Directors of hitting, pitching becoming more common

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — The Chicago Cubs had data. Lots of data. On velocity, pitch shaping and mechanics. Swing path, bat speed and launch trajectory. Numbers on numbers on numbers.

They also had a problem. The pipeline from research and development to their players and coaches wasn't working as well as they wanted.

Looking to make life easier on Kris Bryant, Jon Lester and everyone else, the Cubs' solution included two of the fastest growing positions in the next wave of baseball's analytics age. They added directors of pitching and hitting to their revamped front office.

“I think you just have to take a step back and say, ‘Hey, do our teachers, do our coaches, do we have the right infrastructure for them to be able to actually digest this information and ultimately have it land with the players?'" said Matt Dorey, the senior director of player development for the Cubs. “Because if it doesn’t land with them, then it's irrelevant.”

The twin directors or similarly styled positions are becoming more common as teams try to make the most of their significant investment in the science of the game.

The Cubs gave Justin Stone the hitting job and selected Craig Breslow — a Yale graduate who majored in molecular biophysics and biochemistry — for the pitching role after they missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2014. The Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Tigers, Reds and Giants also added the positions recently.

“I think too often there's a lot of shared leadership positions and a lot of quality ideas being passed around, but no one to bang the hammer and say we’re going in this direction,” said Sam Briend, who was hired as the Yankees' director of pitching last June.

"The director of pitching role provides clarity and direction from one voice on...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Directors-of-hitting-pitching-becoming-more-15125169.php