Sources: Arizona Diamondbacks to hire Mike Harkey as pitching coach
By Jovan Alford
Feb 12, 2013; Tampa, FL, USA; New York Yankees bullpen coach Mike Harkey during spring training at Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: John Munson/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports
Remember earlier today, we published a story about Brad Arnsberg interviewing to possibly becoming the Arizona Diamondbacks new pitching coach. Well, there has been a new development in the story.
According to Arizona Diamondbacks beat writer for FOXSportsArizona.com Jack Magruder tells us who the new possible pitching coach is.
#Dbacks to name Mike Harkey pitching coach, sources with knowledge say. Monday announcement likely.
— Jack Magruder (@JackMagruder) November 28, 2013
There you go Dbacks fans, your new pitching coach will be Mike Harkey and not Brad Arnsberg. I was sort of getting excited for an Arnsberg hire but Harkey seems to be the guy.
If you don’t know Harkey has been the Yankees’ bullpen coach since 2008. You might ask yourself, what does that mean? It means that he has worked with the great Mariano Rivera.
The New York Yankees bullpen had a 3.66 ERA and a .249 opponents’ batting average. On the other hand, the Diamondbacks bullpen had a 3.52 ERA and a .241 opponents’ batting average.
The goal for Harkey will be to continue to bring the ERA and opponents’ batting average down and make games in Arizona quick and easy-going in the ninth inning.