Infinitive Splitter

Just in time, too:

The Pirates this morning fired general manager Dave Littlefield near the end of his seventh losing season.

He will be replaced on an interim basis by Brian Graham, the team’s director of player development.

Littlefield, 47, took the post July 31, 2001, and his teams went a combined 442-581 in his tenure, never approaching .500. That included 67-95 finishes in 2005 and 2006, and the current edition’s 61-79 record.

Matt Morris, Littlefield’s final acquisition and the highest-paid player in Pirates history, makes the case for Littlefield’s ouster:

• 24 earned runs in 41.7 innings (5.18 ERA, 85 ERA+)
• 19 walks, 20 strikeouts
• 1.608 WHIP

(Stats through yesterday.)

So long, Dave. Thanks for nothing.