Mazzone throws his name into the Yankees coaching hunt
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Oct 28, 2010 
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With Joe Girardi on the verge of returning to the Yankees, the team can shift its coaching focus to the Dave Eiland opening. Already, one of the top pitching coaches of all-time has already thrown his name into the mix during a morning interview on Gary and Phillips in the Morning on SIRIUS XM’s Mad Dog Radio.
Here’s the question and answer, as sent to me by radio station’s PR staff.
Host Gary Williams: “There are a lot of new staffs and, obviously, there’s an opening with the Yankees. Steve was effusive in praising you. Have you been contacted? I know you want back in. Any job in particular that is of interest to you?”
Leo Mazzone: “Yeah, there certainly is. And it has New York in front of it, too. I mean, it can be in the American League or the National League.”
Mazzone is one of the biggest names in the game, so it’s only natural that he would be asked about the potential of joining the the game’s biggest franchise. I have no idea whether the Yankees would be interested — he’s 62 years old and hasn’t coached in three years — but at the very least Mazzone isn’t ruling out the possibility.
I’ve mentioned it before, but these are the two names that standout to me as potential replacements for Eiland.
Rick Kranitz
Current Orioles pitching coach
Girardi’s former pitching coach in Florida actually had some success with those young Marlins pitchers. He’s also had some success with some of the Orioles young pitchers (Jeremy Guthrie and Brian Matusz jump to mind). There’s also every reason to believe he won’t be back in Baltimore now that Buck Showalter is putting together his own staff. Showalter already seems to be leaning a different direction.
Scott Aldred
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre pitching coach
When Eiland got the Yankees job in 2008, he’d spent the past five years in the minor leagues: Two in short-season ball, two in Double-A and one in Triple-A. Aldred is in the exact same spot, having just finished his fifth season as a minor league pitching coach: One in Low-A, two in Double-A and two in Triple-A. From 2007 through 2009, his staff led its league in ERA in three straight seasons.
Hopefully, if Mazzone throws his hat into the hunt, Cashman throws it back out. There are really only two choices. Gil Patterson or scott Aldred.
Not really interested in Mazzone. He had 3 HOFers in Atlanta and he didn’t do anything in Baltimore.
My own gut feeling, whatever that’s worth, is that Aldred will be the next Yankee pitching coach.
I have no idea who the pitching coach will be. From a sentimental standpoint, I’d like to see Rags, or even Mussina, but he’s had no experience as a pitching coach as yet.
Mazzone is experienced, but you can’t miss years. Gator wasn’t the answer, though I did like that he seemed to get in pitchers faces a bit.
It ain’t Dave Duncan, so I’ll leave it up to Girardi.
So who’s everyones choice??
Even before the actual hotstove season begins there is plenty to keep Cashman busy.
As in all things Yankee excellence should be sought out.
This is especially true of our next Pitching coach.
Let’s get the K. Long equivalent. Two “geniuses” are better than one.
GB-
And now for something really radical. Mike Marshall.
Leading Candidates:
Rob Dibble
Curt Schilling
Roger Clemens
Randy Johnson
Carl Pavano player/coach
will take Mazzone, thank you.
additonally, with a last name like his he is a fit for NY.
Don Cooper is another ideal candidate. Yet likely not available.
1) Duncan (under contract/not happening)
2) Mazzone
3) Don Cooper
MTU, you’re too old to be in this discussion. I fully expected you to ask for your boyhood idol, Happy Jack Chesbro.
Seriously, I think that baseball is afraid of Mike Marshall.
Ray,
There was an interview with one of the Yankees years ago and they were talking about how mean Wynn was. The guy, and I believe it might have been Moose Skowron, said that Wynn would hit anybody but Mantle. Then he went on to talk about the time that John Buzhart hit Mantle and when Buzhart came to the bench, Wynn went up to him and told him if he ever threw at Mantle’s legs again, he’s break his neck.
Wynn knew that most hitters can get their head out of the way, but, Mantle couldn’t get his legs out of the way. Wynn, like most other players knew that Mantle playing meant more money for the players because he drew crowds and no player was more respected than Mantle. Al Kaline was asked who his idol was when he was young and Kaline said “Mantle. And he still is.” Kaline was 3 years younger than Mantle.
Schilling? Oh hell no.
Mussina? That’s an interesting choice. I wouldn’t mind seeing him again.
Mazzone? Eh… No.
GB-
Indeed they are but those videos were really great and maybe one day he’ll get a shot with some progressive team looking for someone who isn’t just a “technocrat”.
Actually, me and ole’ Satch were buds.
David Cone
Mazzone thinks too highly of himself and he’ll price himself out of the discussion.
GB7, that interview certainly makes it seem that way.
MTU October 28th, 2010 at 6:09 pm
GB-
Indeed they are but those videos were really great and maybe one day he’ll get a shot with some progressive team looking for someone who isn’t just a “technocrat”.
Actually, me and ole’ Satch were buds.
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Did you see the historic video clip of Randy I that I put up on the last thread?
Bring back Stott!
GB-
I did. Kind of reminded me of the wonderful videos you posted of him in his youth – eating cereal.
Damned. Randy just loves this stuff. Too bad that it’s nap time at the home.
No Mussina, no Cone………….just because they were good/very good pitchers doesn’t mean they can coach worth a darn. Mussina, with his prickly personality, is not someone I’d think would want to coach anyway, though he did teach Phil the knuckle curve
Mazzone would be an excellent choice he helped Glavine, Maddux, and Smoltz become HOF pitchers and helped the Baltimore staff get some mileage out of Bruce Chen, Rodrigo Lopez, Danny Cabrera, etc. before they flamed out.
Yeah, that was some funny stuff. I thought that Randy was going to drown in his bowl.
Gil Patterson and if he decines the job, Scott Aldred. Rick Kranitz would be a 3rd choice. Leo Mazzone can go to Queens and see if he can straighten out the Mets fiasco.
“No Mussina, no Cone………….just because they were good/very good pitchers doesn’t mean they can coach worth a darn”
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Cone threw the ball at every possible angle/arm slot known to man. Furthermore, he knows a hellla amount about pitching. Truthfully, i don’t really care for him. But assuming he can work with others well, i believe he would make good coach.
Nardi Contreras
Maybe if he raves about AJ, he will get some confidence back.
I’m really sick of hearing about Hamilton’s “historic” post season. He wasn’t historic. He was good, but, historic is as bad as people using great instead of merely very good.
GB-
He managed to escape somehow.
He cheated death.
And went to become a great entrepeneur, golfer, and Catcher.
His exploits are known both far and wide.
At some point, someone who has pitched or caught but hasn’t coached will certainly be given an opportunity to do so. Everyone who becomes a teacher or coach at some point was not a teacher or coach. I would think Mussina is not interested in resuming a baseball career yet. But Cone keeps his hand in. Maybe he would be interested. Maybe not. May some day, maybe not now. But you can’t summarily dismiss people simply because they’ve never done it before.
In this case, I believe the Yankees will go with someone who is experienced, however.
Yes, I know Coney knows pitching; I don’t have to be convinced of that. That doesn’t mean he’d be a good coach. Just having knowledge of something doesn’t mean you know how to pass that knowledge on. Also, I do not want a first timer, no matter who it is, as PC
Jesus…who is this idiot on MLB?
GB7 -
You know, I was in Hamilton’s corner until they started throwing out all the hyperbole. Now, it annoys me.
And I hate when they do that, because instead of rooting for Hamilton, I can’t stand him. It’s not really his fault. Well, maybe a little.
Just like with Cliff Lee. They’ve made me so sick of hearing about him, I almost don’t want him anywhere near Yankee Stadium!
I know it’s not logical, but this is what these crazy media people do to me!!!
Yes, Doreen, but so they start at the bottom – not as PC for a major league team, especially the Yankees. Therefore, yes would summarily dismiss folks without any prior experience whatsoever.
Mussina, with his prickly personality, is not someone I’d think would want to coach anyway, though he did teach Phil the knuckle curve
************
So Moose is the reason for his inconsistent secondary pitches
That is – yes, I personally would disqualify someone who has had no experience whatsoever.
Of course being a great player makes you a great coach. Just look at Mattingly. He was fantastic as a player, and as a coach hes… hes… hes doin’…. good…
Did I say something wrong, LGY? Wow, talk about reading something into nothing
Would love to hear Darling or Cone growling at the Yankee pitchers.
Betsy
I’m just joking hence the angry yellow guy
Mussina quit on a 20 win season because he didn’t like traveling and I’m not sure that he even likes other players. Perhaps in a few year. I can’t see the recently retired players like Cone and Mussina ever coaching. They don’t need the money. Much like I can’t see Jeter ever coaching. Posada is a different breed. He grew up in a baseball family and loves it.
Cone is more interested in the broadcasting/business end, I think.
Ok, I’m glad – but I couldn’t tell. I take that
very seriously……..though it’s my favorite one, lol.
I miss Coney – darn YES.
If Hamilton was a woman here’d be the headline:
From Heroin to Heroine..
Doreen October 28th, 2010 at 6:27 pm
GB7 -
You know, I was in Hamilton’s corner until they started throwing out all the hyperbole. Now, it annoys me.
And I hate when they do that, because instead of rooting for Hamilton, I can’t stand him. It’s not really his fault. Well, maybe a little.
Just like with Cliff Lee. They’ve made me so sick of hearing about him, I almost don’t want him anywhere near Yankee Stadium!
I know it’s not logical, but this is what these crazy media people do to me!!!
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They keep trying to make it out as this heroic battle to overcome adversity. Jon Lester fits that bill. Mantle with the injuries and the spectre of early death…a family where no male member ever reached the age of 45. all dying of cancer. Guys like Dave Dravecki. Hamilton had it all and stuck it in his arms or up his nose. He created his own adversity. Blowing a $4 mil bonus is 2 years, stealing your wife’s wedding rings and selling them for $200 to get a fix.
Well, I don’t think Gator was a PC before being one for the NY Yankees. I’m sure someone will correct me if I’m wrong.
So if Mo retires, and decides he would like to be the pitching coach for the NY Yankees, you would not consider it because he’s had no experience?
Erin
Very cute.
Joba_62 Wow it’s great to be home and how lucky I am to have a great “Luigi”. Amazing being a dad!! http://yfrog.com/0oa1cmj
Nardi Contreras will not take a coaching job in place of his current position, and I’m sure the Yankees are pleased with what he’s doing.
My first choice would be Gil Patterson, but, if history repeats itself, Scott Aldred will most likely get the job. After all, he’s done a great job in SWB, and the young pitchers coming up will feel comfortable with him as their coach.
GB7 -
Absolutely.
I’m glad Hamilton was able to turn his life around, but you can’t compare something a person does to himself with something like cancer.
On May 7th Jeter was hit by Beckett in the back with the bases loaded and that I believe started his hitting decline. (He went 6-39 in his next eight games.) On May 15th, Derek Jeter flexing his right wrist after diving for a Pat Burrell single in the fourth inning, but Girardi said Jeter was fine. (He went 4-18 in his next four games.)
So over that stretch he went 10 for 57 or .175 BA over 12 games. If you take those games out Jeter hit .279.
June 18th Derek Jeter was a late scratch from the New York Yankees? lineup because of a bruised right heel. I actually think he got hurt in the Astros game on the 12th after hitting 2 HRs he fouled a pich off his knee I believe. (He went 2 for 21 after that until he sat out the game with the bruised heel too where he couldn?t hardly walk.)
Jeter is often punished for being a gamer and playing thru pain. I guess when the alternative is Pena you might have too.
Has anyone read the new book;
The Last Boy: Mickey Mantle and the End of America’s Childhood.
Al, I bought a copy for my dad. He’s enjoying it very much.
I get it next, so, I’ll let you know.
“Jeter is often punished for being a gamer and playing thru pain.”
There’s a fine line between gamer and martyr.
Pena has young legs, a good glove and is capable of hitting .175.
pat October 28th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Erin
Very cute.
Joba_62 Wow it’s great to be home and how lucky I am to have a great “Luigi”. Amazing being a dad!! http://yfrog.com/0oa1cmj
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pat-that is adorable!! Thanks for the link
Thanks Tom. The author, Jane Leavy, is going to be at Yogi’s Museum today signing books. Sure wish I could be there. I’ll have to settle for an Amason copy.
I ordered my husband a copy for Christmas. I’m going to have to stop myself from reading it before I wrap it!!
This could only happen to me. I have almost no gas in my car so I go to the station tonight to fill up. I press the that lever thingy in the car that opens the gas tank too hard and now the it won’t open at all. I can’t use my car because I have no gas and I can’t get gas because that door won’t open. If I can make it to my auto mechanics at lunch tomorrow, I’m going to have to do so in full costume………….
Doreen, exactly correct. The drugs was a stupid thing to do. It wasn’t a mistake. Mistakes are errors caused by inexperience or Not knowing the difference. It is he who was the real cheat. He cheated everyone, especially his family, but, also baseball, the fans and the team that lost $4 mil on him that they never recovered. Even now, he glosses over the incident in New Mexico in the strip bar a year ago.
Can he ever be trusted to be there? No, not as long as he needs a team paid baby sitter to watch him 24/7. The guy gives him $10 a day for spending money and takes his road meal money to pay for his meals because he can’t be trusted to not go out and get his fix. Not sure that he’s learned anything until he can walk around with money in his pocket and ignore the drugs and booze without help.
Like you, I’m happy that he’s trying, but, that’s not heroic. That’s fear of losing his money, his job and his family. Hopefully he will stay clean. I’m just tired of hearing the BS. That’s seven years of a career in his arms and nose that he won’t get back. If he learns what Mantle learned in his last year and weeks, he’ll be straight.
Manrle: “If you want a role model, this is a role model (pointing at himself), look at me. Don’t be like me.” 6 weeks before his death.
Betsy, my car once broke down on halloween.
I was dressed as a nun.
I was standing outside my car an people stopped to see if a nun needed help. I wish I had had a camera with me. People were mortified for me.
Former players that made good money while an active player seldom have the desire to return in coaching capacities. They had enough of the travel and want to see their kids / grandkids grow up.
They stay in touch and attend certain events but not much else.
The likely reason Mark McGwire returned and will be back again in 2011 is to make attempts to establish some credibility and take some tarnish off his imagine with HOF hopes.
Bonds has said recently that he’d like to return as a batting coach. About the same intent as McGwire.
Tom, that’s kind of funny, but I can identify you. I’m going as a gangster tomorrow (to work) so I will be in my pinstriped suit with fake $$$ coming out of my pockets. I’m sort of blushing already, lol, but I have no choice. Even if people think I look like a jerk, I have to get gas, lol
GB7
Those words from Mantle break your heart – because it took him so long to find some peace.
There’s a line from the musical “Wicked” that I think applies to Hamilton, “the most celebrated are the rehabilitated.” People love a story like that, probably for a lot of individual reasons. But like you, I don’t think Hamilton is quite there yet. He is lucky because he seems to have a strong family and a very determined wife.
But I sure wish the baseball announcer-type people would tone it down a bit.
Tom in N.J. October 28th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Betsy, my car once broke down on halloween.
I was dressed as a nun.
I was standing outside my car an people stopped to see if a nun needed help. I wish I had had a camera with me. People were mortified for me.
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People are always afraid of nuns with porn star mustaches.
Fascinating interview with Russo and Selig from AT&T this afternoon. Russo asked him every question imaginable. One thing I’ll say, Selig has an incredible baseball memory. He recounted amazing details from games in numerous era’s.
Betsy, did you bang on the back of the lever? Some times they spring back into place, and everything works again.
Congrats Doreen, you’ve found a way to link “Wicked” to Baseball. Impressive, no doubt.
F.Y.I. :
Little known (and often ignored) fact — Cy Young’s real birth name was Christopher John Wilson .
How about that .
Everyone see that pic on the front of Espn.com right now? Pretty cool shot. I just imagine some guy in the yacht running down the kayakers for a ball.
Yeah, Hamilton’s wife deserves a lot of credit for putting up with that for so long. She had plenty of experience, though. She watched her mother go through the same thing with her father with booze and drugs.
It can’t be about the money, because he blew all of that and she stayed on.
ASD, I pushed, pulled and did everything possible. I didn’t want to keep pulling the lever up because I was having issues with the trunk. The gas station attendant was going to tie the trunk down with twine, but he found a way to get it closed. I didn’t want to keep bothering him, so I just had to leave eventually. I’m sure a mechanic will be able to get the tank door open…….I guess that’s a lesson learned: never let your gas get too low.
Where is the lever? In the trunk or at the driver seat?
http://www.wezen-ball.com/othe.....thday.html
Great – Kevin Millar was born on my birthday……..or, I was born on his.
Ruby Tuesday October 28th, 2010 at 7:20 pm
F.Y.I. :
Little known (and often ignored) fact — Cy Young’s real birth name was Christopher John Wilson .
How about that .
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and for 88 years, everyone lied to him by telling him that his name was Denton True Young.
How about that.
ASD, it’s next to the driver’s seat. I did press down on it hard and now there is no resistance like there normally is. If I press it now, it just sort of goes down weakly. It’s hard to explain – either way, it was my fault. I’ll try it later just to see if maybe it just needed time to bounce back.
Going off the board with…David Cone.
CJ Wilson is about as close to Cy Young as you are to being intelligent.
Betsy, did you have somebody push the gas cap door “in” towards the car while you pull the lever.
I’m matched up with Gabby Hartnett, which is cool, i guess. Also matched up with the first player to hit 100 home runs… but all that is ruined by David Wright. Crap.
Tom, no we didn’t try that- but maybe I’ll try that later. It’s ridiculous that just pressing that thing too hard could lead to this. It wouldn’t be so bad if my tank wasn’t nearly on empty; apparently my brain is on empty as well.
Best player born on my birthday is Silver King.
No, that’s just too easy …………..
Umm… New Post has been up for a few minutes now.
i’m gonna throw my name in the hat