9:09 am: The Yankees are also set to interview Arkansas pitching coach Matt Hobbs today, reports Kendall Rogers of D1Baseball (via Twitter). Hobbs was Johnson’s replacement in Fayetteville. Like Fetter, he’s a young, technologically-savvy coach from a major college program. Rogers adds that he expects the Yankees to continue looking into candidates from the amateur ranks.
7:58 am: The Yankees have interviewed University of Michigan pitching coach Chris Fetter in their search to fill the same position, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN (via Twitter). Fetter has drawn “significant interest” from other MLB clubs, including the crosstown Mets, Passan adds, although it’s unclear if he has formally interviewed with any other organization.
After the Yankees fired veteran pitching coach Larry Rothschild Monday, speculation arose that the organization could target a younger voice to modernize their approach to game preparation. Fetter, 33, would certainly fit the bill. He was a ninth-round draft choice out of Michigan in 2009 and has been on staff in Ann Arbor for the last two seasons.
Between his minor-league playing career and return to his alma mater in a coaching capacity, Fetter took on a variety of roles in both the pro and amateur ranks. After hanging up the spikes, he spent some time coaching in the Padres’ organization. Thereafter, he worked as a scout for the Angels for two years before spending one year coaching pitchers at Ball State University. Between Ball State and Michigan, Fetter spent one year as the Dodgers’ minor league pitching coordinator, so he’s not devoid of experience working with pro arms.
Fetter’s involvement in the Yankees’ search, regardless of whether or not he gets the position, highlights the blurring of lines leaguewide between the amateur and professional ranks. Most notably, the Twins hired Wes Johnson as pitching coach from the University of Arkansas last offseason (with great success, if the team’s performance is any indication). While Johnson remains the person to make the leap directly from college to MLB pitching coach, numerous others have moved from the college ranks to take on various roles within MLB organizations in recent years.
Fetter’s pitching staff helped the Wolverines advance to the College World Series finals in 2019. Left-hander Tommy Henry and right-hander Karl Kauffmann were second-round selections of the Diamondbacks and Rockies, respectively, in June’s amateur draft. Right-hander Jeff Criswell, meanwhile, was an all-Big Ten performer as a sophomore and may join Henry and Kauffmann as a relatively high pick in 2020.
For all the Yankee fans screaming “David Cone!” when the news broke, I hope you didn’t get your hopes up. Yankees were never going to consider someone without experience and want someone young and with the times. Just because Cone speaks about fancy stats during the broadcasts, doesn’t mean he’s qualified to be a pitching coach
Cone is a lot more qualified to be a major league pitching coach than this guy from Michigan. This new trend of plucking guys from the amateur ranks with little to no professional experience is just these organizations trying way too hard to come up with an edge.
Plus, I believe it’s a way for teams to save money. Most of these inexperienced candidates are more than willing to work for a steep discount to get their shot. This antiseptic, robotic approach to a game involving human beings is slowly choking off the game. The 2019 playoffs have been the most lethargic, boring baseball I have ever witnessed. It’s all HRs, K’s, walks or fly balls. Whoa, but guys have cool beards and ridiculous hair and celebrate every little thing!! Smh
“Dagnabbit, I want to see bunts and ground outs! It’s like those hip musicians with their complicated shoes.”
Wow, what an intelligent reply! Thanks for enlightening us all! Now, go have the hot dogs and macaroni mom made you for lunch.
The irony of your appeal to intelligence followed by such a painfully juvenile diss is seriously beautiful.
It wasn’t a ” diss “, it was most likely the truth. This site is filled with young people – most of whom have never played an inning of competitive baseball – claiming that new strategies implemented by people with no professional baseball experience is a step up from what former players turned coaches have done for 100 years. It’s laughable, but Thanks, sphincter
Oops, srechter. You kids understand…damn autocorrect! Lol
I don’t understand why they blame Rothschild for the NYYs woe, but I guess they hafta blame someone.
Learn to spell. They didn’t have to blame anyone. The game has changed. Just like jettisoning Girardi it was Larry’s time to go. They were very respectful. It’s a clearing to find a younger pitching coach with new ways that is able to communicate with younger pitchers.
Complainers pretending to be Yankee fans move on.
I am not a Evil Empire fan, never said I was, but…..neither am I a fan of blaming others when losing. Or should I say choke. Pitching isn’t their problem, it was decent enough, but their team sluggers are one dimensional. Frustrated Yankee fans!
You are not a frustrated Yankees fan. Your evil empire reference is from almost 20 years ago. You can recite it as you watch VHS tapes.
I dont think they’re blaming him at all, he was there 9 years. he was one of the only coaches that stayed on when boone was hired, and boone trusted him. it’s just time to move on.
Could have something to do with always trying to change pitchers approach? How many guys came here and were worse off for it Sonny Gray…. lance lynn…or maybe the injuries? Rothschild has to go!
Just because you replace someone does not mean you blame the season on him.
@pasha2k
Just because they want a change doesn’t mean they hold him responsible for losing to the Astros.
Pitching coaches make small differences to the entirety of a staff, in my opinion. For the yanks, got to upgrade that starting pitching this offseason. That’s the clear cut focus. Pitching coach can only do so much with the talent he’s given.
The Houston Astros would like a word with you.
As would the Pirates
Sure, but to assume Rothschild wasnt given talented pitchers is silly
Yanks had pitching going into the post season. German’s idiocy killed them in the ALCS. Ottavino was great all year until the playoffs where he was summoned to pitch too early in the game and used too often. German would’ve filled out well spot starting instead of using Green.
German is a monster.
Dude nothing has even been confirmed yet.
How about Jason Giambi
For pitching coach…lol
Lol he’d made a fine pitching coach for a high school team lol
Who cares who they hire haft those starters cannot get past the 4th.
What this a Yankee excuse to not go out and get starting pitching? who give a rats butt who they hire. They should be more concerned in signing and trading for top two top of the line starting pitchers but we all know that won’t happen. Smoke and mirrors
This will probably be the biggest move they make all offseason.
Hey BEANS-too bad you are still constipated. It’s been 8 months without making a movement. Time to eat prunes and move on.
Not sure why Cashman, who I think is a genius as GM, wouldn’t get someone qualified for the team. But I also think Tanaka, Severino pitched very good. Cashman was too loyal to CC, he should never have pitched, heart n physical limitations, but Cashman has a soft spot for him.
CCs heart is fine. It was only a blockage that got cleared out.
@pasha2k
CC had a 3.45 ERA and his FIP was around 4. He was brought in to be the 5th starter and absolutely deserved another go round in 2019. Just because it didn’t work out doesn’t mean it was a sound move. I’m not defending Cashman but somehow ppl think that their season was bad because of a #5 starter which is ridiculous.
I think the injury to Severino, the inconsistent 1st half of Paxton and Happ forgetting how to pitch were the reasons this team “struggled” to 103 wins. I feel funny even saying that.
“I’m not defending Cashman” Bruh you seem to be the king of that. Heads should roll for another season without a World Series in Gotham.
Pope the same people saying that are the same ones who think if George was still around, Girardi would have lasted ten years as manager.
Screw Matt Hobbs the Yankees should hire Roy Hobbs.
Or the untraditional tandem approach of Calvin and Hobbs.
The trend in MLB – and it’s a great one for fans – is to get back to bringing in managers and coaches that can teach and work with players. Teams need to develop their players, many of whom need their game re-calibrated during the season. With the level of competition and all the money floating around – it only makes sense.
While everyone talks buying free agents as if they are some sort of programmed robots in a computer game, teams are going back to the concept of maximizing the players on the ML roster and preparing their players in the minors to play in the majors.
Smart, small market teams are showing the way. This year the Indians lost 2 of their top 3 pitchers to injury – Kluber and Carrasco. No problem – Clevinger and Bieber had been brought along for years. They took up the slack. The Rays lost last years Cy Young winner – Blake Snell – early in the season. Then down went Tyler Glasnow, breaking out as a TOR pitcher. No problem. Other pitchers on the roster stepped up, with manager Kevin Cash mixing and matching pitchers to keep the Rays in contention and subsequently making the Wild Card game.
Were the Indians or Rays a large market contending team, they would have immediately tried to trade for name starters, taking on large salaries and overpaying in prospects. That’s the way it’s been done. That’s the mentality in the comment section as fans think that a dozen teams are going to cure their pitching problems by all signing the same 2 free agent pitchers in a sport that plays 162 games a season.
It’s a new day. Players get better. The level of competition gets better The play on the field is constantly improving. Fans see better baseball.
The product on the baseball field has certainly not improved. There are way too many players in MLB who shouldn’t be there. The league is so watered down it’s pathetic. That’s why teams are trying anything and everything to try an evaluate who stinks just a little bit less than the next guy using math.
I agree with you and everything but im unsure what you meant by “TOR pitcher”. When I see TOR i think Toronto, but you probably didnt mean to say Toronto lol
Top of Rotation. Not sure why all three letters are capitalized (as that also always makes me think of a Toronto box score) but that’s how it’s colloquially used.
ahhh ok, thanks m8
How about Brien Taylor ??
That’s cool. Those college coaches are probably getting anxious thinking about the big stage.
Balsley will be available. Stupid Padres are not retaining him.
Boycott Petco! Refuse to go.
Lol. Says who? He is still on the mix but explain to me how well he has done since the padres brought the fences in after their good years in petco. Yeah there have been a pitcher every year that was a scrapheap and fix but the rest suck
I saw “Fetter” and mixed this guy up with Mike Fetters. I always hated that stupid glare he did.
I think Cashman will pick the right pitching coach along with Boone. Smart looking at these new young bucks. This year shows us that even with all the metrics, you can’t predict baseball. Pitching is outlier just like life that’s why we watch the games.
WATCH TEH GAEYMEZZ!!1!
The Mets are also linked to these two collegiate coaches
Don’t forget after you sign the pitching coach who ain’t gonna fix anything they currently have to resign Brett Garbage cuz that’s a priority.
Right on brother, blow some of the money needed to sign Cole, or Strasburg (if he opts out). Then go on a radio show and say how hard you tried, but it just couldn’t be done. Fall back on all the great potential they have in house. It’s like deja vu all over again.
Ding!
Maybe the Yankees should think about getting a better hitting coach that can make Aaron Judge and others on team learn how to hit in the ball for base hits instead of just going for home runs and that would make him and the rest of the team strike out less!
Sign Brett Gardner instead of Corbin!
Derp