Prospect Insider - Staff Rumors, One Added?

Staff Rumors, One Added?

By Jason A. Churchill

By 11-25-2008

New Manager Don Wakamatsu added former Oakland A's hitting coach Ty Van Burkleo to his staff Monday, apparently naming or getting ready to name the 45-year-old as the new M's bench coach.

The rest of the staff is to be named fairly quickly, and from what I can gather from numerous sources, Rick Peterson is not going to be the new pitching coach, despite Peterson's relationship with Wakamatsu. Larry Stone of the Seattle Times is also reporting that Peterson is not the guy.

Instead, Dom Chiti is the most likely hire to replace Mel Stottlemyre as Seattle's pitching coach. Chiti, a long-time scout and coach, spent last season as a special assistant to the GM in Atlanta, where he was drafted as a left-handed pitcher in the second round of the 1976 Draft.

Prior to his year with the Braves, the 50-year-old Chiti spent six season with the Texas Rangers - which is where his relationship with Wakamatsu was branded. Three of those seasons he served as the bullpen coach, the others he served as the player personnel director and as a special assistant to the GM.

Chiti also spent 12 years with the Cleveland Indians ('89-'01), serving as an advanced scout after starting his post-playing career as their minor league roving pitching instructor.

Chiti has never been a pitching coach in the big leagues, but handled the role with Triple-A Buffalo in 1995. Instead of moving up to the majors, took a scouting job with the Indians.

My sources tell me that Rick Adair, a third round pick by the Mariners in 1979, is the lead candidate to be the new bullpen coach, and Jose Castro will return as the team's hitting coach.

Adair, 50, has been a minor league pitching coach and pitching coordinator, suggesting that he certainly has the necessary experience to be somewhat of an asset.

The likely hires on the bases are Wayne Kirby at first and Mike Brumley at third, both former big-league players.

I won't offer an opinion on any of the above names at this time, but if and when they are made official, I'll try and scrounge around to get a few opinions from the rest of the league, particularly on Chiti, since Peterson was such a great idea.

staff-rumors,-one-added

Comments
The following 10 comment(s) for this article are shown below:

1. By: jonbbt on 11-25-2008 06:47:50
Chiti is a little scary, but overall it looks okay. Hate to see the Sheriff leave, for sentimental reasons anyway.

Jason, I came across this in a Mariners forum: "I heard Baker on the radio other day. and he said the the M's are in talks about make a blockbuster deal with two teams."

I don't really listen to Seattle radio and haven't heard anything like this. Have you heard anything?

2. By: Jason A. Churchill on 11-25-2008 09:35:17
Nothing that sounds promising.

3. By: Pumpkin on 11-25-2008 13:52:08
Although I would have rather had an A's pitching coach Chiti sounds okay to me. What is your opinion on him Jason?

4. By: Jason A. Churchill on 11-25-2008 14:15:41
Not sure yet, ultimately, Pumpkin. I'll wait to make some calls and send out emails until they make it official.

5. By: Jason A. Churchill on 11-25-2008 14:16:28
if they make it official...

6. By: rocketdawg31 on 11-25-2008 17:28:45
Call it falling for the recognizable name and everything, but I had my heart set on Peterson.

7. By: Fireballer55 on 11-25-2008 18:34:21
Did you hear any specifics on that rumored trade? If so, any chance we can get a little peak? How about emailing it if you dont want to post? Thanks, LOVE THE RETURN!!!

8. By: jonbbt on 11-25-2008 19:57:51
Baker was misquoted. I emailed him and asked about it and this is what he had to say:

"No, what I said was I could envision the Mariners embarking on a blockbuster deal with a team or two this coming winter, in order to address their hitting concerns. I mentioned the team being a bit stocked pitching-wise and having some resources to trade for arms. Said there are a lot of good matches between the M's and the Brewers, a team Jack Zduriencik knows well. That they could put together a multi-player trade if they sit down and get to work. But I do not know that they are talking with any specific teams about a blockbuster deal."

No rumor there.. just store-brand speculation.

9. By: marinerseric on 11-26-2008 01:30:51
Jason, If Peterson is hired are we better off than last year?

10. By: Jason A. Churchill on 11-26-2008 11:06:37
In the PC department, yeah. But Peterson is not the hire.

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