Comments on: Tigers look to Twins for pitching coach

By: Ken in Las Vegas

Ken in Las Vegas — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 00:18:43 +0000

All this talk of Mazzones is making my mouth water. I say we pick him up…..carry out. Extra sausage.

By: greg

greg — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:04:10 +0000

Dr. Dre, but can we afford to think we can’t afford not to not hire Mazzone?

By: Dr Dre in Chicago

Dr Dre in Chicago — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:58:13 +0000

David,

i know that a lot of people think we can’t afford not to hire Mazzone…but given that, unless he lives forever or the Tigers or myself cease to exist before he does, we’re looking at the pitchers having one hell of a hang over with that .78 ERA increase. therefore, i think we can’t afford not to not hire Mazzone.

By: greg

greg — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:50:15 +0000

David – ditto on Mazzone.

I also think they need to sign Derek Lower or the functional equivalent. Any chance of that?

If they don’t, they’ll just have to get lucky and hope that 1 or 2 more Galarragas come out of nowhere.

By: David

David — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 21:13:10 +0000

I really hope they get Mazzone

I’ve read quite a bit on him, here is a little quick snippet from Wiki

In his book The Baseball Economist, J.C. Bradbury titles a chapter, “How Good is Leo Mazzone?” Using statistical analysis, he analyzes whether Mazzone had a significant impact upon the pitchers that he coached. The sample is all pitchers who have pitched at least one year under Mazzone and one year under a different pitching coach. Bradbury found that Mazzone lowered the ERA of pitchers by an average of .64 points, and that after leaving Mazzone, pitchers’ ERA increased by an average of .78 points. Bradbury believes that such an impact is deserving of Hall of Fame consideration.

By: Smoking Loon

Smoking Loon — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:43:01 +0000

“counterpoint: does a guy like Knapp actually have more value as a roving instructor”

Just getting him away from the Twins might have value for the Tigers.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:34:27 +0000

I’m not sure if Roberts can play SS, given he’s only played 2 games there since 2003. And as we’ve seen with Sheffield, you don’t want the juicers when they’re off the juice. I kid, I kid. I want the Tigers to switch infields with Tampa, though. That would work for me.

By: Chris in Dallas

Chris in Dallas — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:29:17 +0000

Deryl: Just to cherrypick one example of what you’re referring to, Ryan Dempster. His last season as a starter was with the 2003 Reds, where he walked 5.45 batters per 9 innings. This year as a starter with the Cubs he walked only 3.31 per 9. Of course there’s guys like Daniel Cabrera who can’t ever seem to throw strikes. My guess is that command/control problems are correctible in many cases but not all. I’d like to see an organization-wide philosophy of pounding the strike zone. I want to see a team of Andy Sonnanstine’s.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:22:15 +0000

counterpoint: does a guy like Knapp actually have more value as a roving instructor where he can work with guys when they are younger to get them to throw strikes, instead of trying to fix ML pitchers who haven’t been able to do so?

By: Deryl G

Deryl G — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:36:08 +0000

Is there any data out there in regards to pitchers having control issues being able to get it fixed? Is this really a correctable problem or is it really more about the make up of the pitcher?

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:32:24 +0000

at least it seems they have identified the problem. that is a good first step.

By: Jeff Molby

Jeff Molby — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:44:52 +0000

I’m surprised and disappointed that Mazzone isn’t on the list.

By: Eric Cioe

Eric Cioe — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 05:51:40 +0000

I wonder if Kenny Rogers might get offered a job as bullpen coach.

Anything new and different is good for pitching coaches. Chuck did a good job in 2006 but it’s time for new ideas and new approaches, I think. More fastballs. More fastballs in breaking ball counts. Better changeups. More strikeouts. Fewer walks.

By: Coleman

Coleman — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:20:53 +0000

That was frightening for a moment: reading that Roberts was considered one of the best 2nd basemen (this I knew), and then reading just think of Roberts and Inge on the same side of the infield; ever so briefly that left me with the impression of Inge playing 1B, which could never happen, except on a team with Leyland as manager, and thinking of what would follow, the possibility of Cabrera becoming the Everyday Left Fielder…wow, cold sweat time. Luckily I saw the “3B Inge R” in the lineup card in time,…

This got me thinking though, facetiously, about the possibility of Inge at 3rd/SS and Roberts at 2nd/SS, which could give you -a 4th outfielder -a 2nd catcher, specialty chasing passed balls -or going way outside the box: Kenny playing Pitcher. Not pitching, I mean standing on the mound with glove on the ready. Just TRY hittting one up the middle on us. (This also takes a bit of pressure of the 3B/SS and 2B/SS guys).

ESPECIALLY (and this brings it back on topic) if we also make Kenny the new pitching coach. Just think about that, having coach right there by the pitcher the ENTIRE game, and also picking off line drives and ground balls and bunts like nobody’s business. (I almost can’t believe I’m not a GM yet).

By: Mike R

Mike R — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:04:15 +0000

I’m not sure that Brian Roberts is a quality pitching coach, David. He’s pretty unproven in that regard.