Rothschild in as new Padres pitching coach
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The San Diego Padres have hired Larry Rothschild as the new pitching coach.
The San Diego Padres continued their coaching staff shakeup on Thursday, bringing on longtime big-league coach Larry Rothschild to be the team’s pitching coach, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Larry Rothschild is the #Padres’ new pitching coach, sources tell The Athletic.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 8, 2019
Rothschild began his coaching career in 1986 and had been the pitching coach for the New York Yankees since 2011. He has also worked for the Braves, Cubs, Reds, Marlins, and Rays throughout his career and has served as a pitching coach, bench coach, and manager.
The 65-year-old Rothschild has been noted as someone who can blend old-school teaching tactics with new-age analytics, something that new manager Jayce Tingler preached at his introductory press conference last week. “I’ve been around a lot of very good baseball men, and I’m maybe a little bit new school and a lot of bit old school,” Tingler said at the press conference before discussing the importance of fundamentals and managing information. The hiring of Rothschild seems to line up well with what Tingler is looking for in his staff and continues his pattern of looking for experienced individuals.
Yankees, last five seasons:
48.6% fastballs (30th)
24.6% sliders (1st)Padres, last five seasons:
58.2% fastballs (5th)
18.4% sliders (6th)— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) November 8, 2019
Rothschild will be replacing longtime Padres pitching coach Darren Balsley, who will remain in the organization as a “special assistant working with minor league pitchers,” according to Kevin Acee of the Union-Tribune. Balsley recently completed his 17th season in that role and will look to spend more time with his family in this reduced role. “It’s hard to distance myself from the Padres,” Balsley told Acee, “This is tough for me, growing up in San Diego, knowing this team is going to do well. I would like to help in any aspect.”
The Rothschild hiring is the latest in a series of sweeping changes made by first-time manager Jayce Tingler to his coaching staff. It was also announced today that Rod Barajas, the team’s bench coach in 2019, will remain in the organization in an unspecified role as will assistant hitting coach Damion Easley, per Acee. Glenn Hoffman will come back for his 15th season as the Padres’ third-base coach while Bobby Dickerson and Wayne Kirby have been brought in to add even more experience to the staff.
Tingler is expected to finalize his coaching staff sometime next week, according to Acee. It is safe to assume that staff will be made up mostly of coaches who preach fundamentals and have a long history in the game, offsetting Tingler’s lack of experience.
Born and raised in Vista, Ryan has been a Padres fan since birth. Currently attending Palomar College, Ryan is trying his hand at expressing his passion for baseball through writing. There is no better life than the baseball life.
HUGH mistake! Balsley is the one coach that they had to keep. Bals replaced Greg Booker who famously said upon being fired: Sure you can enter a donkey in the Kentucky Derby but you can’t make em run. This was in reference to his pitching staff. Balsley of course took the high road. Good luck Bals, you will be missed.