Pirates hire Russell as manager

PITTSBURGH -- John Russell is taking one of the most challenging jobs in baseball as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team with 15 consecutive losing seasons.

Let go by the Pirates as their third-base coach two seasons ago, Russell was hired Monday to succeed Jim Tracy as Pittsburgh's manager. He becomes the team's fifth full-time manager since the Pirates last had a winning season in 1992, following Jim Leyland, Gene Lamont, Lloyd McClendon and Tracy.

The 46-year-old Russell lost his previous job in Pittsburgh following McClendon's firing in September 2005. He managed the Phillies' Triple-A team the last two seasons, with the Ottawa Lynx going 55-88 last season.

It's unusual for a team to bring back someone so soon after firing him, but new team president Frank Coonelly and general manager Neal Huntington felt an instant connection with the quiet but intense Russell.

"I felt like I was talking through them," Russell said. "All the things they're looking for are what I'm looking for. I know what we've got will work."

Russell's hiring is the first major move by Huntington, who took over with 10 days left in the regular season. The Pirates spent nearly a month looking for Tracy's successor and had been the only remaining team in the majors without a manager following the Dodgers' hiring of Joe Torre.