Ethan Katz Named As Pitching Coach

[shingo10]

Confirmed by...everybody. People seem really high on him.

[Dumpjerry]

This is the guy who made Giolito go from worse to First.

[ChiSoxNationPres]

Like the hire from the limited info on this guy. Hopefully this helps in the way of an extension for Giolito.

[ChiTownTrojan]

When his name was first mentioned, I figured it was just people buying too much into the idea that this guy could fix Giolito, when Coop couldn't. No doubt people are going to play up this hire as evidence that the Sox FO thinks that Coop is the one who screwed up Giolito (ignoring the fact that he had already fallen down the prospect ladder by the time we traded for him). Apparently though he is more than just a high school pitching coach - he has had some success with other major league players, including Jack Flaherty. People seem to think this is a good hire.

I expected the Sox to hire from within with Zaleski/Teaford, but as long as the team can hold onto those two it's great to have another highly regarded voice in the room.

[Dumpjerry]

Well, this certainly addresses Trevor Brauer's concerns about having coaches who understand, and can work with, today's players.

[ChiTownTrojan]

Fegan's piece on the Katz hire: https://theathletic.com/2194535/2020...shared_article

I liked reading how Katz had tailored exercises to each of his pitchers, rather than forcing all of them to do the same thing. A worry I had is that the Sox were hoping that whatever worked for Giolito was going to cure everybody else on the pitching staff, so it's good to see he's more flexible than that.

[Krs1]

Fegan's piece on the Katz hire: https://theathletic.com/2194535/2020...shared_article

I liked reading how Katz had tailored exercises to each of his pitchers, rather than forcing all of them to do the same thing. A worry I had is that the Sox were hoping that whatever worked for Giolito was going to cure everybody else on the pitching staff, so it's good to see he's more flexible than that.

Fried, Flaherty and Giolito have found success with three very different windups and motions. A one-size-fits-all approach shouldn't be a concern, here.

[vegandork]

Well, this certainly addresses Trevor Brauer's concerns about having coaches who understand, and can work with, today's players.

That only leaves concern number two, them dollar billz.

[GoSoxMMV]

Will Katz serve as the front office's mouth piece for attendance-shaming fans? That was part of Coop's duties and now that he's gone, I'm not sure who will be there to tell me I'm not supporting the team enough. Big shoes to fill.

[longtimefan]

This appears to be a good hire. He "fixed" Giolito now the question is can he improve Lopez and help Cease.

[HomeFish]

Finally got around to reading Fegan's article on him, glad to know he's an established name in pitching who has helped other pitchers become good and not just a one-hit wonder with Giolito.