Owner rewards skipper, G.M. by extending their contracts

Dave Littlefield and Lloyd McClendon have Kevin McClatchy's backing.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- Perhaps to offset the chill of preseason predictions that rank the Pirates at the bottom of the major league barrel, owner Kevin McClatchy celebrated opening day with extended contracts for his top executives.
A few hours before the Pirates' 2-1 win over the Phillies at PNC Park, McClatchy announced he extended the contract of general manager Dave Littlefield through the 2007 season.
Littlefield's first act was to give manager Lloyd McClendon a contract extension through 2005, with a club option for 2006.
"Dave Littlefield has improved the major league club and has done an outstanding job improving our entire minor league system," McClatchy said. "With his leadership abilities and strong knowledge of the game and business of baseball, I feel confident that Dave and his staff will continue to work toward making the Pirates a championship team once again."
Replacing Bonifay
Littlefield, 43, became the Pirates' general manager on July 13, 2001 after McClatchy fired Cam Bonifay.
In 2002, the Pirates showed a 10-game improvement from a 100-loss season. Last year, the Bucs finished 75-87, while the minor league system produced the best winning percentage.
"When he was hired, his biggest charge was to upgrade the minor league system," McClatchy said. "We are not where we want to be, but we've made improvements, small as they sometimes seem."
With five rookies on this year's roster plus two starters with limited experience, the Pirates' payroll is approximately $35 million.
"We've made great strides," Littlefield said of the organization's minor league system. "The real true bottom line of a general manager is to have players promoted to the big leagues and we haven't had a lot of that the last couple of years. We're starting to see some signs, but it needs to be an annual thing. In this marketplace, it needs to be continual."
McClatchy said it was Littlefield's decision to pick up the 2005 option on McClendon.
In his three seasons as manager, McClendon's teams have compiled a 209-276 mark.
"Lloyd has shown strength and determination in his leadership abilities," Littlefield said. "He's been an asset to the Pirates by helping us make steady progress at the major league level and overall improvement through the organization.
"He's a strong guy who related to players in the major league game," Littlefield said of his 45-year-old manager.
Steadying the ship
Littlefield said some of McClendon's best work came last summer as trade talks swirled about the ball club as Brian Giles, Aramis Ramirez, Kenny Lofton and Jeff Suppan were sent away.
"We have been pleased with Lloyd's leadership, especially during the last two-thirds of last season," Littlefield said. "We played better with what appeared to be a lesser product on the field."
McClendon's major league career began as a player with the Cincinnati Reds in 1987. He became a Pirate in 1990 and finished his major league playing career as a Buc in 1994.
"Obviously, the goal is still a ways away to where we want to get to," McClendon said. "We have plenty of work to do. Our goal is to get back to a level of playing competitive baseball, which is .500 baseball, and eventually get us to a championship level."