Gene Lamont is back in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform 25 years after being fired as their manager
Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Gene Lamont hadn't been in uniform since 2017, his last year as the Detroit Tigers' bench coach. And it had been 25 years since he managed the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Now 78, Lamont wasn't necessarily looking to return to a big league dugout. But he couldn't resist when Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly called last week and asked him to join the Pirates' coaching staff.
Lamont's first game back was Monday night when the Pirates hosted the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series.
Lamont returns to the Pirates for the first time since they fired him as manager at the end of the 2000 season following a four-year stint. He also managed the Chicago White Sox from 1992-95.
Kelly was a utility player for the Tigers when Lamont was on their coaching staff.
Lamont's title with the Pirates is special consultant. However, he will primarily serve as the de facto bench coach.
When Derek Shelton was fired May 8, Kelly was promoted from bench coach to manager. Kelly had never managed at any level.
'It's more just being with Donnie,' Lamont said of his role. 'Maybe there are some decisions during the game that he'll wonder about. Do I have all the answers? I have the answers, but they're not always right. I'll give Donnie my opinion and hopefully it'll help.'
The Pirates entered Monday with a 15-32 record and in last place in the NL Central. They trailed the division-leading Chicago Cubs by 13 games.
'I think we're a much better team than we've played,' Lamont said. 'I think the players know that. But you have to do it on the field. You've got to make pitches, and everybody knows we've got to hit a little better. I think that we will. Sometimes it takes time.'
Kelly is happy to have Lamont as a resource. The Pirates are 3-6 since switching managers.
'Just a phenomenal baseball guy,' Kelly said. 'Taught me a lot as a player and looking forward to having him around, teaching the staff and the players what he knows.'
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
recommended
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
8 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Arsenal defender Gabriel signs new contract extension
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal center back Gabriel Magalhaes signed a new long-term deal Friday that will reportedly keep the Brazil international at the club until 2029. Gabriel missed the last two months of the season with a hamstring injury but has formed a formidable partnership with France international William Saliba to anchor an Arsenal defense that has been the best in the Premier League. 'I arrived here as a young player and after almost five years I'm so happy and I've learned a lot,' Gabriel said. 'I'm so proud of myself, it's an amazing journey, and I'm so happy to continue it.' The 27-year-old defender joined the Gunners in 2020 from French club Lille and has played 210 games in all competitions. He has scored 20 goals for Arsenal, becoming a major threat at corners and other set pieces. Gabriel was handed an extension even though his previous contract did not expire until 2027, signaling his importance to coach Mikel Arteta. Arsenal did not confirm the length of the contract, but British media reported it was a four-year deal. With Gabriel in the defensive line, Arsenal conceded the fewest goals in the last two seasons in the Premier League. The deal comes after Arsenal finished second in the English league for the third straight year. ___ AP soccer:
Yahoo
9 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Arsenal defender Gabriel signs new contract extension
LONDON (AP) — Arsenal center back Gabriel Magalhaes signed a new long-term deal Friday that will reportedly keep the Brazil international at the club until 2029. Gabriel missed the last two months of the season with a hamstring injury but has formed a formidable partnership with France international William Saliba to anchor an Arsenal defense that has been the best in the Premier League. Advertisement 'I arrived here as a young player and after almost five years I'm so happy and I've learned a lot,' Gabriel said. 'I'm so proud of myself, it's an amazing journey, and I'm so happy to continue it.' The 27-year-old defender joined the Gunners in 2020 from French club Lille and has played 210 games in all competitions. He has scored 20 goals for Arsenal, becoming a major threat at corners and other set pieces. Gabriel was handed an extension even though his previous contract did not expire until 2027, signaling his importance to coach Mikel Arteta. Arsenal did not confirm the length of the contract, but British media reported it was a four-year deal. With Gabriel in the defensive line, Arsenal conceded the fewest goals in the last two seasons in the Premier League. The deal comes after Arsenal finished second in the English league for the third straight year. ___ AP soccer:
New York Times
25 minutes ago
- New York Times
Paul Skenes' stats with Pirates are mind-blowing — especially the non-wins
Editor's note: This is a bonus Weird & Wild. To read this week's main W&W column, go here. I've always enjoyed visiting Pittsburgh in the summer. Then again, I'm not Paul Skenes. Maybe you've noticed this, but when the Greatest Pirates Pitching Phenom Ever takes the mound, amazing things happen. It would be cool if winning was one of those things. But hey, don't get greedy! Advertisement Here at Weird and Wild World HQ, we've spent some time looking at this. And maybe it's just us, but we're starting to notice a common theme running through these starts by Skenes, a once-in-a-generation talent, pitching for a team that mostly forces that generation to cover its eyes a lot. It doesn't matter how well Skenes pitches. It doesn't matter how long Skenes pitches. It doesn't matter if he's facing the Mets or the Marlins. It always ends the same. By which I mean you won't be reading many box scores that say: WP — Skenes That's just a fact. But now here come more facts: Over Skenes' past seven starts, he has a 1.77 ERA, he's averaging over six innings a start … and the Pirates are 2-5. Is that even possible? But there's more. Of course there's more. Over Skenes' 13 starts this season, he's leading the National League in bWAR, WHIP, innings pitched, quality starts, opponent average and even (cough, cough) a new-age stat known as Win Probability Added … and the Pirates have still found a way to ignore that 'win probability' stuff and go 5-8 when he pitches. But wait. It gets worse. Would you like to know how much worse? You've come to the right place. They're taking not winning to a whole new level — In his two seasons in the big leagues, Skenes is now up to 21 career starts in which he hasn't gotten a win. Somehow, it doesn't feel like that's his fault. His numbers, just in those non-wins: a 2.59 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings. Ready for the complete list of everyone in history with that many starts (or more) whose career ERA is that spectacular in their non-wins? (This is since earned runs became an official stat in 1913 — and not counting openers.) It won't take long. Here it comes: Paul Skenes — 2.59 That's a wrap on that list. (Source: Baseball Reference / Katie Sharp) Advertisement But here's even more perspective: Only one pitcher in history is even within half a run of that: Hoyt Wilhelm (who spent most of his career as a reliever), at 2.99. And the next closest active starter — Jacob deGrom — has an ERA in those games nearly a full run higher (at 3.54). So there's that. But also … Crazy Eights — Skenes has made three career starts of eight innings or longer. His ERA in those starts is 1.48. His record in those starts is … what else? … 0-3. The record of all other MLB starters over the past two seasons, in starts of eight innings or longer: How about 86-5! And just for fun … how about we throw in a few more tidbits where those came from? These are just in games he hasn't won: • Four non-wins this season in starts of five innings or longer, with no more than three hits allowed. That would be — shockingly, I know — the most of any pitcher in baseball. • Nine non-wins, in his career, in starts of five innings or longer, with no more than one run allowed. That's tied for (yep) the most in baseball in that span. • Ten non-wins, in his career, in starts of five innings or longer, with no more than one earned run allowed. That's tied for most in the NL, and it's one behind Yusei Kikuchi for most in baseball. All of this is happening at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers, in real life, to one of the special talents we've seen pass through our sport in this century. To everyone in Pittsburgh, we can only say: Sorry! And just seven weeks until Steelers training camp! GO DEEPER Pirates don't want to trade Paul Skenes. But they'd have to weigh these 5 prospect packages GO DEEPER Rosenthal: Would the Pirates trade Paul Skenes? A fascinating but unlikely idea for now
