SARASOTA, Fla. -- New Orioles manager Phil Regan never has had six full-time coaches and an advance scout at his disposal. This is his first shot at being a big-league manager, and in his 10 years of managing in winter ball, he never enjoyed this kind of luxury in manpower.
But Regan has a clear idea of how he wants to delegate authority, what role each coach will play. Yesterday, he outlined the job description for each of his coaches, and how their duties and talents will apply to specific game situations.
Before games
On the first day of each series, the work will begin earlier in the morning for bench coach Chuck Cottier than for the other coaches. He is charged with communicating with advance scout Deacon Jones, receiving Jones' reports via fax or overnight mail.
"I believe very strongly in advance scouting," said Regan. It figures: Regan was an advance scout himself for the Los Angeles Dodgers, before becoming a pitching coach with Cleveland in 1994.
Suppose the Orioles are playing host to New York June 19, 20 and 21. Jones will try to see the Yankees on the third, fourth and fifth days before the Orioles series, in order to scout each of the New York starting pitchers scheduled to pitch against the Orioles.
After receiving Jones' report, Cottier will distribute copies to each of the Orioles coaches. Regan and his staff will meet at about 1 p.m. on the first day of a series to review the report and discuss the opponent; sometimes, Jones will participate in the one-hour meeting via speakerphone.
Pitching coach Mike Flanagan and hitting coach Lee May will draw from Jones' reports and each will write a plan of attack for the series. Flanagan will script how the Orioles will pitch to each of the hitters, and May will do the same for his hitters vs. the opponent's pitchers.
Sometime before the game, all 25 players will gather in the clubhouse and first hear Flanagan give his report, which has value to the position players as well as the pitchers; shortstop Cal Ripken, for instance, will know which way to shade, say, Wade Boggs, based on how the Orioles will pitch to him.
May then will speak about the opponent's pitching staff, and then the position players will break off into smaller groups. Cottier, responsible for the infield defense, will discuss more specifically how to defense each hitter. Similarly, first base coach Al Bumbry will speak to the outfielders.
All the coaches will share the load during early batting practice -- between 2:30 and 4:30, depending on whether the Orioles are at home -- and regular batting practice in the three hours before game time. Regan plans to throw batting practice along with his coaches.
Bullpen coach Elrod Hendricks, responsible for the equipment used during batting practice, usually could be the last off the mound. Regan says Hendricks could be the best BP pitcher of all the Orioles coaches -- consistent in the strike zone and, at the same time, challenging -- and Hendricks could be saved for the last group of hitters.
Flanagan will see that his pitchers complete their physical training, and oversee any starting pitcher throwing in the bullpen on a day off. The other coaches will hit fungos during batting practice.
Between meetings with his coaching staff, throwing batting practice and talking with the media, Regan will sit down and write down his lineup for the night. Regan will draw up an additional hand-held scorecard for himself, while Cottier will take a marking pen and write down the lineup of the Orioles and their opponents on a larger card, taping that one against the wall of a dugout.
During games
Bench coach Cottier will stand next to Regan in the dugout and serve as an adviser. He might suggest a bunt, a hit-and-run. Maybe a squeeze. He could suggest a pinch hitter. He should always be anticipating, thinking of potential scenarios that could develop; he might think of something pertinent that hasn't occurred to Regan, like playing the first and third basemen close to the lines in the late innings.
Sometimes, Cottier will confirm Regan's own thinking. Sometimes Regan will disagree and disregard the advice. Sometimes Regan might use Cottier's suggestion. "Chuck is going to be extremely useful to me," said Regan. "You need someone like him in the dugout."
Regan will give the signs for virtually every play on the field himself -- he will relay his signs to third base coach Steve Boros, XTC the signs to the catcher (for pickoffs or pitchouts, for example) and the signs to the infield on bunt plays.
Cottier also will be responsible for affecting changes with the position players. If the Yankees bring in left-hander Steve Howe and Regan wants Jeffrey Hammonds to bat for Harold Baines, Cottier will be the one to go down the bench and tell Hammonds, and then make the corresponding changes to the lineup card posted on the dugout wall.
When the Orioles are on defense, Cottier is responsible for positioning the infield, Bumbry the outfield. Bumbry coaches first -- where his talent for reading pitchers' moves to first may help base stealers -- while Boros coaches third. May encourages hitters and suggests adjustments when necessary.
Hendricks charts the game in the bullpen, information for the relievers to use later. For instance, Mark Eichhorn may need to know how Mike Mussina pitched to Boggs in the first inning, in the third inning, to plan his own strategy. Hendricks keeps logs on how many times each reliever has gotten up in the bullpen, how many pitches each has thrown, and with how much intensity.
And he communicates with pitching coach Flanagan, who will call from the dugout.
Regan said Flanagan "may have the toughest job of all -- he'll be a pitching coach for a former pitching coach."
But Regan says he is sensitive to that. "I think it's going to work out fine," the manager said.
Flanagan will work with the pitchers on mechanics and pitch selection during games, and keep suitable records. If a pitcher is struggling, Flanagan will make the trip to the mound for a chat.
The decision of when to get a reliever throwing in the bullpen, or when a starting pitcher has run out of gas, belongs to Regan, with Flanagan serving in an advisory capacity. "I think one of my strengths," Regan said, "is handling a pitching staff."
Regan will make pitching changes himself, and he will go to the mound if he has something to say -- to a pitcher who is struggling, to an umpire who is squeezing the strike zone, or to his infield if he wants to set the defense verbally.
Regan knows how he wants to manage, and how he wants his coaches to coach. All he needs now are players and games.
BOROS SHIFTS TO 3RD
Orioles manager Phil Regan wants to make a change in his coaching lineup.
During spring training, bench coach Steve Boros will swap jobs with third base coach Chuck Cottier. Assuming the switch doesn't lead to any problems, it will become permanent once the regular season starts.
"We want to have this work out this way," Regan said.
The reason for the change, Regan said, is that Boros has worked in the American League as the Kansas City Royals' third base coach the past two years and knows opposing outfield arms better than Cottier. Cottier has spent the past seven years with the Chicago Cubs.
Another reason is that part of Boros' responsibility includes base running, and Regan said that coaching third base would be a natural extension of that duty.
REGAN'S COACHING STAFF
Name, Age What they do
Steve Boros, 58 Third base coach; also base-running coach.
Al Bumbry, 47 First base coach; also responsible for outfield defense.
Chuck Cottier, 59 Bench coach; also responsible for infield defense.
Mike Flanagan, 43 Pitching coach; also responsible for giving scouting report on opposing hitters before each series.
Elrod Hendricks, 54 Bullpen coach; charts opposing hitters during games for relievers.
Lee May, 51 Hitting coach; also responsible for giving scouting report on opposing pitchers before each series.
Deacon Jones, 60 Advance scout; works closely with the staff -- communicating primarily through Cottier -- by giving reports on upcoming opponents.