Results tagged ‘ luis silverio ’
McCutchen working to become bigger threat on base paths
Manager Clint Hurdle has made it known that he wants the Pirates to be a threat on the bases this season.
Andrew McCutchen, who stole 33 bases in 2010, has been working with infield/base running coach Luis Silverio who is trying to get McCutchen more relaxed and in a better athletic position to steal bases.
“He is doing a couple of negative moves,” Silverio said, explaining what he saw in McCutchen’s attempts to steal. “To me, he doesn’t have a very good balance. He does not have a very good athletic position to start with. That creates an extra move — a few inches.”
McCutchen has 55 stolen bases in just two seasons with the Pirates. Although, he hasn’t publicly said how many bases he is aiming for, I’d expect that number to continue to climb.
“I know a lot of times when I get thrown out, it’s bang-bang,” McCutchen said. “If I can eliminate some small movements and have a better start, maybe that bang-bang turns into being in my favor.”
“This is a special guy,” Silverio said. “He’s got special speed. We just have to put the speed to work more frequently and more consistently. He definitely has the potential to be an excellent basestealer.”
Pirates annouce new pitching staff
The Pirates have finally announced their coaching staff for the 2011 season.
Jeff Banister will return for his 26th season in the Bucs Organization as third base coach. Banister took over as bench coach for the Pirates in 2010 when Gary Varsho was fired. He has also served as a coach and manager in the minors as well as a field instructor at both levels.
Ray Searage will return as Pitching coach. Searage took over as pitching coach after Joe Kerrigan was fired in August. He has spent the past seven years as pitching coach in various minor league levels. Searage has been in professional baseball for 33 years.
Heberto Andrade will return as bullpen coach for his eighth season with the club.
The new additions to the coaching staff are: Nick Leyva (third-base coach), Gregg Ritchie (hitting coach), Euclides Rojas (bullpen coach), Luis Silverio (first-base coach) and Mark Strittmatter (coach).
Ritchie joined the Pirates organization before the 2006 season as minor league hitting coordinator. Ritchie previous spent 10 years as the White Sox minor league hitting coach.
Rojas became the Bucs Latin American field coordinator in 2005. He also spent two seasons as the Red Sox bullpen coach,
Levya spent the last three seasons in Toronto as the club’s bench coach and third-base coach. He has a decade of managerial experience in the majors.
Silverio will handle the out fielding and base running for the 2011 season. He has spent the past 35 years in the Royals organization.
Strittmatter will serve as Hurdle’s extra coach as well as work as well as the pitchers hitting coach. Strittmatter will also assist with the catching staff and help with the hitting staff.
Tony Beasley, Luis Dorante, Carlos Garcia and Don Long were asked to not return to the Pirates staff.
Kristy Robinson
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