Leyland forming staff

[RockSports17]

Looking pretty good so far.

Link

While he continues to decide on a pitching coach, Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Wednesday he would like to hire these five -- all with Pirates connections -- for the remaining coaching jobs:

•Gene Lamont, the former Tigers catcher who has nearly 20 years in the major leagues (with the Pirates in 1997-2000) as a manager and third-base coach, as bench coach and third-base coach;

•Former All-Star centerfielder Andy Van Slyke (with the Pirates in 1987-94) as baserunning coach and outfield coach;

•Don Slaught, a longtime major league catcher (1990-94 with Pirates), as hitting coach;

•Former infielder Rafael Belliard (1982-90 with Pirates) as infield coach;

•Lloyd McClendon, who played for the Pirates in 1990-94 and managed the Bucs the past five seasons, as bullpen coach.

Barring something unforeseen, all five will join Leyland's staff, except perhaps Van Slyke. "He is going to talk to his family about whether he wants to do it," said Leyland, a former Pirates manager.

If Leyland forms this staff, it will mark the first time in more than 30 years that the Tigers' coaching staff has undergone a complete turnover. Every manager of the team since at least Ralph Houk has had at least one holdover coach from the previous regime. The most recent link in the chain has been Juan Samuel, a Tigers coach for the past seven seasons under four managers.

As under Trammell, Leyland's staff would include a Latin American -- Belliard -- and an African American -- McClendon.

The most prominent name to surface as a pitching-coach candidate is Larry Rothschild. In 1997, Rothschild was the pitching coach for Leyland's Florida Marlins when they won the World Series.

Rothschild, a former Tigers pitcher, has spent the past four seasons as pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs have asked him to return next season, but the Tigers received permission Wednesday from the Cubs to talk to Rothschild.

"No decision has been made on pitching coach," said Leyland, who seems willing to wait as long as necessary to hire someone he is sure is right for the role.

Slaught, the choice as hitting coach, played 16 seasons as a catcher, mostly as a semi-regular. He hit .283 for his career without notable power. One point on his resume mostly stands out: He never had a high strikeout total.

The Tigers must make more intelligent contact and draw more walks next season.

The Tigers finished this season last in the majors in walks, and president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said this week, "Our lack of walks is unacceptable. That shows me that we're going up to the plate without focus and concentration."

Like Van Slyke, Slaught is out of professional baseball. But those two and Belliard, the proposed infield coach, played a combined 46 seasons in the majors. Belliard is a minor league instructor with Atlanta.

Lamont managed Philadelphia's top farm club this year after 19 consecutive seasons in the big leagues as a manager and third-base coach. He served as Leyland's third-base coach for seven of his 11 seasons as Pirates manager.

Lamont is the only one of Leyland's five proposed coaches who didn't play under him in Pittsburgh. The two met as catchers in the Tigers farm system in 1966.

"Jim is my best friend in the world," Lamont said Wednesday. "With our relationship, I pretty much say what I want to, and Jim is not going to get mad. He likes things bounced off him.

"We have a great relationship not just on the field but off the field, too."

Staff looks pretty good. It seems like he's friends with all of them which will create a better staff. It'll be easier for them to pass things along to each other and just a better relationship all together between them. Rothschild seems like a good fit for pitching coach and that could really help up Bonderman and Verlander progress more. Hopefully we get some additions to our rotation through free agency, maybe a ace like AJ Burnett. Things looking good. Thumb up to Leyland.

[awefullspellare]

McClendon would be good to have around. He has experience at the highest level and can get it done.

[RockSports17]

Surprise you didn't say something about Rothschild. Don't know much about him, but is he a decent pitching coach? You think he can help out a young staff like Detroits?