Baltimore Orioles will not retain their pitching coach in 2014
By Jake Misener
According to a report by Roch Kubatko of MASN, the Baltimore Orioles will not bring back pitching coach Rick Adair next season after the team compiled a 4.20 ERA, which ranked 23rd in all of Major League Baseball.
The Orioles continue to compile a list of candidates to fill their pitching coach vacancy, but according to sources, neither Bill Castro not Scott McGregor will be a replacement.
Castro served as the team’s pitching coach on August 15 following Adair’s leave of absence as he and his family dealt with his father’s terminal illness. He later passed away in September. McGregor, who served as the Orioles’ pitching rehab coordinator, replaced Castro as the bullpen coach during this time.
Adair began the 2011 season as the O’s bullpen coach before replacing Mark Connor as pitching coach on June 14 that year. He also served as a pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians (1992-1993), the Detroit Tigers (1996-1999) and the Seattle Mariners (2009-2010).
When asked if Adair would return next season on September 6, Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said the following:
"“I think everything else kind of becomes academic until that situation is taken care of in his mind and in his family’s mind. Those other questions, I think it’s something that takes such precedent over anything we’re doing. Those are discussions for another day and another time, in my mind. And I understand – we can kind of live in a cold world sometimes – but it’s a reminder of what’s really important in our lives. He’s in as good of spirits as you could imagine, comparatively speaking. It’s a tough time for him and his family.”All other members of the Orioles coaching staff are expected to return next season."