Padres fire pitching coach Larry Rothschild as second-half slide continues

The struggling San Diego Padres on Monday introduced that veteran pitching coach Larry Rothschild has been dismissed. Ben Fritz will function interim pitching coach for the rest of the 2021 season. 

“Larry has been an incredible asset for our group over the past two seasons, and we admire the expertise, arduous work and dedication that he delivered to the place,” supervisor Jayce Tingler mentioned of Rothschild in an announcement launched by the membership. “We want him nothing however the very best sooner or later.”

Rothschild, 67, was initially named Padres pitching coach in November of 2019. Previous to that, Rothschild served as pitching coach for the Yankees from 2001 to 2019. He was additionally pitching coach for the Cubs and managed the Rays (then the Satan Rays) for 3 full seasons and a part of a fourth. 

Presently, the Padres this season rank a disappointing tenth within the NL in rotation ERA with a mark of 4.34, and that is regardless of the pronounced run-suppressing nature of Petco Park. As nicely, the Padres rank next-to-last within the NL in high quality begin share and final in innings per begin. In Rothschild’s protection, that rotation has additionally been hit arduous by accidents this season. 

Commerce acquisition Blake Snell has struggled in his first season in San Diego, posting a 4.82 ERA (79 ERA+) in 23 begins. Yu Darvish has not been capable of pitch to his 2020 ranges, both, in his first season with the crew. Darvish has a 3.70 ERA (102 ERA+) in 23 outings. Proper-hander Chris Paddack has been ineffective when wholesome and Dinelson Lamet has appeared in simply 11 video games.

The transfer comes because the Padres have misplaced 4 or their final 5 and 9 of their final 11 in what ought to’ve been a tender stretch of schedule (eight of these 11 video games got here in opposition to the Marlins, Diamondbacks, and Rockies). Extra broadly, the Padres are 15-18 within the second half and lately fell out of playoff place for the primary time since June. 

As for Fritz, he is served because the Padres’ bullpen coach since previous to the 2020 season.