Jim Leyland: Clint Hurdle Is A Pittsburgher Now
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) - After managing stints with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies and Detroit Tigers, Jim Leyland is calling it a career. He reflects with Vinnie & Cook on Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan.
Even though his Tigers fell short of this year's World Series, he is still proud of how the Pirates finished, and has high praise for the man who led them.
"How 'bout them Buccos?" Leyland asks. "They beat up on us three (games) out of four! What a job Clint Hurdle did. He's a Pittsburgher now. I really believe that. He was the perfect guy for that job, and it's worked out so good. They've got a chance to be good for a while. That's the best thing about it."
Leyland admits that he has one simple reason for retiring.
"I'm old! I think that sums it up," he says. "I'm going to be 69 years of age. I'm done. I'm worn out. I'm tired. I don't think people really understand what all this job entails. It's more than writing out a lineup and watching a pitcher pitch. It's time to turn it over to someone else and get out of the dugout."
He also acknowledges the hard feelings some may have had when Leyland left the Pirates to manage the Florida Marlins after the 1996 season.
Still, he says, "I think now people realize that I made the right move," he says. At that time, they were just going to rebuild, and it took 20 years. I never wanted to leave Pittsburgh, but I also didn't want to go to work every day knowing that everything would have to go perfect to win a game."
For Leyland's look at the World Series, and what he may be doing in the Commissioner's office, listen to the entire interview below!
