Quote:
Originally Posted by brian1961
I will wholeheartedly second the nomination of Johhny Sain as a pitching coach. He was so successful and innovative, but he wanted to rule the pitchers' roost; the manager simply had to leave his pitchers alone. If I recall correctly, that was the reason he only lasted for a very few years with each team he coached. However, his pitchers loved him and trusted him. The list of decent or good pitchers whom Johnny turned into 20-game winners, or who had their best years under Sain is nothing short of phenomenal. --- Brian Powell
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His teams won pennants in '61, '62, '63 (Yankees), '65 (Twins), and '68 (Tigers)
Sain then joined the White Sox in the middle of September, 1970. The Sox finished 50 games under .500 that year. Next year they were almost .500, and in 1972 the Sox were 20 games above .500.
Not all due to Sain, but his record of success, no matter what team or talent he worked with, is quite impressive. And yes, his pitchers loved him.
Kaat, in his autobiography, made that clear. The Sox got Kaat in late 1973, and Jim went 4-1 for them to finish that year, then, with Sain, was a 20 game winner each of the next 2 years. Significant because Kaat only had one other 20 win season in his HOF career, in 1966. His pitching coach that year? Johnny Sain.