Sometimes a pitching coach can make a difference, but what I find curious about the Tigers decision to fire Rick Knapp abruptly Sunday is that his replacement, Jeff Jones, was already on staff as the bullpen coach.
I think Jones is a terrific pitching coach, and one of his specialties is teaching the cut fastball, which has become baseball's "in" pitch. But essentially Knapp's firing can only be viewed as addition by subtraction.
Billed as the guy who developed the Twins pitching staff in the minor leagues, he was an iffy hire to begin with because he had no experience pitching in the major leagues, nor had been a major league pitching coach before.
The only time it seems to work for a pitching coach, who didn't pitch in the major leagues, is when he teaches youngsters in an organization on their way up and gets the major league job with that team. Then, if he moves to another organization, he has established his credibility.
I've been told on a number of occasions it's a primary respect factor for getting the ear of major league pitchers.
It could also open the door for the Tigers to bring Steve McCatty back to their organization. He has had a lot of success in Washington, but there was a managerial change recently - and there could be another one after this season. Davey Johnson is essentially an interim manager whose long-term contract is that of a team consultant.
A replay of my video podcast Monday with sports editor Jeff Kuehn. Discussed Knapp firing, Red Wings off season so far - and other sports topics:

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