Get your pencils and scorecards ready.
As speculated last week, the Cubs announced Tuesday the hiring of Herm Starrette as their pitching coach.
Starrette, 47, succeeds the fired Billy Connors.
Club president Dallas Green also changed other coaches` assignments. John Vukovich moves to third-base coach from bench coach last season. Johnny Oates moves from bullpen coach to bench coach. Jim Snyder, former field director of player development and a minor-league manager for 14 years, is the new first- base coach. Billy Williams remains as hitting coach.
Gene Michael apparently will be retained as manager, at least until further notice. Green was in New York for league executive meetings and was unavailable for comment.
Starrette was employed most recently by the Milwaukee Brewers before George Bamberger resigned. He also served as pitching coach for Green when he managed the Philadelphia Phillies in 1980.
Starrette also has worked for the Braves (1974-76) and Giants (1977-78)
as a pitching coach. He began coaching in 1967 as the Baltimore Orioles`
Triple A pitching coach after he pitched parts of three seasons for them.
Starrette, reached at his home in Statesville, N.C., discussed his pitching philosophies and how he hopes to improve the Cubs` staff, last in the league in virtually every meaningful category.
”I think too many pitchers worry about pitching inside and outside when they should be thinking about keeping the ball down and getting ahead of the hitters first,” Starrette said. ”Once you get ahead, then you can work in and out.
”I also believe in pitching inside. That will complement what you will do outside. Sometimes, pitching in Chicago, they think that if you pitch inside you`re going to give up a home run. But if you get the ball down first, get ahead in the count, you can work inside effectively. If I keep on preaching that often enough, I think somebody will listen.”
Starrette views this challenge as being one of his toughest.
”First of all, the pitchers have to be physically sound,” he said. ”We have to make sure to tell them that if they are not sound in spring training, they are not going to go up to Chicago and pitch for us. It`s as simple as that. And I don`t want fellows to be pitching hurt, either.
”I don`t know what the attitude of the pitchers was, but it`s like a lot of places . . . if you don`t win it`s not good. You know, Billy Connors is a friend of mine and I`m sure he stressed the same thing. But I guess things just fell out of sync a little bit and they had manager changes.”
Starrette said he has had his eye on Cub pitchers for some time.
”Rick Sutcliffe, Dennis Eckersley, Steve Trout . . . those pitchers have been successful. I see no reason they can`t be successful again. I want the pitchers to plan a little more before they pitch. I don`t think people prepare themselves like they should.”
Starrette would like to get in touch with the Cub pitchers during the offseason to help prepare their training regimens.
”I`d like to see how they are doing and see if they have any injury that needs to be taken care of this winter,” he said. ”That`s because the guys who have the good arms in the spring are going to make the club.”
Starrette noted that several veteran pitchers have rich, long-term contracts and may have been reluctant to make adjustments.
”It`s just like a boxer going into a ring. If you get your blasted brains beat up enough, there comes a time to change,” Starrette said. ”I know that Steve Trout and those guys have super arms and I know that the chances of beating Lee Smith are slim. I know they all have the ability. We will forget the big contracts and everything, and just take the guys who we think will win. I know that Sutcliffe can win if we just keep him healthy.”
