PHOENIX – Except for victories, the D-backs had only a slight variance in just about every hitting and pitching statistic the last two seasons.
The most noticeable difference was on the bases, and it was there the D-backs decided to make a coaching change Wednesday, relieving first-base coach Eric Young of his duties after two years on the job. Young’s major area of responsibility was the running game.
The D-backs stole bases at a pedestrian 65 percent rate in 2012, the second-lowest rate in the major leagues, and also showed a recklessness on the bases while running into an abundance of outs. Manager Kirk Gibson said at his post-season press conference that missed signs were an issue this season.
"He’s a class guy," Gibson said. "A good guy. The hard part is ... it makes him look in a light that I don’t like. This whole thing is on me, ultimately. I made a decision to move in a new direction. E.Y. will get another job, and he will be better the second time around.
"We need to be more efficient in what we do. Certainly it’s results oriented."
Gibson informed Young of the decision Wednesday. Young had one year remaining on his conract. All the other D-backs' coaches are under contract through 2013.
In addition to replacing Young, the D-backs plan to add a second hitting coach as the seventh coach on staff to work with Don Baylor, who will retain the primary hitting coach role he has had since 2011. Wilson Valera, the seventh coach for the past two years, was reassigned to the minor league coaching staff. Valera threw batting practice and helped Baylor some with the hitters last year. The seventh coach can do pre-game work with the team but cannot suit up for games.
"We are looking for a more experienced person at that position," general manager Kevin Towers said.
Baylor is on board with a second hitting coach, Towers said, and will have input on the decision, Gibson said.
The D-backs have a list of candidates for both positions, Towers said, and expect to begin the interview process later this week. The D-backs will look internally for both new hires, Towers said.
"I would not say there’s any front runner right now. We’ve been compiling a list, knowing this was a decision that was probably going to be made with E.Y.," Towers said.
The D-backs stole 93 bases and were thrown out 51 times this season, a 65 percent success rate. New analytics suggest that a success rate of about 73 percent is necessary to balance the extra base gained to the outs lost. The D-backs were successful 71 percent of the time in 2011, when they were second in the NL with 133 stolen bases and were thrown out 55 times.
"By no means are we calling Eric Young the scapegoat for what we did this year," Towers said. "Our struggles this year were more than just base running. It was a lot of different areas.
"Ultimately, you can only coach so much. A lot of it has to fall on the players. That’s why I don’t put all the blame on E.Y. You can teach as much as you can teach. Hopefully the aptitude is there, and you can apply it."
Gibson said he would prefer a first-base coach who has a solid base-running background.
"It probably works good, because you have a guy on first base who has been directly involve in the whole process, and when the (runner) gets down there, they have a lot of communication. It can be very helpful. But I’m not closed-minded on how I am going to fill two positions," Gibson said.
A number of teams have added a second hitting coach to their staffs, Towers said, and Gibson said he had conversations with former D-backs coach Mike Aldrete, who was a second hitting coach in St. Louis before becoming bench coach.
"It will give me an opportunity to assign different responsibilities in the broad term of hitting," Gibson said. "It’s a huge undertaking every day. The one thing you worry about is these guys step on each other’s toes. It does take a bit of communication and organization."
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