Leo Mazzone?

Cironnu · 10-13-2007, 12:02 AM

He's widely regarded as one of the best pitching coaches in MLB, and the morons in Baltimore fired him today. He worked around Dayton for many years in Atlanta, where his pitching staffs lead the NL in ERA for 12 of his last 14 seasons there, and I think he'd be GREAT as our pitching coach. Nothing against McClure who did a very good job this last season, but when someone like Leo becomes available, you HAVE to try and get him. McClure can move to bullpen coach, or roving minor league pitching coach...whatever.

GeorgiaRoyal · 10-20-2007, 05:52 PM

I'm perfectly satisfied with McClure as the pitching coach. Over the past two seasons, Baltimore was 29th in team ERA. The Royals were 30th in 2006 and then jumped to 16th in 2007. Joe Torre might be thought of as a great manager, and he might be, but in my mind he'll have to do it without the 200 million payroll. Similarly, Mazzone got his reputation as a pitching guru while having Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux and the strong pitchers that Atlanta used to begin and sustain their run of excellence through the 90s and early 00s.

I like our top three starters. Meche, Bannister and Greinke will all be solid in 2008. Greinke is still kind of a wild card. He could be a guy that goes 9-13 with an ERA of 4.40 or he could be a guy that goes 18-7 with an ERA of 3.80. There's just no telling. I just hope the Royals leave him in the rotation this next season and leave it alone. The next time he moves to the bullpen should be a permanent thing. Bannister might have some difficulty in his soph season, but I still think he's a smart kind of guy (and comes from a baseball family) who will be able to make the necessary adjustments. The key will be finding a solid 4 and 5 to really shore up the rotation. We've got a lot of arms that could compete for those spots, but I'd like to see the Royals get someone via free agency or trade this offseason. Then let the best of those other guys hold down the #5 spot.

If the Royals retain Riske, that will really go a ways toward the Royals having a very solid bullpen.

Cironnu · 10-21-2007, 06:39 PM

I actually changed my mind on Mazzone the day after I posted this. I just didn't bother to write about since I didn't think it would ever be read!

Nice to see a familiar face on an old board.

I -would- like to point out that Mazzone got some good seasons out of the Pete Smiths and Liebrandts of the world, too, but he's just not right for the Royals. He's only talking about coaching for another 2-3 years, and we need someone longer term than that.

10-13-2007, 12:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cironnu Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 39	Leo Mazzone? He's widely regarded as one of the best pitching coaches in MLB, and the morons in Baltimore fired him today. He worked around Dayton for many years in Atlanta, where his pitching staffs lead the NL in ERA for 12 of his last 14 seasons there, and I think he'd be GREAT as our pitching coach. Nothing against McClure who did a very good job this last season, but when someone like Leo becomes available, you HAVE to try and get him. McClure can move to bullpen coach, or roving minor league pitching coach...whatever. __________________ In Dayton We Trust.

10-21-2007, 06:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
Cironnu Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 39	I actually changed my mind on Mazzone the day after I posted this. I just didn't bother to write about since I didn't think it would ever be read! Nice to see a familiar face on an old board. I -would- like to point out that Mazzone got some good seasons out of the Pete Smiths and Liebrandts of the world, too, but he's just not right for the Royals. He's only talking about coaching for another 2-3 years, and we need someone longer term than that. __________________ In Dayton We Trust.

10-20-2007, 05:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
GeorgiaRoyal Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21	I'm perfectly satisfied with McClure as the pitching coach. Over the past two seasons, Baltimore was 29th in team ERA. The Royals were 30th in 2006 and then jumped to 16th in 2007. Joe Torre might be thought of as a great manager, and he might be, but in my mind he'll have to do it without the 200 million payroll. Similarly, Mazzone got his reputation as a pitching guru while having Smoltz, Glavine, Maddux and the strong pitchers that Atlanta used to begin and sustain their run of excellence through the 90s and early 00s. I like our top three starters. Meche, Bannister and Greinke will all be solid in 2008. Greinke is still kind of a wild card. He could be a guy that goes 9-13 with an ERA of 4.40 or he could be a guy that goes 18-7 with an ERA of 3.80. There's just no telling. I just hope the Royals leave him in the rotation this next season and leave it alone. The next time he moves to the bullpen should be a permanent thing. Bannister might have some difficulty in his soph season, but I still think he's a smart kind of guy (and comes from a baseball family) who will be able to make the necessary adjustments. The key will be finding a solid 4 and 5 to really shore up the rotation. We've got a lot of arms that could compete for those spots, but I'd like to see the Royals get someone via free agency or trade this offseason. Then let the best of those other guys hold down the #5 spot. If the Royals retain Riske, that will really go a ways toward the Royals having a very solid bullpen.