Cubs Coaching Staff Breakdown

The Cubs have announced their full coaching staff from the 2012 season. Here is a breakdown of the coaches that will serve on the staff, lead by manager Dale Sveum.

Rudy Jaramillo, Hitting Coach
Jaramillo returns to finish out his contract as the Cubs hitting coach. So far his expertise has not been beneficial the Cubs offensive production has declined since he took over for the 2010 season. However, the player seem to respect Jaramillo and maybe he can finally figure out to increase the production of the Cub hitters.

Chris Bosio, Pitching Coach
Bosio will take over for Mark Riggins as the Cubs pitching coach next season. He is an ex big league pitcher who played for the Brewers and Mariners from 1986 to 1996. He has been the Brewers pitching coach each of the last two seasons and also served pitching coach for Lou Piniella's Tampa Bay Rays in 2003.

Jamie Quirk, Bench Coach
Jamie Quirk will be Sveum's right hand man on the bench this season. Quirk played for 11 different teams during a long big league career as a catcher. He was the Rockies bench coach from 2003 to 2008 before spending the last three seasons as the Astros bullpen coach.

Pat Listach, Third Base Coach
Listach remains on the Cubs staff, but moves from bench coach to third base coach. He will still play an important role, both in his decision making at third and his instruction for Cubs players.

Dave McKay, First Base Coach
McKay played infield for the Twins, Blue Jays and A's before starting his coaching career with Oakland in 1988. He moved to St. Louis in 1996, where he worked for Tony LaRussa until the end of this season. McKay should provide some insight as he takes over for fan favorite Bobby Dernier.

Lester Strode, Bullpen Coach
Strode is now the longest tenure Cubs coach. He has been a fixture in the Cubs pen since 2007.

Mike Borzello, Staff Assistant
Borzello is a former minor league catcher in the Cardinals system who never made it above Class A. He worked under Joe Torre as a bullpen catcher from 1996-2011 with the Yankees and Dodgers. Hopefully he has learned something working for one of the best. Borzello will work with catchers and be involved in advanced scouting.

Franklin Font, Staff Assistant
This year the Cubs will have two "special assistants" as Font also joins the staff. He has been in the organization as a roving infield instructor at the minor league level for 17 seasons. Font will coach the Cubs infielders and serve as an assistant to Jaramillo. In recent years the Cubs have had just one extra assistant- Dave Keller (2011), Matt Sinatro (2010), Ivan DeJesus (2007-2009) and Sonny Jackson (2003-2006).

It should be an interesting year with lots of new faces on both the staff and the field.

Breaking Down the Options for Cubs Pitching Coach

Cubs.com's Carrie Muskat tweeted today that she expects the Cubs to name a new pitching coach on Wednesday. With just two days until Mike Quade's staff will actually be complete, let's break down some of the candidates to replace Larry Rothschild.

Mark Riggins
Many big league sources are reporting that Riggins, the Cubs minor league pitching coordinator, is the favorite to land the gig. The Cubs are expected to stay within the organization for the hire and Mark seems like the right guy. He briefly appeared as a big league coach with the Cardinals in 1995 before becoming the Cards pitching coordinator from 1996 to 2007 before filling the same role with the Cubs starting in 2008. He spent five seasons as a left handed pitcher in the St. Louis chain.

Lester Strode
Strode is the only candidate who has plenty of big league experience. He has been on the Cubs staff as the bullpen coach since 2007. During that time, Lester has also served as an assistant pitching coach to Larry Rothschild. After a nine year minor league pitching career, Strode become a coaching in the Cubs system, first with the Peoria Chiefs ('91-'92) and then as the minor league pitching coordinator.

Mike Mason
Mason's name is a familiar one to most because he spent six years in the big leagues including a brief stint with the Cubs during the 1987 season. The bulk of his career was spent with the Rangers. Mason has been a minor league pitching coach since 1991 and has been the Triple-A Iowa Cubs pitching coach since 2008.

Dennis Lewallyn
The final main candidate with a shot to fill the void on Mike Quade's staff is Dennis Lewallyn. He instructed guys like Chris Archer, Austin Bibens-Dirkx, Chris Carpenter and Craig Muschko this season at Double-A Tennessee. The eight year big league right hander has been the Smokies pitching coach since 2007 and a minor league coach since 1995. Dennis was the D'back minor league pitching coordinator for five years before departing for the Cubs system.

The good thing about all four guys is that they have a strong knowledge of the Cubs organization and its players. It think it is the right move to stay inside the system for this hire.

Jim Hendry on Talkin' Baseball

Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild left the team last week to take a job with the New York Yankees. Immediately, speculations about Greg Maddux replacing Larry started, but this situation does not seem likely. Other guys inside the organization like Mike Mason (AAA Iowa), Lester Strode (bullpen coach) and Mark Riggins (minor league roving pitching coach).

Jim Hendry spent some time on ESPN 1000 this week to talk Cubs with the crew on Talkin' Baseball:

• The conclusion to Larry Rothschild's tenure with the Cubs came to an end rather quickly.
• This didn't come as a complete shock to Jim. Hendry and Rothschild have a good relationship.
• This was a family decision for Larry.
• It is still early to tell, but the Cubs are looking to find the best first baseman them can. Moving Tyler Colvin to first is a possibility. Colvin is prepared to do either one.
• Colvin's role will be dictated by who else the Cubs get.
• This year's GM Meetings were more business-lie than in the past. There was not a whole lot of time for trade talk.
• Crane Kenney told Bruce that the Cubs should have some money to spend.
• Hendry believes that the team will be able to add a piece or two. They will also look for a trade or two in the offseason.
• The Cubs expect to fill the pitching coach void within the next week or two. They plan to go inside the organization and make a hire soon.

That's it for now, I'll keep you posted!