DBacks Hire Mel Stottlemyre

[The Commish]

Diamondbacks hire Stottlemyre


Nick Piecoro
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 5, 2007

The Diamondbacks added a highly regarded pitching coach to the organization today by hiring Mel Stottlemyre as a special assignment instructor.

Stottlemyre, 66, will be with the Diamondbacks during spring training and will likely spend a good portion of the regular season in player development.

“We view him as a real resource for players and coaches,” Diamondbacks General Manager Josh Byrnes said. “(Pitching coach) Bryan (Price) welcomes having someone like Mel to bounce ideas off of. I’m sure the minor league staff will feel the same way.”

Byrnes said Stottlemyre also could be with the big league team for “series or two or three,” and could be dispatched as a scout.

Stottlemyre had several connections to the Diamondbacks, including his sons Todd and Mel Jr. Todd pitched for the Diamondbacks from 1999 to 2002 and Mel Jr. is the organization’s minor league pitching coordinator.

Byrnes said Stottlemyre also knows manager Bob Melvin and Price well, and that the club looked into hiring him before last season.

But Stottlemyre opted to spend another year with the New York Yankees, for whom he served as pitching coach from 1996-2005. if(ScriptsLoaded) stInit();


http://www.azcentral.com/sports/diamondbacks/articles/0205stottlemyre.html

 

[Dback Jon]

Excellent!!

Hopefully, we can get more out of him that his son.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Tremendous hire by the D-backs... Hopefully it will be enough to counter their idiocy in bringing back RJ!

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Excellent!!

Hopefully, we can get more out of him that his son.

I doubt that Mel would be 1st off the bench to defend his teammate in a brawl, like Todd was.

 

[Ryanwb]

Just playing devil's advocate here, but can we name some pitchers that Stottlemyre helped develop?

I would be more impressed with Leo Mazzone

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Just playing devil's advocate here, but can we name some pitchers that Stottlemyre helped develop?

I would be more impressed with Leo Mazzone

Andy Pettite...I think he's also had pretty good success with resurecting and prolonging careers of older starters like Gooden, Musina, and another guy who's name is escaping me (also pitched for the Mets and Blue Jays...had at least one no-hitter).

 

[devilfan02]

Very impressive hire!

 

[devilfan02]

Hopefully it will be enough to counter their idiocy in bringing back RJ!

Bitter Yankee fans. 2001 still stings

 

[Espo]

Andy Pettite...I think he's also had pretty good success with resurecting and prolonging careers of older starters like Gooden, Musina, and another guy who's name is escaping me (also pitched for the Mets and Blue Jays...had at least one no-hitter).

Is David Cone the guy you are looking for?

 

[shoewizard]

Not many positive reviews from Yankee fans

http://www.baseballthinkfactory.org/files/newsstand/discussion/d_backs_hire_stottlemyre/

Also,mixed reviews at the time he left the Yankees. Go to following link, and then click on the comments link at the bottom of the story. (It says no comments, but click on the link and you will see them)

http://yankeefan.blogspot.com/2005/10/yankees-mel-stottlemyre-leaving-team.html

 

[Mulli]

Did Mel "develop" Mariano Rivera?

 

[devilfan02]

Not many positive reviews from Yankee fans

Once again, it's simply a case of Yankee fans being Yankee fans. Their always great when their in pinstripes but once they leave their garbage. Makes me laugh everytime.

Mel and Steinbrenner have been at each others throats for years, the move was inevitable.

 

[Stallion]

The azcentral.com headline is "D-Backs add Stottlemyre" and I have to admit my first thought was Todd and my reaction was, "Do we still owe him a ton of money too?"

Welcome, Mel.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

Is David Cone the guy you are looking for?

Yes.