After an extensive search, the Yankees have finally named their next pitching coach.
Larry Rothschild, who was the Chicago Cubs pitching coach, will leave Chicago and come to New York and be the new Yankees pitching coach for 2011.
Rothschild was signed to a three-year deal, which was announced on Friday through WFAN and the YES Network.
Rothschild will get the assignment of trying to figure out A.J. Burnett’s mechanics and stuff, along with his mentality, which will be no easy task.
Rothschild takes the reigns from Dave Eiland, who had taken time off during the year, which some credited as the reason Burnett struggled terribly during 2010, and eventually was a major falling out point between Eiland and the Yankees.
Rothschild was the very first manager for the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 1998 to 2001. His stint with Tampa was his only one as a major league manager.
Names that were considered for the Yankees pitching coach job were bullpen coach Mike Harkey, Gil Patterson, Don Cooper, Rick Peterson and Leo Mazzone, but the Yankees settled on Rothschild.
It’s a very surprising move, considering Rothschild had just picked up his option for the 2011 season with the Cubs, but with their new manager Mike Quade, Rothschild decided to explore other options, which obviously has led him to New York.
I was personally for Mazzone to get the job, but if Rothschild can do the job well and especially if he can fix Burnett, then the move will turn out to be a good one.
Only time will tell if Rothschild is the right guy for the job.
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