Pirates GM Neal Huntington...From Goat to Genius

Neal Huntington - The Man Behind this Magical Team

I had to chuckle to myself when I was listening to my usual "Pittsburgh Sports Talk Radio" in the morning and I heard several talk show hosts talking about how Neal Huntington should be considered for "GM of the Year".  An award that another Pittsburgh GM (Ray Shero of the Penguins) garnered after the last NHL season came to a close.  I chuckled because these were the same people that were bashing Huntington for not making moves at the trade deadline, and for making moves in the past that they deemed "idiotic" "wreckless" and "questionable at best".  I thought to myself "Are they speaking of the same person?"

When Huntington was brought on in 2007, he started making alot of moves that weren't popular amongst the fan base.  He canned Jim Tracy and almost his entire staff.  He brought on John Russell, who at the time, was thought to be a decent selection as manager.  Then the trades started.  He essentially cleaned house, and tried to stock the shelves with talent for the future.  It is tough for me to judge a GM based on what the team looks like in any particular year.  Rather, I feel you have to take a "wait and see" approach, which a lot of fans simply don't have the patience for.  Pittsburgh wasn't winning, hadn't won, and didn't look like they'd win anytime in the near future.  The deals he made just infuriated an already agitated fan base.  Some of his most noteworthy trades would be:

- Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte to the Yankees for - Jeff Karstens, Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, and Daniel McCutchen
- Jason Bay to the Red Sox for - Brandon Moss, Andy Laroche, Craig Hansen, and Bryan Morris
- Nate McLouth to the Braves for - Jeff Locke, Charlie Morton, and Gorkys Hernandez
- Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett to the Nationals for - Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan
- Octavio Dotel to the Dodgers for - James McDonald and Andrew Lambo

There obviously were more trades than what were listed (like shipping fan favorites Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez), but what you see there are some pieces of the roster that are playing for the Pirates now.  Tabata, Morris, Morton, Locke, Lambo, McDonald.  All of these players came from trades that weren't popular amongst the fan base, but have shown to pay dividends in one way or another.

I feel that Huntington's acquisitions have certainly not been given enough praises (especially this season).  Acquiring Marlon Byrd has been a fantastic move that has paid huge dividends for this team so far down the stretch.  Say what you want about Justin Morneau, but the man plays a great first base and has hit the ball hard (those hits will start falling) and makes the lineup very formidable.  Even last year bringing in Travis Snider and Gaby Sanchez.  Sanchez has proven to be a decent platoon man, and Travis Snider has shown the ability to take the ball out of the ball park in a pinch hitting situation.  Plus, how could anyone forget AJ Burnett, Russell Martin, and Francisco Liriano also being brought in under Huntington's watch.  These aren't blockbuster moves by any stretch of the imagination, but effective ones that have been the difference in several wins and losses so far this year.

General Manager's all play the numbers in terms of making moves.  Just like a batter at plate, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.  The above trades listed were effective trades that made the Pirates organization stronger.  There were just as many trades that did absolutely nothing to improve the organization.  Huntington is worthy of "GM of the Year" in my mind, but more so for his work over the last 5 years than just this year.  His moves might not always be the most popular amongst the fans, but if we've learned anything so far...its to trust his decisions.  After all, look where the team is now...