Like most managers Clint Hurdle enjoys consistency. This includes consistency in his batting order which is something that the Pittsburgh Pirates have had most of the season.
Early in the season it was tough to argue with Hurdle’s lineup construction. While, yes, an argument could have been made to make a change at leadoff, through the first 43 games of the season the Bucs owned a 26-17 record and were in the top three in the National League in every important offensive category. What Hurdle and the Pirates were doing was working.
The problem is that it is no longer working.