Huppert out as IronPigs manager in 2011

FROM THE MORNING CALL

A few hours before his team took the field in the next-to-last game of the season Sunday night, IronPigs manager Dave Huppert got the word on his future with the Phillies organization.

The decision was not unexpected.

Phillies assistant general manager Chuck Lamar told Huppert early Sunday afternoon that the Phillies have decided not to renew his contract this winter, ending his three-year tenure with the IronPigs and his five-year association with the organization.

"I expected it," the 53-year-old said after the IronPigs beat Scranton 2-1 at Coca-Cola Park.



Cody Ransom's leadoff home run in the bottom of the 10th inning made a winner out of newcomer Derrick Loop, who threw three shutout innings in his Triple-A debut. But their achievements were overshadowed by the news that the IronPigs would have a new manager for their fourth season.

Huppert is third-winningest active manager in the minor leagues with 1,609 career victories in 23 seasons but has not had a winning season in his three years with Lehigh Valley. The IronPigs enter Monday's season finale with the Yankees with a 58-85 record, the second-worst in the International League and tied for the third-worst in Triple-A, after finishing 55-89 and 71-73 in their first two seasons.

"A lot of it," Huppert answered when asked how much he thought his record (184-247) factored in the equation.

"I'm not going to get into specifics about the decision," Lamar said. "It was a tough decision for us especially with someone we respect as a baseball person. Dave Huppert is a good baseball man and person, and we thank him for what he's done for the Phillies. But this was a decision we felt we needed to make for our Triple-A team in Lehigh Valley."

Lamar said IronPigs pitching coach Rod Nichols, whose staff is fifth in the IL in ERA, will be evaluated later this fall as part of the organization's normal procedures.

"I just wanted to let Dave know today in person so he could tell his coaches and players and the staff at Lehigh Valley that he's been working with what was going to happen," Lamar said.

Sunday marked a rarity for the IronPigs this season — a one-run victory as well as one in extra innings. Sunday was the 50th one-run game for both the playoff-bound Yankees (86-58), but the IronPigs are now only 16-34 in those games while Scranton is 33-17.

It was also just the IronPigs' third win in 13 extra-inning games.

Those records, Huppert said, have made this season one of his most frustrating.

"We just couldn't get the big hit, and I'm not blaming the guys," Huppert said of the season. "If you win eight or nine more of those one-run games then we're almost to .500. We weren't' that far off from being a competitive team all year — we were a competitive team when you play that many one-run ballgames

"But the players haven't given up," he added. "They haven't quit. We won last night 4-3, coming back late, and 2-1 tonight in 10 innings. They still have fire."

Huppert has also played stretches this year with a depleted roster but refused to use that as an excuse.

"You put up with what you have to … you deal with what you have to deal with," Huppert said. "The Phillies have been good to me."

Brandon Duckworth and Loop, who just arrived earlier in the day from Clearwater, combined to hold Scranton to just one run as the IronPigs clinched the season-series against the Yankees. Loop, making his fifth career appearance above A-ball, allowed one hit over three shutout innings. The 26-year-old signed with the Phillies in July after pitching for Camden in the Atlantic League following his spring release by San Diego.

Neil Sellers also homered for the IronPigs.

http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-ironpigs-0905-20100905,0,6415340.story