Apodaca out as pitching coach

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Apodaca and possibly his greatest failure; Ubaldo Jimenez

There have been many cries for Bob Apodaca’s job on this site recently and when I got home today and cracked open Facebook I see this announcement from the Rockies PR staff:

The Rockies announced today that Bob Apodaca asked to be reassigned within the organization and will now be Special Assistant to the General Manager. The club has named Major League Bullpen Coach Jim Wright and current Triple-A Colorado Springs Pitching Coach Bo McLaughlin as co-Major League pitching coaches.

Wright will continue to focus on the relief pitchers, while McLaughlin’s focus will be on the starting pitchers.

This is sort of odd, isn’t it?

First, Apodaca asked to resign but stays on with the team as a special assistant. Sort of feels like he might have seen the writing on the wall that his job was in question, doesn’t it? Personally, I think of the pitching coach primarily being responsible for the starters, at least that is his main focus. If the starting staff was reduced from five to four and on top of that had a pitch count added that reduced the likelihood that they could last more five innings reduces that responsibility even more.

If I was in his position I would probably do the same thing.

And then, secondly, they promote TWO individuals to coach the apparently very separate bunch of players? I am not the biggest history buff but my guess is that you could count on one hand how many times in history a MLB team has carried two pitching coaches. It isn’t exactly the same, but I always viewed the pitching coach as baseball’s defensive coordinator with the hitting coach being the offensive counterpart. How many NFL teams have co-coordinators of any sort?

This situation just gets more bizarre by the day.

I think I would actually feel better about it if he was fired and no longer with the team. If that was the case it would at least show that the team is willing to start making changes – drastic changes.

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7 comments

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Pete

June 26, 2012 at 5:29 PM (UTC -6)

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I’m guessing Apodaca is trying to convey the message that he isn’t responsible for the 4-man rotation and didn’t want it. Didn’t want to be the fall guy for the pitching since he just coaches the staff provided, he isn’t responsible for the trades. He wasn’t very good, but I don’t feel he is responsible for the current staff either.
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1. Jon
  
  June 27, 2012 at 12:31 PM (UTC -6)
  
  Reply
  
  This was Kornheiser’s call yesterday on PTI.
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Rico Rodriquez

June 26, 2012 at 10:15 PM (UTC -6)

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I can’t for the life of me figure out what O’Dowd is even doing with this team anymore. This 4-man staff, 75 pitch limit is ridiculous, and while Apodaca wasn’t any great shakes, I don’t know what anybody could do with the mess that has been made.
I would take some exception to the caption under the above photo; it’s pretty clear Ubaldo is his own greatest failure. Or, has Apodaca been flying in to Cleveland for his starts?
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Brendan Giles

June 27, 2012 at 7:47 AM (UTC -6)

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This definitely comes from the 4 man rotation. It is not a coincidence that this happened right after Francis’ great start on Monday where we was cruising along and then had to be removed from the game because of the pitch count. It was the last straw for Apodaca who just wanted to wash his hands of the whole mess. This whole situation stinks of desperation from DOD: first the 4 man rotation (against the will of the coaches and players) as a last gasp to avoid a 100 loss season and now promoting Apodaca in an attempt to maintain some semblance of unity. “Cover-up” is not exactly the correct term to use here, but it sure looks like DOD’s house is crashing in around him and he is doing everything possible to keep it all under wraps. The real question is if the coaching staff is fracturing, what is happening to the players (especially after Moscoso’s masterful outing last night)?
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Marcus Farrell

June 27, 2012 at 8:08 AM (UTC -6)

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I think it’s amazing that Apodaca had to go to management and tell them he didn’t want the job. He didn’t get fired by management he essentially told them he didn’t think he could do it. When will management take responsibility for this team? Even the coaches know its time for changes but those couragous Monforts are sticking with what doesn’t work. Good work Rockies keep up the winning ways!
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Ron Kearns

June 27, 2012 at 8:43 AM (UTC -6)

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1. Current four man rotation: Cabrera, Outman, Francis, Friedrich
2. Two pitching coaches
3. 75-pitch limitation for starters

With a possibility of zero wins for a starting pitcher the rest of the season, what’s not to like about this plan? Good thing they brought in all these good clubhouse guys. At least there is good environment to hang out.

All snark aside, Apodaca needs to out-right fired for leading the worst pitching effort in MLB. Tracy should be gone as well because… well, because he’s the manager and the Rox are more “Pop Rocks” than “Hard Rocks.” DOD should be gone as well. If nothing else, their jobs should be performance-based, just like those of us who pay for tickets.
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Seth

June 27, 2012 at 11:16 AM (UTC -6)

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Since when has this league been, “well what did you do for me 5 years ago”? I thought it was always “what have you done for me now?” just like every other major sports league. Apodaca should have been and needed to be fired and for Tracy to say that in no way was Apodaca being fired is disgusting. I feel like the Rockies are still trying to live in 2009 and 2007 with this staff and team, but the fact is we are in 2012 and we have been one of the worst teams in baseball in all categories (minus offensive) and record wise since the end of 2010. Based on performance everyone should have been fired this year if not last year! Monforts need to wake up from their deep drug induced coma and get rid of everyone!
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