John From Albany - Interview with Syracuse Pitching Coach Steve Schrenk - Part 1

 

Steve Schrenk - Twitter Photo

Before the Syracuse Mets took on the Buffalo Bisons on August 20th, I got the opportunity to talk to Pitching Coach Steve Schrenk.  Steve took the time to explain the organization’s pitching philosophy, top prospects and how the team has been able to improve these last few weeks. 

Part one of the interview will run today and part two tomorrow.

John From Albany: You came to Syracuse after the season had already started (middle of June).  How did that happen?

Steve Schrenk: The pitching coach here had to leave.  So, I interviewed here.  I know Jeremy Barnes, the farm director.  He made a phone call and asked me if I was interested in coming in.  So, I had an interview and made the transition. After a couple of weeks after getting through all the COVID stuff, here we are.

JFA: How different is it here than your school in Pennsylvania?

Steve Schrenk: I was doing a lot of High School kids and some College guys.  One on one private stuff for the year.  Previously I was with the Phillies - coaching for 16 years. I was in Leigh High Valley.  It was a different job description but the same thing I was doing, that I do here.  Just at a higher level here. 

JFA: Does the one on one able you to spend more time with the pitchers or is it no different when you have 15 or so guys to work with.

Steve Schrenk: We group it up, we have groups for 4, one on one personal stuff, Most of the time for a half hour, hour.  I work with guys all over the county.  California, pretty much everywhere.  They fly into see me where I’m at in Pennsylvania.  The name of business is Pitching Coach Pro. I will still continue to do that in the off-season.   

JFA: Is there an overall pitching philosophy that they teach in the organization?

Steve Schrenk: Just being here a short time, I think the overall philosophy is to individualize each person on what they do.  I don’t think there is any particular thing we do or just have one way of doing things.  Getting guys to use their lower halves, figure out who they are, what works best for them, not only with our eyes and what we see but also metricly, looking at the data, that’s a big part of it, we are very data driven, I think that’s a big part of it now, obviously in baseball,  with some of the younger kids coming up, they want to know not only how it works on the field but how it looks on video and on the computer and all the spin rates

JFA: Do you look at the mechanics of pitchers - seeing that their mechanics may be possibly leading to an injury somewhere down the road.

Steve Schrenk: I think anytime you look at delivery you are making sure that guys stay healthy – health is one of the biggest things we have in this business – especially working with million dollar players – we have to keep them healthy – we have to keep them on the field – so that’s always an issue.  Delivery is something we always have check points for everybody.  Everybody’s body works different, when you really get down to the nuts and bolts of it, we have to learn how that body works and we control it and how much power we can put into it without hurting ourselves. 

JFA: What is the relationship with you and Jeremy Hefner.  Does Jeremy Hefner call and ask who do you have that is ready for the Major Leagues or does he call and have you work on these pitchers as relievers or these pitchers a starters, is their an interaction with him or Ricky Meinhold?

Steve Schrenk: I think more with Ricky Meinhold for me, Ricky’s in charge of our pitching as far as our coordinator, and our liaison between Jeremy and myself.  Now, we all collaborate together and look at this as a team effort.  They’re always looking at the video.  They’re always looking at the data. So, they know what guys throw, when they’re doing well.  It’s a little bit different than what we had a long time ago because [now] we have all the information.  We go back and watch a game…see what guys are doing…see what they are not doing…if they want to use a guy in a different role…that will come down from the top…then we will do that…obviously we have our guys that need to throw…but we have guys that don’t need to throw because they may have to go throw in the big leagues…so we have to make sure those roles are filled as well…but I would say that communication is manly between Ricky and I and Rickey conveys that to the big league club.  There’s always an open line…always an opportunity to be able to talk to Jeremy but he has just as much information as I do. 

JFA: Has there been anybody that has surprised you in your time here?

Steve Schrenk: I always have expectations of everybody doing really good. But I think Tylor Megill coming here and only being here a short time, really stepped it up and I think the organization on a whole really liked what he did but he matured really fast and really learned how to pitch, and I think that’s why he was able to have the success that he had in the big leagues.  He turned it up a notch, once he got here to Triple-A, he had really started to dig in and do what he needed to do and who he was.  Now you’ve come to see that come to fruition with the big league club.

Obviously getting Josh Walker here now, Adam Oller from the lower levels, at first, a lot of our guys were to the big leagues and we were having to fill those roles, but the young guys have really stepped up and done a nice job here. Tom Hackimer has done a great job out of the bullpen, Bradley Roney who has been here all year has been great, Trey Cobb is coming along, he was here early, obviously picking up Vance Worley and Alex Sanabia helps, especially with those younger guys, it takes pressure off of them.  That’s helped a ton.  Same with Zack Godley.  These guys have big league experience, guys who have 4-5 years pitching in the big leagues, know how to act, helps me do the little things I need to do to maintain a locker room really get these guys and have another set of eyes to watch ‘em throw as well. 

JFA: Can I ask you about Franklin Kilome, he was hurt all of 2019, last year had very sporadic appearances, he threw that near no hitter this year, then got hurt again,

Steve Schrenk: I am hoping to keep him healthy.  I am hoping he keeps himself healthy.  He’s been working hard.  He’s been doing a great job out of the bullpen.  He likes it.  I think he likes the fact that he can pitch more often.  He’s been doing a good job, He takes to it.  I think that’s where he’s gonna help a big league club.  They have that same kind of plan for him as well. 

I had him when he was with the Phillies as a starter.  Everyone kind of evolves. For right now where the Mets are at, him working out of the bullpen, giving them some innings, is the best for him.  Not saying he couldn’t be a started down the road, but right not where we are at, where the Mets are at, it’s kind of our needs.

JFA: What can you tell us about Josh Walker?

Steve Schrenk: Good lefthanded pitcher, Mature, he’s had some injuries as well, but he’s doing a good job, he’s had a great year so far and has continued it up here, last time was a little rough, we didn’t make some plays for him.  I look to see him continue doing what he does, he is always very consistent and it’s always nice having that lefthanded option.

JFA: Adam Oller-

Steve Schrenk: I’ve only seen Oller pitch the one game, the organization likes him, and he’s proven that he can be a pretty solid rotation guy, but his stuff plays well, he has a good fastball, slider, changeup, has a good repertoire, he knows how to pitch, he’s very competitive on the mound, you’re going to have to beat him, he’s not going to beat himself too often.

Part two tomorrow.