Add another name to the Phillies' potential pitching coach list. According to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, the Phillies may approach Atlanta Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell, who has yet to sign a 2014 contract, in their pursuit of a pitching coach for Ryne Sandberg's staff:
Two candidates to interview are Rod Nichols, who served as Phillies bullpen coach this season, and Marlins bullpen coach Reid Cornelius, which the South Florida Sun-Sentinelreported. It also is likely they have interviewed Triple-A pitching coach Ray Burris. But here is an interesting name to watch: Braves pitching coach Roger McDowell. Sources indicated Tuesday the Phillies could approach McDowell about their vacancy.
McDowell has been invited to return to Atlanta next season, but he has not received or signed a contract. It is expected to arrive before his agreement for the 2013 season ends at the end of the month, but that could leave an opening for the Phillies to jump in.
Stealing McDowell from the Atlanta Braves would sure be fun. But, McDowell does come with some questionable decisions. McDowell was accused of making homophobic slurs and was sued in 2011.
Just today, McDowell was featured on the Atlanta Braves website, as a potential manager of the future. The piece mentioned that the Phillies could go after McDowell, and Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez offered high praise of McDowell:
"I don't think there's any job in baseball that Roger couldn't do, whether it's pitching coach, manager, coaching third or running a team," Gonzalez said two weeks ago. "I think he's that talented, that brilliant and also a hard worker. If I told him you're going to be the infield instructor, he'll find somebody to teach him in three months how to be the best infield instructor he can be, and he'll do a good job."
I am not sure this is the move that I would make, but stealing the Braves' pitching coach from them could sure be fun. Plus, there's always the hot feet that McDowell was famous for during his playing career:
