Just a couple of weeks ago, Brian Cashman held a conference with the media and delivered the news that Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland, would not be returning next season. In the press conference, Cashman stated that he was not being blamed for what happened this October and the reasons for his departure were going to be kept private.
On June 4th of the this year, Dave Eiland took a leave of absence from the ball club, which stirred up a lot of talking among the media and fans. The organization wouldn’t unveil the reasons for that decision, and it was rumored to be a family issue. During that time, A.J. Burnett was falling apart on the mound and he didn’t have his coach by his side to assist him. He returned in late June, resuming his regular role as pitching coach.
After the season, ESPN came out with a story that claimed there was a rift between Eiland and Girardi, which was the reason for his departure. Dave Eiland’s response:
“That’s absolutely ridiculous and simply not true,” Eiland told the Daily News in an e-mail. “Joe and I have never had a problem nor do we now. He’s a solid baseball man and a great manager, and more importantly one of the best human beings I have ever met.” Eiland declined to discuss any of the details surrounding his departure from the Yankees.
The Yankees pitching staff faltered in the postseason, but was Eiland to blame for that? Did they just want to shake things up a bit? Did the firing have something to do with that leave of absence? Something tells me it does. I was caught by surprise by the firing, because I thought he was highly regarded within organization, especially since he worked with several of the current players while they were in the minor leagues. I’m not sure we’ll ever know the real reason behind this. Now, the team is in need of a pitching coach. Who will it be? Thoughts?
M. B. Rozell
Kevin Rozell
I’m amazed that the Yankees’ press corp hasn’t ferreted out more details.
Mmmh… i tought you had an answer on why was Eiland let go.
But, i am sure glad he is no more with the team, he was unable to control the pitchers, and most importantly, he didn’t know how to manage JoeG, yeah, a Pitching Coach knows his pitchers better than the manager, because well, he is just in charge of the pitchers, and he has to be the one who calls the shots regarding pitchers, when to talk with them, how to calm them, but Eiland was incapable of doing that.
There too many times where Eiland looked like he was going to talk with a pitcher being hammered in the mound, only to turn his head and watch JoeG say something to him, and desist on going out, most of the times those pitchers imploded.
Good job Kevin George King better start looking for a new job now. You have style.
I read he cheated on his wife with someone in the organization, and that’s why he went on leave, to handle the fallout at home for his behavior.
I’m guessing they’re holding off on hiring a new pitching coach until they know if Cliff Lee is coming aboard. If Lee signs, look for someone from outside the organization. If not, it’ll be an internal promotion.
Yeah…I thought there was going to be a revelation of some sorts too…
Good piece, Kevin.
The evidence that I see says he was let go because pitching wasn’t up to par for a good while. That, combined with the fact that somebody had to take a fall, seems like reason enough to me. Any personal problems that may have contributed to his being let go were likely secondary. If the staff were lights out, we would have heard about a leave of absence instead of a dismissal.
-bob
I heard the exact same thing, and that the AFFAIR CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS inside the organization. The Steinbrenner’s
nipped it in the bud.
Couple that with the month of June losses AJ had, he was doomed to get canned.
I haven’t heard anything about Dave Eiland cheating on his wife. Give me your “sawces” ….
Zell
I heard it was because he disagreed with C.C.’s great idea about giving New York a group hug.
Oops, sorry, that was Eiland’s idea. CC wanted to plant a vegetable garden. Way to screw up a good joke, mystic!!! Grrr…
I originally thought it was what Bob said too. I have some unconfirmed info from a source that is usually reliable… but I’m not allowed to discuss it, unfortunately. I wish I could. That’s why I haven’t posted anything. However what I can say is that it’s something that has affected baseball people (not just players) for a whole lot of years, and that it has NOTHING to do with his coaching. That’s why Girardi wasn’t involved in the decision- it was a personnel matter. I still have in the back of my head that some of what Bob said may be in there somewhere, but I am being assured that whether it is or it isn’t, it’s not the heart of the trouble. And that his leave of absence was directly tied to his termination. Sorry I can’t be more informative. Oh, the other thing I can say is that the writers all know about it, but they made a group decision not to report it. My info comes from elsewhere, but I asked one of the beat writers who usually is very open with me & he gave me an unexpectedly curt answer– “I’m not reporting on anything I can’t investigate for accuracy & I’m not investigating it.”
Regards, Kevin. ‘scuse me for trolling….
SteveB, Pride of the Yankees