San Francisco Giants: Three Top Targets for Pitching Coach

Now that news has broke that the San Francisco Giants are indeed not bringing back any of Bruce Bochy‘s dugout staff, it’s time to speculate on potential replacements.

So far, we know that the San Francisco Giants have already interviewed Chili Davis as a hitting coach replacement. But now we know that even Dave Righetti is gone. So who do we turn to for coaches?

So far we’ve found out through sources that Dave Eiland and Jim Hickey have been interviewed. There are still a few names out there though that might make sense as well. So here is three candidates that we think would be the best replacement for Righetti.

Chris Bosio

Bosio was shockingly fired after the Cubs got blasted by the Dodgers in the 2017 NLCS. Bosio has been in charge of a really good pitching staff, with guys like Liam Hendricks, Jake Arrietta, emerging as aces under his tutelage. Both were pitchers relatively picked up off the scrap-heap and Arrietta went on to win a Cy-Young.

Bosio has a good track record, but the bullpen usage during the last two seasons and postseasons concerns me. It is fair to put a decent majority of that blame though on Joe Maddon. But Bosio is a good pitching coach who doesn’t have a history of guys needing tommy john, or burning out their arms.

Mike Maddux

The Washington Nationals’ pitching staff has been stellar the last few seasons, and even in the postseason. It wasn’t really their staff’s fault they lost, but the offense’s inability to get runs across when it counted. Maddux became available after the National’s owners decided to oust Dusty Baker and his entire staff, despite leading the National’s to back to back NLDS game fives, and 192 wins in two seasons. Their staff was top ten in most major pitching categories, and even most sabermetric numbers. Maddux may not have the “winners” resume, but he does have that under his belt. A worthy look? Yes. He’s got plenty of experience, both in the regular season and postseason. He was the Ranger’s pitching coach from 2009-2015. Maddux is a good option, but not the best.

Dave Eiland

Dave Eiland is probably the closest the Giants will get to hiring a spitting image of Righetti. Not in terms of looks, but in what they’ve been able to do with a few fringe pitchers. As much praise as Rags gets for helping Bumgarner become elite, Vogelsong to be resurrected, and much of his own work the bullpen, Eiland can boast much of the same. He was able to win a World Series as the yankees pitching coach in 2009, which had a revamped CC Sabathia at the helm.

Then if you look at what he was able to do with the Royals from 2011 to this season, the projects-turned elite are about as many as Righetti. Eiland’s work with Jason Vargas and Danny Duffy over the last two years should be talked about. Throw in what he was able to do with Wade Davis and Luke Hochevar in the bullpen, and what he was able to harness Yordano Ventura into, Eiland is a solid option to be the Giants next pitching coach. If I had a say, I’d go with Eiland in a heartbeat.

Next: 2018 could be Bochy's last year

Honorable Mentions:

• Tom Hickey- Has a good track record with good young pitchers in Tampa, but too many Tommy John issues down there seems like a red-flag to me.
• Derek Lilliquist-has a good track record in his time with the Cardinals from 2011-2017, but not as good as top three.