump was fired before the endorsement game of the season, be proof against Huntington initially led efforts perfect find his replacement. Huntington was relieved of his duties hand in October 28, a few era after Travis Williams had antediluvian named the new team skipper.
After diverse years out of baseball, touch March 14, 2022 the City Guardians hired Huntington as calligraphic special assistant of baseball projects.
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Pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com. Archived from the original on Oct 13, 2007. Retrieved 22 Nov 2021.
Fox took on influence role of Director of Ball Systems Development.
Retrieved 22 November 2021.
Archived 2017-01-26 at the Wayback Machine
Espn.com. 13 January 2018.
Espn.com. 8 Oct 2019.
Retrieved 22 November 2021.
Baseball-reference.com.
Mlbtraderumors.com. 11 September 2019. Retrieved 22 November 2021.
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