Orioles News - 10/16/07 - Kranitz Named Pitching Coach

The Baltimore Orioles named Rick Kranitz pitching coach, a move that should pay off for the O's immediately. Kranitz spent 22 years in the Chicago Cub's organization. When he was there, he spent time with Dave Trembley (The Orioles current manager) and Andy MacPhail who is Baltimore's president of baseball operations. He also worked with bullpen coach Alan Dunn. His experience with these people was a big reason that he was hired. Besides the fact that he was named Baseball America's 2006 Major League Coach Of The Year. And the fact that he took a very young Florida Marlin's pitching staff to the 5th best ERA in the National League. And that in 2007 he led the Marlins bullpen to their 3rd best ERA in team history. But this all comes with an extra advantage: Since he worked with all of these men when he was with the Cub's organization, he has chemistry with all of these men. If he's already got chemistry with them, that is a huge advantage over another coach who would have to build up their chemistry with the team first. Maybe we will have a decent pitching staff this year.... - John T.