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CHICAGO - Former Rays manager Larry Rothschild was hired Thursday as Cubs pitching coach.
©Associated Press
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 26, 2001
CHICAGO -- Former Rays manager Larry Rothschild was hired Thursday as Cubs pitching coach.
He replaces Oscar Acosta, who resigned under pressure Oct. 3 after conflicts with manager Don Baylor.
"You want to be part of a winner and there's no better place than Wrigley Field and Chicago," Rothschild said.
A Chicago native, he had his greatest success as a pitching coach, winning the 1997 World Series with the Marlins.
He became the manager for the expansion Rays in '98, but he was fired April 18 with a 205-294 record in three-plus seasons. He finished the year as a consultant to the Marlins.
Rothschild is respected for his work with pitchers and he's known as a good communicator. That will be invaluable with the Cubs, who had a rift develop between the pitching staff and Baylor over Acosta's departure.
Kerry Wood and Jon Lieber, the cornerstones of the staff, were among the most outspoken in their displeasure over the way the situation was handled. Though Acosta could be abrasive, Cubs pitchers liked his honesty and loyalty.
"Kerry sounded great, Jon sounded great and I think everybody's ready to go forward," Rothschild said. "The purpose is to win. That's going to be our goal, and we're all going to go forth with it and be in it together."
ASTROS: Jimy Williams, a leading contender for the vacant manager's job, told a Houston television station he had an enjoyable interview. "It was relaxing. It was open," Williams, who was fired by the Red Sox in August, told KRIV-TV while waiting for a connection at Bush Intercontinental Airport. "I thoroughly enjoyed it, because in most cases when you go through the process some people feel like you go through a wringer, so to speak." Last week Larry Dierker resigned after leading Houston to first-round playoff appearances in four of the past five seasons. The club also has interviewed former major-league manager Jim Fregosi, Astros third-base coach Mike Cubbage, Triple-A New Orleans manager Tony Pena and Brewers third-base coach Jerry Royster. ... First baseman Jeff Bagwell and two teammates are scheduled for surgery today. Bagwell will have the partially torn labrum in his right shoulder repaired. Reserve outfielder Glen Barker will have similar surgery on his left shoulder, and pitcher Ron Villone will have a torn meniscus repaired in his left knee. Each is expected to be ready for spring training.
PIRATES: RHP Bobby Bradley had reconstructive elbow surgery. Bradley, the team's first-round draft pick in 1999, was 8-2 with a 2.29 ERA for Class A Hickory in 2000 before getting hurt. He pitched this season but never fully recovered. RED SOX: Team officials said they are preparing to request binding bids from potential buyers. Last week all bidders submitted detailed plans about how they would financially manage the team. The bidders also were required to identify the member of their ownership group who will be recognized as the team's representative. The team won't reveal the bidders.