Erik Hudson asked: Mack, Do you think the Mets will keep Dan Warthen? What do you think the chances are of the Mets re-hiring Rick Peterson as the pitching coach and CEO of pitching? I thought it was really dumb when the fired him with Willie and I'd love to see him back. The pitchers seemed to stay healthy when he was here. With the promising arms we have coming up, I'd be more comfortable with him in charge of the pitchers. Any thoughts on who will fill the minor league pitching coordinator position?
Mack: Hey Eric.
Yes, I think the Mets will replace Dan Warthen, but not for the reasons you might think.
2012 will be Year Two of the period we will call 'Sandy and Company". Year one is when you tell all the people in the building that are left from the old administration that they are safe as long as they do what is asked of them.
Some, like the last minor league pitching skipper didn't follow the rules. Others did. The one thing they all have in common is none of the people from an old regime ever really make it, do they?
Two of the suits were told to get a cardboard box this week. They'll be more. There always is.
The problem with the Mets pitching isn't Warthan. He didn't draft, sign, or trade for the current staff. The two best pitchers on this staff was Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez. One has been traded and the other is drawing $25mil while trying to find a fastball.
I have no idea if Rick Peterson has any chance of coming back. Does he have history with any of the Veeps, because that seems to be the key to the locker. These guys are very territorial and, unlike Omar Minaya, you don't have to have been a Montreal Expo.
Terry Collins is on record saying he wants all his coaches to return. That's nice. Terry should first be worrying about his extension.
There's one goal here... to win the World Series.
What no one says publicly is there is no chance of that happening until 2014, unless the judge throws out the Madoff mess tomorrow.
Everyone, I repeat, everyone in the organization will be an Alderson guy by the end of 2012. Who owns the club is still in question, but who runs it isn't.
3 comments:
"Does he have history with any of the Veeps, because that seems to be the key to the locker."
In regards to Peterson, he was in the A's organization from 1998-2003 as minor league pitching coordinator and eventually pitching coach before leaving for New York prior to 04. Sandy Alderson stepped down as GM after '97 but Peterson has to know both DePodesta and Ricciardi, who were in the organization at that point and probably has some familiarity with Sandy, who was Billy Beane's mentor.
I don't know if Peterson's the best option available (it's arguable even whether the effect of a pitching coach is that great) but I think he'd be a better option than Warthen, who I always assumed would be canned at season's end anyway.
Rick should have never been fired. However, i'm loving what the Rangers are doing with their pitchers. Led by Nolan Ryan, they want to get away from the pitch counts and build arm strength and endurance through continued throwing. Just like in the old days. Some of the best pitchers in the.game today pitch like this, logging way over 225 innings a year a completing or going late into games (Hallyday, Sabathia). I love Rick, but he is a health guru aswell as a pitching coach, and i'd hate to see him holding back the Mets young prospects and teaching them that six innings and 100 pitches is something to strive for and be happy about.
Also, Rick also likes to tell his pitchers what should be in their arsenal, as opposed to improving what they already throw. The first thing he did was scrap Pelfrey's curveball and make.him throw a slider. I just dont understand that. Let them throw their pitches that their already comfortable with. Why make them learn a new pitch at the major league level? That seems to be asking alot. It does seem as if the pitchers like Dan and I wonder if that will affect this.outcome.
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