Please come back, Joe

Chuck Finder reports today that Joe Kerrigan is undecided on returning for 2010. I understand that some people, including the Pointy Haired Blogger, have seriously started to question Kerrigan's contribution to the 2009 Pirates. I think it's always natural to question the coaching staff when things go downhill and I agree that it's nigh impossible to actually quantify the effect that a positional coach has on a team. I won't try to do that, but there's one thing that I think people are missing out when they characterize Kerrigan as "no difference maker." In 2008, the Pirates allowed 884 runs. That's 5.45 runs per game -- an insanely high National League total, especially in a neutral/pitcher's park. Through 144 games this year, they've allowed 664 runs. That's 4.61 per game, on pace for 747 over the season. That's 140 runs less than last year, which in short-hand amounts to 14 wins over the course of the season. Can you imagine this ...