Pitching Coach Larry Rothschild Fired from New York Yankees
Larry Rothschild has been relieved of his duties as New York Yankees pitching coach. Rothschild, 65, had spent the past nine seasons with the Yankees. He still had one more year left on his three-year contract. Joel Sherman was the first to report the news via Twitter.
Rothschild pitched in the Major Leagues for two seasons with the Detroit Tigers. He also managed the then Tampa Bay Devil Rays for four seasons. Rothschild also served as the pitching coach with four other teams: Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves, the then Florida Marlins and the Chicago Cubs.
The #Yankees did not “part ways” with Rothschild. Let’s not use their softened language. He had a year left on his contract. They fired him.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) October 28, 2019
Yankees Statement
Brian Cashman and the organization felt that a change was necessary. The team is looking for a more analytical approach, but Cashman had a few parting words for Rothschild:
“I want to personally thank Larry for his near-decade of commitment to this organization. Larry cares deeply about his craft and the pitchers under his tutelage and he played a significant role in our successes over the past nine seasons. There’s a reason why Larry has had the type of distinguished baseball career he’s had, and it starts with experience and dedication that is difficult to emulate.”
The New York Yankees today announced that Larry Rothschild will not return to the coaching staff for the 2020 season. pic.twitter.com/5rTA6a3noA
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) October 28, 2019
The Issues
It’s no secret that the Yankees have had a tough time with pitchers the past couple of years. The Yankees were ranked 11th in starters’ ERA over the past two years with a 4.27 ERA. Over those two years and under Rothschild, the Yankees saw a few pitchers take major steps back after being front line pitchers.
This past season saw all of the Yankees’ regular starters sitting north of a 4.00 ERA, except for James Paxton. Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, and J.A. Happ all underperformed what was expected of them. That generally means a change needs to be made. The only regular starters to be under the 4.00 ERA plateau for the cumulative past two years were Luis Severino and Paxton.
There were also issues with bringing young guys along. Domingo German was the only young pitcher to capture any sort of success with a 4.92 ERA across the past two seasons. Adding into the underwhelming mix was the trials and tribulations of Sonny Gray, who was looking like an ace before he was traded to the Yankees. Gray could never quite find success, as his 178 innings pitched of 4.69 ERA over his tenure with the Yankees was not what they were looking for. The success of Gray with the Reds this season does not make Rothschild look good.
What’s Next for Larry Rothschild?
Rothschild represents an old guard of pitching coaches who have a lot of experience with little of the analytical background. They would like a more analytical approach, much like the rival Houston Astros. On account of that, the Yankees decided it was time for a change.
Larry Rothschild may only be on the market for a very short time. His years of experience make him an asset to any team. He also has ties to some managers in the league. Joe Girardi is one name that comes to mind, as he will be managing the Philadelphia Phillies this year. He will be looking to round out his staff. Rothschild and Girardi spent most of Girardi’s time with the Yankees together and could be reunited again.
Rothschild was Joe Girardi’s pitching coach for 7 years with the #Yankees. Girardi officially being introduced as #Phillies manager today. So keep an eye on that.
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) October 28, 2019
