Phillies hire Bob McClure as new pitching coach

Jun 3, 2012; Toronto, ON, Canada; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Daniel Bard (left) makes his way from the bullpen to the dugout with pitching coach Bob McClure (22) before playing against the Toronto Blue Jays at the Rogers Centre. The Blue Jays beat the Red Sox 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

The Philadelphia Phillies have hired Bob McClure as their new pitching coach, Jim Salisbury of CSN Philadelphia reports.

Sources: Phils will hire Bob McClure as pitching coach. #Philliestalk
— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyNBCS) November 21, 2013

McClure most recently served as the pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox but was fired from that position in August of 2012.

According to CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry, Philadelphia “settled” on McClure after being turned down by the likes of Pete Vuckovich, Jim Benedict and Roger McDowell.

McClure lasted just eight months in his role with the Red Sox before being let go.

As a player, McClure lasted 19 seasons in Major League Baseball in a career spanning three decades from 1975 to 1993. He served primarily in a relief role for the Kansas City Royals, Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos, New York Mets, California Angels, St. Louis Cardinals and Florida Marlins.

McClure went 68-57 with 52 saves and had a career 3.81 ERA while logging 1158.2 innings.

Philadelphia fired previous pitching coach Rich Dubee in late September after ranking 27^th out of 30 teams in staff ERA in 2013.

For a team use to such stars as Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay – albeit aging and injured — clearly ranking so low in team ERA brought about the need for a change.