Post by unnameddbacksfan on Jun 13, 2008 11:48:43 GMT -5
Questions and answers with D-Backs bullpen coach Glenn Sherlock.
Out of all the coaching roles you've had with the Diamondbacks - first base, third base, bench and your current role, bullpen coach - what's your favorite and what's the best part of your current job?
"I've been fortunate that I've been able to experience a lot of different coaching jobs at the major league level. Bullpen coach, bench, first, third, I think every one is equally as important. I've enjoyed all those roles. I feel like being in the bullpen right now is kind of like special teams, where it's late in the game and relievers are coming in the game in certain situations. That's exciting to me. I enjoy my current role."
Your specialty is coaching catchers. How important is the catcher to the Diamondbacks' success?
"I have a lot of different thoughts on catching. To me, the catcher is the backbone of our team, the guy that we've always looked to run our pitching staff. We put a lot of responsibility in that position because it's somebody that runs the most important part of our game and they have to have the ability to handle a starting pitcher and then adjust on the fly when we bring in relievers. Each pitcher's strength may be different and they have to be able to recognize that and carry out the game plan, so it's a really important position for us."
What's something people might not know about you?
"I was Mariano Rivera's first manager. He started out in our bullpen - this was in Tampa in the Gulf Coast Rookie League - he was our best athlete on the team and he may have been our best hitter. He didn't have the cutter, but he had a good arm."
You made it Triple-A but not the majors. Was it hard to give up playing and become a full-time coach?
"For me, I loved playing, really enjoyed being a catcher. But I think the handwriting was on the wall for me. I was mostly a backup catcher right from the start, right out of the draft. I understood my role and I made the best of it. I kept myself ready to play even if it was on a part-time basis. I knew at some point if I wanted to stay in the game I would have to coach. That was ultimately what I wanted to do. I've always enjoyed that. I like players and I like working with players. I even did that as a backup catcher. They would always match me with a younger catcher."
Do you have aspirations to become a manager?
"That's a tough question. I really enjoy coaching. At some point, it would be great to get an opportunity to manage in the major leagues. But I really enjoy my current role and enjoy coaching and working with players. I have a great job working with catchers. What's so good about coaching is you get to form a certain relationship with players. I really enjoy that."
Out of all the coaching roles you've had with the Diamondbacks - first base, third base, bench and your current role, bullpen coach - what's your favorite and what's the best part of your current job?
"I've been fortunate that I've been able to experience a lot of different coaching jobs at the major league level. Bullpen coach, bench, first, third, I think every one is equally as important. I've enjoyed all those roles. I feel like being in the bullpen right now is kind of like special teams, where it's late in the game and relievers are coming in the game in certain situations. That's exciting to me. I enjoy my current role."
Your specialty is coaching catchers. How important is the catcher to the Diamondbacks' success?
"I have a lot of different thoughts on catching. To me, the catcher is the backbone of our team, the guy that we've always looked to run our pitching staff. We put a lot of responsibility in that position because it's somebody that runs the most important part of our game and they have to have the ability to handle a starting pitcher and then adjust on the fly when we bring in relievers. Each pitcher's strength may be different and they have to be able to recognize that and carry out the game plan, so it's a really important position for us."
What's something people might not know about you?
"I was Mariano Rivera's first manager. He started out in our bullpen - this was in Tampa in the Gulf Coast Rookie League - he was our best athlete on the team and he may have been our best hitter. He didn't have the cutter, but he had a good arm."
You made it Triple-A but not the majors. Was it hard to give up playing and become a full-time coach?
"For me, I loved playing, really enjoyed being a catcher. But I think the handwriting was on the wall for me. I was mostly a backup catcher right from the start, right out of the draft. I understood my role and I made the best of it. I kept myself ready to play even if it was on a part-time basis. I knew at some point if I wanted to stay in the game I would have to coach. That was ultimately what I wanted to do. I've always enjoyed that. I like players and I like working with players. I even did that as a backup catcher. They would always match me with a younger catcher."
Do you have aspirations to become a manager?
"That's a tough question. I really enjoy coaching. At some point, it would be great to get an opportunity to manage in the major leagues. But I really enjoy my current role and enjoy coaching and working with players. I have a great job working with catchers. What's so good about coaching is you get to form a certain relationship with players. I really enjoy that."