He is IMHO the most unheralded member of the Astros organization and in many ways one of the most important members in organization history. From Keuchel to Verlander to Cole he has impacted pitchers and improved their performance to even Cy Young level. But maybe even MORE impressive was the job he did this year. Valdez, Garcia, Javier and McCullers all transformed from middle of the road guys and each has in his own way performed way above expectations. And then there is his ability in the midst of pressure packed series, to spot issues and coach his guys with adjustments. And when you add in his calm demeanor and confidence building ability for the young guys he's just the perfect guy for this team. Just outstanding. I know he's hinting at retirement this off season. I sincerely hope as a fan it's not the case. But if he does, I certainly understand. If that ends up being the case, what better way than to send him off as a champion? I tip my cap. Thanks Brent!
Strom said the Red Sox appear to know what pitches are coming, so the Astros pitchers must be tipping their pitches … wink wink … Cora heard Strom and then that **** stopped. Respect.
I I hope he has someone under his wing that can come up and fill most of his shoes when the time comes for retirement….
Can't find the article but i remember reading some stuff that said that Josh Miller is highly regarded. He was elevated to co-pitching coach with Brent Strom this year. He almost certainly will get the 'co-' designation lifted if Strommy retires. The actual "assistant pitching coach" Bill Murphy got some good press from the Chronicle during spring training. Link
https://www.si.com/mlb/2022/05/09/diamondbacks-pitching-brent-strom-the-opener How Diamondbacks Pitching Coach Brent Strom Is Fixing Last Year’s Worst Team Just over a month into the season, the Diamondbacks (15–14) are one of the biggest surprises in baseball. Last year they lost 110 games, as did the Orioles. Only 10 previous teams lost that many games since the advent of the 162-game schedule in 1961. None of those 10 teams won more than 77 games the next year. That Arizona could even fathom a record bounceback is a credit to convincing Strom that the condo could wait. In this age of technology, the Diamondbacks wanted the oldest pitching coach in baseball (five years running), a guy who’s been around so long he played for Yogi Berra and with Tom Seaver and faced Roberto Clemente. He also happens to be as savvy with data as the latest statistical engineer out of M.I.T. When Strom, for instance, explored what he was getting himself into, one statistic jumped out. “They were dead last in elevated heaters last year!” he says. That, and so much more, has changed under Strom, especially with the D-Backs’ top three starting pitchers, Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen and Madison Bumgarner. Kelly is throwing fewer fastballs and getting more chase swings, Gallen is elevating his four-seamer out of a new, Verlander-esque delivery, and Bumgarner has rediscovered his cutter by changing where he stands on the rubber. Entering Monday, the top three Arizona starters are 6–2 with a 1.21 ERA while allowing three home runs to 354 batters. Overall, the Diamondbacks under Strom have posted a 3.33 ERA, which is ninth in MLB and a huge improvement from last season (5.11), when only the Orioles had a worse staff.
It’s our organizational pitching philosophy. He’s simply teaching it to Arizona. He wasn’t going out there and pitching for us and we maintain the approach. No reason for us to see a significant decline in productivity. Plus - he already stated the guys he developed were long gone. for Arizona - shame on them for not identifying the strategy earlier
Joshua Miller and Bill Murphy are very well respected and have been primarily the coaches working with the Astros younger pitchers.
No need for revisionist history. The Astros philosophy as an organization is great, but Strom helped bring along much of that. He is absolutely terrific at his job, regardless of how we continue to do without him. Also, runs are down across the league this year because the ball is dead af. Not taking away from anyone, but the ball is dead weight at this point.
