NEW YORK -- Two years ago, Yankees manager Aaron Boone made a successful transition from the broadcast booth to the dugout. Could David Cone do the same as the club’s next pitching coach?
According to multiple published reports, Cone interviewed for the position last week, which was vacated when Larry Rothschild was dismissed with one year remaining on his contract. The Yankees, who have not commented on the reports, are aiming to heavily incorporate new-school analytics and technology into their pitching program, for which Cone has shown an aptitude.
“It was all good. I’m thankful for the opportunity to talk to them. It was nice they called me in and wanted to talk,’’ Cone told the New York Post. “I’m very much self-taught, but also I’m not openly campaigning for a job. When people asked a question about managing the Yankees, I said, ‘If they call…’ [The analytics] are high-tech stuff. I knew what they were talking about.”
Cone, who turns 57 in January, is an analyst for Yankees games on YES Network. In 17 seasons in the big leagues, the right-hander won 194 games. The 1994 AL Cy Young Award winner was a five-time All-Star, he won 20 games twice (once each with the Mets and Yanks), pitched for five World Series winners and tossed a perfect game at Yankee Stadium on July 18, 1999.
Cone is believed to be the third candidate who was interviewed for the pitching coach position. The first two were collegiate coaches: 33-year-old Chris Fetter of the University of Michigan and 39-year-old Matt Hobbs of the University of Arkansas.
The turnover comes as a result of the Yankees hiring Sam Briend in June to handle a takeover of the Minor League pitching system. Briend had previously been employed by Driveline Baseball, a data-driven performance outfit based in Kent, Wash.
“He's obviously been schooled and versed in all the new-world training practices,” general manager Brian Cashman said at the time. “We're looking forward to having him lead the charge in our pitching development as we move forward.”
In addition, the Yankees are set to announce the hire of Tanner Swanson to be their Major League catching and quality control coach. Swanson will come to the Yanks from the Twins, where he served as Minnesota’s Minor League catching coordinator.