Skipper

The Pirates have hired Clint Hurdle as their new manager, SI.com reported Sunday. The Pirates will announce the hiring Monday. Hurdle spent 2010 as the hitting coach for the Rangers, who led the majors in batting average, were fifth in runs scored and advanced to the World Series. The Pirates fired John Russell after three last-place finishes in three years. Pittsburgh has not enjoyed a winning season since 1992 and lost 105 games last season, the most for the franchise since 1952.

As the Orioles open their Grapefruit League schedule Monday with a day-night, split-squad doubleheader, expect manager Buck Showalter to examine all of his potential leadoff hitter options with Brian Roberts' health still uncertain. "We'll move some things around, look at some different scenarios," Showalter said Sunday. "You'll see a number of guys there. I want to take a look at how it feels and how it looks. If we're comparing all of them to Brian Roberts, they're all going to finish second.

W ith a new spring training facility and a more talented roster, Orioles manager Dave Trembley has been all smiles for the first two weeks of spring training. Approaching his third full season at the helm of the club, Trembley sat down with The Sun on Thursday and spoke candidly about dealing with the difficulty of the 2009 season and the speculation that he would be dismissed, his vow to be tougher on his players and his early impressions of this year's club. Question: We're talking essentially about bullpen sessions, batting practice rounds and other basic drills, but can you talk about a couple of guys who have stood out to you in the first two weeks of camp?

It's not every day when the team you cover trades its No. 1 starter, so it was a pretty busy day here on the Insider. But since the water-cooler talk about the Orioles dealing Jeremy Guthrie might carry over for 24 hours, we wanted to throw a couple more Guthrie-related tidbits to digest with your morning coffee and Cheerios. Guthrie had an interesting answer when asked by Rockies reporters Monday evening about hitting now that he's in the National League. He admitted he's a poor hitter and added a little self-deprecating humor - maybe a little too much: “You know what, I'm not good.

On June 16, 2008, JOHN H. "Johnny" SKIPPER, JR., 51, of New Freedom, PA, formerly of Maryland Line. Husband of Crystal A. (Propst) Skipper. Son of Betty L. (Calp) Skipper and the late John H. Skipper, Sr. Brother of Kathy L. Smedley-Karoll, K. Joanne Martin, and Blaine J. Skipper. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. A funeral service will begin at 10 am Friday, at J.J. Hartenstein Mortuary, Inc., 24 Second St., New Freedom, PA. Interment in St. Abraham's Cemetery, Beckleysville. Friends may call at the mortuary on Thursday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 pm. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made J.J. Hartenstein Mortuary, Inc., PO Box 96, New Freedom, PA 17349.

On July 3, 2004, WILLIAM F. (Skip) JR.; beloved husband of Phyllis M. Skipper (nee Miller); father of Stacey Heyison and William F. Skipper, III; grandfather of Kari and Alexis Heyison; brother of Edna Brauning and Susie Skipper. Also survived by numerous sister-in-laws, brother-in-laws and cousins. Services at ECKHARDT FUNERAL CHAPEL, P.A., 11605 Reisterstown Road, Owings Mills, Wednesday at 11 A.M. Interment in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M.

BrunelSunergyCountry: The Netherlands Skipper: Roy HeinerBoat beat: Started slowly, but has improved steadily.Best leg finish: 2nd, Leg 5Fleet standing: EighthCountry: The Netherlands Skipper: Roy HeinerBoat beat: Started slowly, but has improved steadily.Best leg finish: 2nd, Leg 5Fleet standing: EighthChessie RacingCountry: United StatesSkipper: George CollinsBoat beat:"Education boat" is surprise story of the race.Best leg finish: 3rd, Leg 3,4,5Fleet standing: FourthEF EducationCountry: SwedenSkipper: Christine GuillouBoat beat: Dealt toughest hand, dismasted on Leg 5.Best leg finish: 7th, Leg 5Fleet standing: NinthEF LanguageCountry: SwedenSkipper: Paul CayardBoat beat: Runaway leader of the Whitbread fleet.

Suddenly, on June 5, 2003, LYDIA ANN "FLIP", of South Baltimore; beloved wife of Gilbert W. Skipper; loving daughter of Lydia A. Tansill (nee Cochran) and the late Norman E. Tansill, Sr.; devoted mother of Stacey Sherman and her husband Kenneth, Timothy and Kevin Skipper; loving grandmother of Kevin Michael Skipper, Jr.; dearest sister of Norman E. Tansill, Jr. and Denise Gottleib. The family will receive friends at the family owned and operated MCCULLY-POLYNIAK FUNERAL HOME, P.A., 130 E. Fort Avenue (South Baltimore)

On Sunday, March 23, 2003, WM. TOM, beloved husband of the late Arlene Delores (nee Wright); son of Marguerite "Feets" (nee Berry) and the late Bill Skipper; devoted father of Sandra Lee Frantz; loving grandfather of Amber Frantz, father-in-law of Thomas M. Frantz. Friends may call at Loring Byers Funeral Directors, 8728 Liberty Rd (2 miles W. of Beltway exit 18B) Wednesday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 P.M., where services will be held Thursday 11 A.M. Interment Wards Chapel Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Liberty Road Volunteer Fire Company or Carroll County Hospice.

On January 18, 2006, MARGUERITE EDNA "FEETS" SKIPPER, of Randallstown, beloved wife of the late William Henry Skipper, devoted mother of the late William Thomas Skipper, dear grandmother of Sandy Frantz and her husband Thomas, loving great-grandmother of Amber Frantz, and dear aunt of Jerry and Peggy Oursler, Jean and Jim Haines, Steve, Glenn and L. Wilson Berry. She was predeceased by her siblings, George W. and L. Wilson Berry, Marie Crooks, Ethel Price, Annabelle Parsley and Esther Oursler.

John Martino was not pleased when he saw where organizers of this year's New York Boat Show had stuck his booth inside the cavernous Javits Center earlier this month. He was in a distant corner, far enough from the main flow of foot traffic that he could have been a few blocks west in the Hudson River. Then again, those trying out what the founder of the Annapolis School of Seamanship was unveiling - a Dutch-made simulator that had them navigating a boat in all types of conditions - might have thought they, too, were in the middle of the city's main waterway.

Pro basketball Shuckers routed by Bombers in debut In their Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League debut, the visiting Bay Area Shuckers ran into an experienced and hot-shooting Beltway Bombers team, falling Saturday night in Upper Marlboro, 151-114. "We knew we were facing a very experienced and talented team tonight, and the Bombers lived up to their reputation," Shuckers general manager John Wolfe said. "We saw some good things, and for our first game together as a team, period, I was encouraged and know that the team will continue to jell and also improve.

Whispers It's no coincidence the two managers to resign in midseason, Jim Riggleman and Edwin Rodriguez, were the two lowest-paid in the majors. Riggleman, in his third season with the Nationals and 12th as a manager, was earning $600,000, according to sources. That's more than $200,000 less than Cubs hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo. Riggleman may wish he had handled his situation differently, but you can see why he said he never felt "respected. " … The group of pre-1980 players who were awarded pensions in a deal MLB and the players union announced April 21 still hasn't received any money.

Ron Roenicke better be tough. He has taken on a rough job, stepping into his first managerial job with the expectation that he will guide the Brewers into the playoffs. To get there, Roenicke will have to lead them past the newly confident Reds who feature MVP Joey Votto and a stable of talented young pitchers that includes the electrifying Aroldis Chapman. He also has to get by the Cardinals, anchored by Albert Pujols, Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter. He will be trying to duplicate a feat first-time managers have pulled off only twice since 2000.

The Pirates have hired Clint Hurdle as their new manager, SI.com reported Sunday. The Pirates will announce the hiring Monday. Hurdle spent 2010 as the hitting coach for the Rangers, who led the majors in batting average, were fifth in runs scored and advanced to the World Series. The Pirates fired John Russell after three last-place finishes in three years. Pittsburgh has not enjoyed a winning season since 1992 and lost 105 games last season, the most for the franchise since 1952.

This one got ugly early. Really, really ugly. Maybe it's a good thing only 14,032 braved the heat and humidity at Camden Yards to see it. If you're an Orioles fan, here's the announcement you probably don't want to hear in the second inning with one of your promising young starters on the mound: "Mark Hendrickson is now warming in the bullpen." In this case, the promising young starter was left-hander Brian Matusz, who lasted just 52 pitches Sunday and was shelled for five hits and six runs in just 1 2/3 innings in the Orioles' desultory 10-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays.

A month ago, the second Cadillac Columbus Cup sailing regatta was held on the Chesapeake Bay off the Patapsco River. Among the stories that developed during that week of match racing was the formation of America 3, expected by many to be the super defense syndicate in the 1992 America's Cup.While America 3 was getting pretty good bang for its buck at the Columbus Cup, another story was developing into a squall that blew through the fleet.A principal player in both stories was Larry Klein, a self-assured Californian who had been Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and carried a short and impressive list of sailing credentials.

J.J. Isler of San Diego, who won the all-women's Santa Maria Cup here in May, has qualified as a skipper in the Cadillac Columbus Cup match racing series that will be sailed here this fall.Isler will be the first female skipper in this competition.Other skippers scheduled to compete are:John Kostecki, Team USA. Kostecki is an Olympic silver medalist and a world champion in the J/24 class.Jim Brady, Team Chesapeake. Brady is the 1990 Rolex Yachtsman of the Year and a world champion in the J/24 class.

As the Orioles head into the All-Star break, they do so with a managerial situation that remains in flux and rumors that continue to swirl about their leading candidate soon taking over. Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail and ESPN analyst Buck Showalter met again this weekend, at least the third time they have discussed the managerial opening, an industry source confirmed. But there has not been a formal offer, and there likely won't be one until the end of the week at the earliest.

All right, Orioles, enough with the stalling. Enough with dragging out the search for the Chosen One who will lead the orange and black back to prominence after 12 consecutive losing seasons and a 13th all but certain. Time to announce the new manager. And I mean soon. Real soon. As in the next few days. In fact, if I ran the show, I'd make the announcement Friday. That's the day the team returns from the All-Star break to begin a 10-game homestand at Camden Yards with three against the Toronto Blue Jays.