When Jeffrey Loria traded in the Expos to buy the Marlins in 2002, pitching instructor Randy St. Claire could have joined the southward migration with other members of the Montreal organization. But, due to family matters, St. Claire elected to stay behind.
"There were only a small handful who stayed back," St. Claire said.
Now, more than seven years later, St. Claire could receive a second shot to join the Marlins, who are in the process of interviewing him for the open pitching coach position. The Marlins also plan to talk to veteran pitching coach Chuck Hernandez. Like St. Claire, Hernandez has ties to current members of the Marlins front office. He was a minor-league pitching coordinator for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays when Dan Jennings and Mike Hill were in the Rays organization. Hernandez later served as the pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers and, more recently, bullpen coach for the Cleveland Indians.
"I'd love the opportunity," St. Claire said of the Marlins. "They've got a lot of good young arms with a lot of potential."
St. Claire was working in the Expos' minor league system when Loria and his gang pulled up stakes and took over the Marlins.
"They told everybody they were invited to go with them, and most guys went with the group to Florida," St. Claire said. "But I had kids at the time and it was a really tough choice for me. At that point in time, it was more a family decision."
St. Claire was in his seventh season as pitching coach for the Expos/Nationals when he was fired in June.
"I'd love the opportunity to work with them," St. Claire said of the Marlins pitchers. "I'd like to try to get them to where they need to be to be successful."
Great move Loria! Let us bring in the pitching coach from the worst team in baseball...
I live in DC, so I know how terrible that Nat's staff was!!!
Posted by: DC Marlins | October 21, 2009 at 11:46 AM
another cheap skate move by that fat clown loria!
Posted by: el guru | October 21, 2009 at 01:23 PM
Why is it we always go for retread or unproven coaches and players?
Posted by: NWFL fan | October 21, 2009 at 02:52 PM
Yeah, St. Claire did such a GREAT job with the pitchers in Washington that he was fired from the worst team in baseball halfway through the season.
Posted by: mbaamin08 | October 21, 2009 at 08:28 PM
Here we go again. Find a great young coach from any minor league and build from new young ideas.
Posted by: seltzerman | October 22, 2009 at 05:39 PM
Our minor league pitching coach was able to "fix" Nolasco and many others sent down, give him a shot here before grabbing a proven loser.
Posted by: Suffering Miami Fan | October 27, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Here we go again, a coach that could not guide the worse staff in the league with the Nationals. How long can we put up with this penny pincher owner? I'll bet you that we'll be in last place by July 30,2010. Great job Loria.
Posted by: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1543733856 | October 27, 2009 at 05:51 PM