White Sox' pitching coach looks for wins in staff's development
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The pitching coach zooms in on his pitchers’ development — on their execution of pitches, workloads, preparation, adjustments, sequencing and more. Wins and losses can lie on the periphery of the big view, afterthoughts, although wins are always the preferred result.
For White Sox pitching coach Ethan Katz, whose work was rewarded with a 2021 American League Central title in his first year with the Sox after he served as assistant pitching coach with the Giants in 2020, trudging through 101 and 117 losses the last two seasons under Pedro Grifol and interim manager Grady Sizemore weighs on him.
“I want to win,” Katz told the Sun-Times before the Angels’ 4-3 victory in 13 innings Wednesday. “I prepare each day to win and to get guys to win.”
But it has happened all of 36 times for these Sox. Katz said seeing improvement in his guys has made the drives home and bus rides to the team hotel on the road a little easier.
“My No. 1 thing is developing players and the person,” Katz said. “When I got my first job with San Francisco, [then-manager Gabe] Kapler told me the big leagues is a developmental level. And I couldn’t agree more. I’m preparing guys to win every single day, get the most out of them, so they can have a successful career.”
Any future Sox success will be grounded in whatever strength their pitching can muster through the development of Jonathan Cannon, Drew Thorpe, Davis Martin, Sean Burke, Ky Bush, Jake Eder, Fraser Ellard, Gus Varland, Jared Shuster and Garrett Crochet — if he’s not traded.
Top lefty prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith should be in major-league uniforms, perhaps as early as next season.
In a season with little for fans to feel good about, Katz says he has something for you. He comes from a low-key demeanor with no hyperbole
“We’ve seen a lot of young guys who are under contract next year who have done well for themselves, like Davis Martin [0-5, 4.27 ERA] doing what he’s done coming off Tommy John surgery,” Katz said. “That’s an exciting arm. [Left-hander] Fraser Ellard is a really exciting bullpen piece. [Prelander] Berroa is succeeding in the big leagues.
‘‘There’s a nice core here. It’s exciting to see them take advantage of the opportunity.”
The Sox’ much-maligned bullpen has blown 33 saves, an extraordinary number, but was 2-1 with a 2.95 ERA in the last 13 games before relievers Shuster (three innings as the opener in a bullpen game), Varland (two) and Berroa (two) opened against the Angels with seven scoreless innings. Varland and Berroa each struck out four.
Starters were 3-2 with a 3.14 ERA over the last six games. Baby steps.
“The thing is, they all have attributes you’re excited about,” Katz said. “Martin adding a changeup that makes him very platoon-neutral. Teams have to game-plan for him. Aaron Judge in the batter’s box trying to get his swing ready for it and struggling to do so. [Rafael] Devers hitting that pitch in the ground two straight times. Stuff like that really is encouraging.”
Cannon has improved his changeup, Ellard added a sinker and changeup and Berroa is working on a splitter.
“A lot of brights spots you’re seeing on the field, and there’s a lot of things behind the scenes we’re working on, too,” Katz said.