Dennis Eckersley says Red Sox hiring Andrew Bailey as pitching coach was a ‘good move’
The Red Sox announced the hiring of new pitching coach Andrew Bailey a week before Thanksgiving. The new Sox coach is expected to help course correct a pitching staff that struggled last season.
Boston ranked 21st in team ERA (4.52), 24th in opponent batting average (.256) and gave up 208 homers as a staff (24th in the league).
The hiring of Bailey caught the eye of former Red Sox pitcher and retired NESN analyst Dennis Eckersley.
In an interview for Boston Globe Today, Eckersley called the Bailey hiring a “good move.”
“I think it's just a new philosophy, “said Eckersley. “Pitching was probably the biggest problem last year… But Bailey's is good and you saw the success he's had with the Giants. You know, it's this new philosophy… the game's changing and you got to be ready for it. I think Bailey's a good move.”
While Bailey was the Giants pitching coach, his staff ranked sixth in baseball with a 3.80 ERA and allowed the fewest homers (525) from 2020 to 2023. San Francisco also allowed the fewest walks in the majors with 403. Those numbers reflect Bailey’s philosophy of “strikes are everything.”
Bailey has a strong track record as a pitching coach and has worked with some of the games best hurlers. He’s worked with ace Logan Webb, Carlos Rodón and saw Kevin Gausman become an leader of a rotation.
The Red Sox will be looking for Bailey to get the most out of his starting pitchers. Boston still needs to add a starter or two through free agency or trades this offseason. Bailey understands that for the longterm success of the Red Sox, they will need to develop pitching in-house, something the organization has struggled to do for over 20 years.
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