The Yankees have a new pitching coach, and he'll probably get as much attention -- and have as much on his plate -- as any Yankee pitching coach in recent memory. After the jump, Ben Shpigel on Larry Rothschild ...
Yankees’ Pitching Coach Assumes Key Role
Since taking the Yankees’ job in November, Rothschild has spoken regularly with his staff, even traveling to Maryland for a two-day tutorial with A. J. Burnett. But the next phase of his job begins Tuesday, when he oversees his first workout, and it is a daunting one.
He will be entrusted with re-establishing Joba Chamberlain as a bullpen force, developing the rookie Ivan Nova, helping Manager Joe Girardi identify the two best options for a weakened rotation and, most notably, rebuilding Burnett, whose performance in 2011 could be the fulcrum of their season.
From videotape that he analyzed during his interview process, Rothschild said, he thought Burnett last season often "looked confused on the mound" and was concentrating too much on his mechanics.
That’s it, right? The Yankees’ season in a nutshell?
Well, maybe not. That’s four players -- I’m counting Nova as one of those “two best options” for the rotation -- and the Yankees will use more than 25 players this season in important roles. But if you knew today that Burnett and Nova were going to pitch well, wouldn’t you assume the Yankees are making the playoffs?
But what if Burnett doesn’t pitch well, Nova struggles as so many rookies do, and the No. 4 and 5 slots in the rotation look like a pair of big-city revolving doors? The Yankees won 95 games last season, and all their old players are another year older. Is it really that hard to imagine them winning 88 games and missing the dance?
I don’t really think that’s going to happen. Not yet, anyway. I think Burnett’s going to bounce back some, and I’m fairly bullish on Nova. It’s far from a sure thing, though. And if the Yankees do win, we’re probably going to look back and give Rothschild a sliver of the credit.
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