Sohna and I chatted briefly with Interim GM Mike Rizzo tonight about Randy St.Claire. Having been at the park when the Jesus Flores news broke, we had no idea Our Number 3's injury was so bad he could potentially be out for the remainder of 2009. If we had known, we would have asked him that question also.
So our focus was on the firing of our long time pitching coach. Here is the gist of that conversation.
I got to give you credit, you are decisive? (SBF)
"You have to be. You can't be afraid to make the decision and move on. We have been too stagnant. We are not performing to our capabilities."
Can I ask you why Randy and why today? (SBF)
"We are last in nine pitching categories. At some point someone has to be responsible. Randy was here for a long time and I did not see improvement with our pitching staff on a consistent basis. We have a starting staff of youngsters and they are not improving at all. I don't see us getting better and we should be. We can't have our most promising pitchers hitting a plateau. They were not getting better and in some cases regressing."
But it's got to be more than that? (SBF)
"Well it is. Randy's belief was to pitch to each hitter's weak points, regardless of any one pitcher's strength. I believe our pitchers should pitch to their own strengths--not just the hitter's weakness. It's a big difference. The philosophy different."
"We need our pitchers to take a different approach, a mental change. Steve McCatty has worked with many of these young guys in Spring Training. He understands them and I think he can change them for the better. I believe he has the ability to turn things around."
2 comments:
"Well it is. Randy's belief was to pitch to each hitter's weak points, regardless of any one pitcher's strength. I believe our pitchers should pitch to their own strengths--not just the hitter's weakness. It's a big difference. The philosophy different."
Sounds a lot of what Rob Dibble has been saying all year too!
Rizzo has got to feel the same way about Manny then, who, like St. Clair, is very dependent on statistical probabilities. If he was tired of watching Cabrera and tired of St. Clair's "philosopy" requiring perfect technique from imperfect players, then he has to be more than fed up with the lack of fire displayed by the team generally. Time growing very short for Mr. Acta I am presuming by these comments, as Nats are last in fielding and many other important categories, too.
Trust in Rizzo's razor. All being sharpened.
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