How the Red Sox Can Solve Their Pitching Problems in One Move
Is there a precedent set for trading pitching coaches midway
through the season? Because if there is one member of the Red Sox whose
departure would help the club, it’s pitching coach Bob McClure. After another
frustrating start by Jon Lester on Tuesday, all avenues must be explored.
McClure was hired by the Red Sox before Bobby Valentine, an
unusual occurrence in. Similar to a president appointing his cabinet members,
head coaches often appoint – or at the very least have some say in – their hitting
and pitching coaches.
Looking at McClure’s coaching credentials begs the question
why he was hired in the first place. McClure was a mildly successful pitcher in
the majors, compiling a 3.81 ERA over 19 seasons with 7 different clubs. However,
his managerial experience comes from 6 seasons as the Royals’ pitching coach,
and was about as unsuccessful as can be. During McClure’s reign from 2006-2011,
the Royals’ team ERA was 4.82 – the 2nd worst in baseball over that
time. His one bright spot would be the resurgence of Zack Greinke, but he also
managed a handful of top draft picks who were unable to pan out under McClure’s
coaching.
Last week Gordon
Edes reported on a potential rift between McClure and Valentine, after
reports had come out that Valentine was dissatisfied with his lack of
communication with his coaching staff. To summarize Edes’ piece: the pitching
coach only visits certain pitchers on the mound (Valentine usually visits the
younger pitchers), when the pitching coach does visit he rarely reports back to
the head coach what was said, the pitching coach was away from the team for
three weeks (albeit with a family situation) and had no contact with the head
coach during that time, and the pitching coach and assistant pitching coach
allegedly have issues with each other as well. Suffice it to say, our pitching
coach, Bob McClure, is potentially not on the same page as our head coach and
our assistant pitching coach.
The coaches’ relationships would be of no concern if the
results were seen on the field, but that has not been the case. While McClure
deserves credit for having one of the strongest bullpens in baseball, he
deserves equal blame for the starting pitchers’ failures. Boston starters have
a 4.79 ERA, the 5th worst in baseball, and have seen
underachievement from three of their top-slated guys.
Where the starters have really faltered is early in games. The
average ERA in the 1st inning for all pitchers this season has been
4.62, but Red Sox starters have a 6.63 ERA in the 1st inning. Maybe
Sox pitchers do not have a sound routine in place before their starts, or maybe
the current early inning strategies are not working. Either way, this seems
like an issue that the pitching coach should oversee – something that McClure
has failed at this season.
Another issue that I have with McClure is his apparent
hands-off approach to coaching. He spoke yesterday with the Providence
Journal on how he was trying to help Lester, and essentially admitted that
all he has down was tell Lester that his true talent will eventually shine
through. The best advice he ever received while pitching during a slump? “Don’t
change a thing.” I don’t know about you, but I would prefer my pitching coach
to actually assess what issues are plaguing a slumping pitcher and attempt to
fix them.
I do not know if it would be best for the Sox to cut McClure
loose now, but it is clear that the job is not getting done. The issue is not
just with Lester; Beckett, Buchholz, and Bard have struggled significantly this
season without the excuses of injury. If the Sox are unable to trade for a
starting pitcher by the end of July, maybe they should try addition by
subtraction and get rid of a pitching coach that has not helped from the start.
