The Cubs are hiring Darren Holmes as bullpen coach and Mark Strittmatter to serve as catching coach, reports Sahadev Sharma of the Athletic. Those are expected to be the final two hires for Craig Counsell’s first staff in the Windy City.
Holmes joins the organization after four years in Baltimore. The Orioles initially hired him to work as bullpen coach going into the 2020 season. A winter later, he was promoted to assistant pitching coach. Holmes held that role under Chris Holt for three seasons before Baltimore changed its pitching voices this past October. Holt was moved back into an overhead role with the organization, while Holmes departed entirely.
The 57-year-old Holmes pitched parts of 13 seasons as a big league reliever. Before his time in Baltimore, he had spent five seasons as the bullpen coach in Colorado. He’ll bring plenty of experience to a relief corps led by Adbert Alzolay, Julian Merryweather and Mark Leiter Jr. Chicago relievers finished 13th in ERA (3.85) last season. They were fourth in strikeout rate (26%) but issued walks at an 11% clip that was lower only than the 12% mark posted by a rebuilding A’s club.
Strittmatter, 54, has worked with catchers in the Rockies organization for the better part of two decades. He had some experience on a big league staff before serving as minor league catching coordinator since 2013. Strittmatter briefly reached the majors as a player in 1998.
Sharma notes that the Cubs are expected to soon announce the entirety of the coaching staff. Holmes and Strittmatter will round out a group of previously-reported hirings including Ryan Flaherty as bench coach, returnee Dustin Kelly (hitting coach) and new addition John Mallee (assistant hitting coach) on the offensive side. Tommy Hottovy and Daniel Moskos are back as the lead and assistant pitching coaches, respectively. Mike Napoli and Willie Harris will return as the base coaches.
No relation to John Holmes.
Or HH for that matter.
Now all they have to do is find a 3rd and 1st baseman, another frontline starter and a couple of serious BP arms. IMHO
.. and a CFer
You’re spot on. Infield corners, starter and minimum two bullpen arms. CF kinda held down by Tauchman until PCA is called up
Wouldn’t mind getting Hoskins at 1B, he’s a good bat with passable defense. Can we not rely on Wisdom for third base? Would rather see Morel there. Do not want Chapman, he’s looking for a big payday and his offensive numbers are pedestrian, his gold glove defense isn’t enough to mask them.
Wisdom would be fine @ 3B, capable of average D, and I truly feel like a Dave Kingman, capable of a potential 45-50HR season with possibly 85-110RBI’s. But… he’s gonna have to play everyday in the grind, AND the team & fans like King, are gonna have to tolerate he WILL strike out 200+ times a year, barely hit the Mendoza line, and hope he draws some walks. Wisdom is an interesting cheap piece with moonshot thump, but he’s gotta play everyday, and you gotta take the good with the bad.
Seriously? We haven’t been watching the same Patrick Wisdom. When he first got here he was a decent 3B but went downhill fast. And if he played everyday he’d strike out 300 times not 200. He’d have 200 by the All Star Break. I can’t even believe they resigned him.
Agreed, Unclemike…
The Cubs re-signed Wisdom because he was actually pretty decent as a back up (offensively) down the stretch when utilized selectively. I didn’t want Wisdom back but I understand why they brought him back.
As for the other poster comment, Wisdom is a train wreck on defense. What makes it worse is the timing of Wisdoms poor defensively plays, seemed to me, every time he miss played a ball it led to lead changes.
I think this is a mistake but I have a feeling the Cubs are pivoting away from Bellinger and have their sites set on Chapman and Hoskins.
I like the Hoskins fit, not a fan of Chapman (unless the Cubs can get him to 180 the way Bellinger did with his two strike approach).
If this is the case, I’m going to seriously start wondering if Hoyer is the right guy to lead the Cubs.
That first year Wisdom was pretty good defensively. Especially when you consider Hoerner spent most of that year on the other side of 2nd Base when you could shift. Now he just looks pathetic out there. I can’t imagine a world where I’d give him 500 AB’s. Just thinking about it makes me want to hurl. About what Jed’s doing? At this point I’d be lying if I said I had a clue. He better have plans A-H in place at this stage. I’m not crazy about Chapman but I reluctantly agree he does make them better defensively anyway. But at what cost?
Wisdom is a train wreck. I could see him being a bench ‘luxury’ on a WS contender. No need for the Cubs to carry him.
As for Chapman or Hoskins – No and No IMO.
The Cubs need more LH balance in the lineup. Both of these guys cost too much and aren’t good value, and they tie the Cubs hands, going forward. The organization committed to drafting and player development a few years ago – and now that things are apparently coming to fruition, you don’t want to put your momentum in jeopardy.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Sup, Holmes?
First year watching baseball Holmes was dominant out of Braves pen. Near stadium we always passed Holmes Drive and thought of him. Cool story bro….as my dad would jokingly say.lol.
A bullpen coach is key in making sure no one fires up a blunt in the pen during the game.
You’re bringing back memories of the days when Dave Stewart’s job was to stand guard at the A’s bullpen bathroom while Steve Howe would be inside snorting up!
Is he related to HH homes any one remember him
Yeah I think they executed him..
So cool that Nap still has a job in baseball. Part of one of the most entertaining Sox teams ever.
Even more interesting considering the Cubs fired his teammate Rossy from those same Sox, yet Nap stayed on.
I’m actually kind of surprised he kept that many of Ross’s coaches. I’m not sure what the situation is with his old coaches in Milwaukee but I think they all had contracts for this year and Murphy kept them. I have no idea how long those contracts run or if they want to come here. Was it because the Cubs coaches were signed so since they gave Counsell 8 million bucks did they ask him to keep these guys? We’ll probably never find out but stay tuned if the Milwaukee guys get turned loose after next year. Does anybody know how long the contracts are? I’d be curious.
That’s great. Now how about a bullpen
Take that, Dodgers.
I hope he can hit and pitch ! Wtf Jed ? Why weren’t these things done right after Craig was hired ?
This is the big off-season move for us cubs fans. Time to raise a new World Series banner in 2024.
Ugh….
Need a whole new team first
We know you do.
My backyard wrestling name was Funeral Holmes. No relation.
He’d have to be a Sherlock to figure things out, eh?
“…before Baltimore changed its pitching voices this past October…”
We really don’t teach writing, do we.
So they have a bullpen coach, but no 1B, 3B, front-of-the rotation type starter and a crap bullpen. Go get ’em Cubs!
Sure coop – I guess you don’t see Justin Steele as a ‘front of the rotation starter’? And a crap bullpen? Keep that glass half empty. I hope the Peotone Gazette enjoys your input.