Baseball - Pitching Coach to Stay

Randy St. Claire is keeping his position as the Washington Nationals' pitching coach for the next 2007 season. But first-base coach Davey Lopes is leaving the team for the Philadelphia Phillies where he will have the duties of first-base coach and outfield base-running instructor. As for the remainder of the coaching staff, their fate is still uncertain until a new manager is hired.

With St. Claire's returning to the Nationals, it is the first sign of some continuity for what could be an overhauled and inexperienced pitching staff. Therefore Pitching coach St. Claire will start his fifth season with the Washington club while only two men have lasted longer in the post with the Expos-Nationals. Last season, the Nationals finished at the last-place with the highest team ERA in the NL (5.03).

But St. Claire emphasized his work the past two years with an injury-plagued and mostly young staff. He also draws attention on the fact that he developed John Patterson into an apparent would-be star and taught Hector Carrasco a change-up that revitalized his career. The latter signed a $6.1 million, two-year deal when he left as a free agent after the 2005 season. General manager Jim Bowden gave his on-going trust to the pitching coach.

Last season, the Nationals went through 12 starters with a roster mostly composed of minor leaguers for much of the second half. The team had to deal with two missing player, Starter Brian Lawrence and setup man Luis Ayala, during the whole season. Another big hit, Patterson left for surgery on his pitching arm after making only eight starts.

Until now Bowden approached Lou Piniella but later he ruled himself out. Former Marlins manager Joe Girardi has been also interviewed by the Nationals. The other candidates would include Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton and Yankees first-base coach Tony Pena.