Catching Up With Former Blue Jay Chris Michalak

 

Former Blue Jay hurler Chris Michalak is currently the pitching coach for the Class-A level affiliate of the Washington Nationals, the Hagerstown Suns. Originally drafted by the Athletics in 1993, Michalak also pitched for the D-Backs, Rangers and last with the Reds, in 2006, during his Major League career. Michalak has hung around as a minor league stalwart in recent years, pitching for the Nationals, Marlins and Blue Jays organizations in the past few seasons. 1BlueJaysWay correspondent Jay Ballz had the opportunity to chat it up with Michalak this week and that interview lies ahead. 

 

Can I get some comments from you on the ups and downs so far this season with Hagerstown's pitching staff?

 

As of late, we've been- before these last two games- we've been pretty consistent. Our guys have been pounding the strike zone and getting batters to put the ball in play and our defense has been making the plays behind us. We've been doing okay and had a nice little run these past two weeks. And then we have a game like Wednesday (Suns' staff allowed 11 runs in a loss to Lakewood) but they're young and they're learning and they're starting to put some stuff together. Hopefully, they can keep it that way. 

 

As a veteran guy, who isn't too far removed from your own pitching career, what do you tell young guys when they struggle or when there are mistakes made behind them in the field?  

 

The biggest thing that a lot of these young guys fall into is, when things aren't going their way, they try to do too much. And all that we ask them to do is what they're capable of doing...executing their pitches, their fastball doesn't need to be any harder and their curveball doesn't need to be any sharper, they just need to execute the pitch and locate. That's the biggest thing that these guys need to learn, is that they just have to trust their stuff. 

 

Are there certain pitchers on the staff that you are extremely confident could have success at higher levels? 

 

I think all these guys definitely have a shot to pitch at higher levels if they trust their stuff. That's the biggest thing...is to gain confidence in themselves. 

 

What has the transition from player to coach been like for you?  

 

It's been fine, it's been good. I've been lucky to have this opportunity to stay in the game. I feel very fortunate that the Nationals gave me the opportunity to do this. It's been fun and I enjoy it and it's a lot of the same ups and downs as you go through as a player. 

 

What was the process like leading to you obtaining the job with Hagerstown as pitching coach?  

 

Basically, I was still asking around to see if anyone was interested in me pitching for them. I called the Nationals, I had been with them before, and knew a lot of people in the front office and among the on-field staff, and asked if there was any interest in me pitching, and they said that they were full, but they did have some interest in me as a coach if I was ready to start coaching. Things fell into line and I thought it was a good opportunity for me to start my coaching career. 

 

At what point did you know that you would eventually become a coach?  

 

Probably since I started playing this game. I really enjoy the game and I had been a player for so long, it just becomes a part of you. 

 

During your later playing years in the minor leagues, had you already taken on that role a bit, playing with so many younger guys?  

 

Guys would ask me certain things about how to go about your business and how to get prepared and things like that, and that was fine. When I was coming up, there were always some older guys who I would go and pick their brains and see how it was, so it's just part of the baseball family. People just pass things down. 

 

What was the process like catching on with the Toronto system last year, as a pitcher?  

 

With Toronto, it was a unique situation in that I still wanted to pitch. They gave me the opportunity to pitch, but still with the understanding that if things didn't work out that I was going to take over their pitching coach duties in the Gulf Coast League. So, I was in their extended spring training, doing pitching coach duties, staying in shape and pitching some innings there. I went to triple-A for four days, because they had some guys hurt and I also went to the Florida State League. And there were no other teams that were interested in me, so once the Gulf Coast League started up, I finished the season coaching there. They had offered me a job back, but the Nationals came through with this out of nowhere, while I was still looking to pitch, and this seemed like it was a better fit for me. There's no ill will with the Blue Jays, they're a quality organization. I just felt like this was a better fit for me and my family.  

 

What would you say are some key differences between the Toronto and Washington organizations?  

 

The pitching philosophies are still the same at this level. Throw strikes keep the ball down. Not much difference...  

 

What are your thoughts on former Blue Jays manager Buck Martinez?  

 

Buck's a good man. He told me that I made the staff in 2001. He's a very good man, a very kind man and I have nothing but good things to say about Buck. I see him once in a while and we cross paths and he's always got a smile on his face. 

 

How did you like calling Toronto and SkyDome home?  

 

I love that city. I loved playing there. I loved being part of the Blue Jays. Pitching up there was a great experience for me and the fans were very, very kind to me. I really enjoyed pitching there for them and even when I came back as a visitor, they were still kind to me. It's a quality city.

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Game 5 Recap : The Battery Takes Care Of Business

It only took 94 pitches for Dana Eveland to go 7 1/3 innings.  59 of them were strikes.  7 of them were 90 MPH or higher.  He left in the 8th inning with a runner on first base and the shut out in tact.  He turned it over to the bullpen for the last five outs.  Ballgame over.  Your Toronto Blue Jays win 3 - 0 and remain in first place.

Calling the Ronald Reagan era fastballs (81 - 89) behind the plate was back up catcher and number nine hitter Jose Molina.  With the stick he went 2 for 3 with 2 big RBI.  Travis Snider was intentionally walked before both of Molina's RBI at bats.  Molina also threw out a runner trying to steal a base on him.

E5 made a couple of good plays at third base tonight.  It's a lot of fun watching him play defense.  It's like he knows he sucks at it.  It makes me so nervous whenever the ball is hit in his direction.  His stick is coming around which is encouraging to see.  He was 2 for 4 with two runs scored.

Umpire Joe West was behind the plate to call balls and strikes.  He talked some shit about how long the Evil Empire and the Red Sucks took to play their games last series.  Tonight, it was his turn to show everyone what a 2 hour and 24 minute baseball game looked like.

Sam Cosentino had 17 orgasms and needs some fresh pants after pinch hitting for Buck Martinez on the play by play call.  He actually gets paid money to pleasure himself inside the booth with Pat Tabler awkwardly looking on.

Game 4 : Another Exciting Comeback

Currently as I write this, we are a half game up on the Evil Empire and Rays.  Your Toronto Blue Jays will finish the today in first place in the AL East and that is pretty fucking cool.

This is my first attempt at a game wrap and I'm not to sure how to proceed.  I was trying to twitter the game as it happened but I have to be honest and I found the distraction kinda annoying.  Whatever, I'll work on it!

This game between the Orioles of Baltimore and your Toronto Blue Jays was the home opener at Camden Yards.  Seats were packed and the fans were loud.  This game gave them a lot to both cheer and boo about.

On the hill was a pair of righties Brandon Morrow and Brad Bergesen.  Morrow is known for his electric fastball in the mid to high 90's and Bergesen is a sinker, slider kind of guy.  Certainly a contrast in pitching styles.  Of note, it was Morrow's debut with the Blue Jays.

This game featured a very long first inning.  The Jays were able to put 3 runs on the board thanks mostly to a bubble blowing Orioles outfielder named Adam Jones.  He got a glove on a John Buck drive to deep center but couldn't make the catch for the third out.  Buck was credited with a double and two RBI.  A clutch hit with two out but I think Jones should have had it.  E5 was robbed of a hit by shortstop Cesar Izturis on a shot into the hole for the third out.  That would have scored Buck from second base easily but again, fantastic defense from the Orioles prevented an even bigger inning by the Blue Jays.

Our starter was given a big three run cushion early and 35 pitches later, promptly gave it all right back.  The knock on Morrow about his control seemed valid, especially after he hit the number two hitter Jones high in the back with some kind of breaking ball with two strikes. But I felt the home plate umpire was squeezing both pitchers resulting in a lot of balls "missing" the strikezone.  Orioles second baseman and lead off hitter, Brian Roberts stole his second base of the year easily off Morrow and catcher John Buck after a walk but had to leave the game with a abdominal injury.  I seriously wonder what Vernon was doing on Miguel Tejada's 2 RBI single?  I don't think we would have had a chance at getting the second runner Jones at home but man Vernon got a terrible jump on a GROUNDBALL.  Yikes.

Thankfully both pitchers settled down in the second inning and it resulted in a quick inning.  Travis Snider ripped a first pitch get ahead fastball from Bergesen to lead off the second.  Then Johnny Mac showed why The Cito moved Snider out of the nine hole for him by chopping into a double play to erase the threat.

Morrow's fastball was sitting in the mid 90's as advertised but at 96mph it was pretty flat.  I noticed that when he took a bit off it, throwing it at 92 or 93 his ball had a little bit more movement down and away from left handed hitters.  But that was the pitch the umpire wasn't calling in the first inning.  He made an adjustment and got ahead with the gas and then starting cutting it a bit.  Mix in his high 80's breaking ball and the results were: 3 up 3 down with two K's. 

The third inning was the Alex Gonzalez show.  He homered on a low pitch to give us a 4 -3 lead and made a couple of routine put outs at shortstop.

John Buck smoked his second double in as many at bats to lead off the forth inning but we left him stranded, with Johnny Mac weakly striking out to end the inning.  Rally killer.  Snider had a good at bat and almost got his second hit.

In the top of the fifth we again started it off with a double.  This time it was Jose Bautista.  He came around to score with a nice hook slide at home plate on an Adam Lind single.  Vernon Wells pops up for the second time in a row but it was good enough to knock Bergesen out of the game.  Enter former Jay, LHP Mark Hendrickson to face Lyle Overbay.  Lyle shows off his warning track, excuse me, doubles power.  Inning over.  5 - 3 Jays. 

In the bottom of fifth, Travis Snider got lost on a fly ball off the bat of Nick Markakis.  Snider totally misplayed it, turning his body the wrong way trying to track the ball and losing sight of it.  Tejada hits a bomb on a meaty changeup from Morrow.  Game tied 5 - 5.

Top of the sixth, Hendrickson is cruising, striking out Buck and E5.  Snider works a walk on a good battle.  Johnny Mac pops up a bunt attempt to the catcher.  Rally Killer.

The bottom of sixth started off a little interestingly.  RHP Shawn Camp was in to relieve Morrow who finished the day with a line of: 5 inn, 4 hits, 5 ER, 5 BB and 5 K's on 84 pitches.  The Cito had to get up off his ass and ask the umpire what the fuck is going on.  I'm sure he was busy thinking about nothing and didn't appreciate the interruption.  New play by play man Buck Martinez was trying to explain that their was some rule change this year but I was too busy hoping Cito was going to trip over something on his journey to the playing surface and break his hip.  First base umpire takes the ball from Camp and gets him a clean one.  It had something to do with licking your fingers on the mound or something.  Camp goes on to do what he does for two solid innings.  A walk, a strike out, two hits and no runs allowed.  Only one ball left the infield.  Boring but effective stuff.

Fast forward to the bottom of the eighth, game still tied.  Casey Janssen on for Camp.  He walks the lead off hitter and catching phenom Matt Wieters.  Buck Martinez goes on to talk about it for about the next 20 minutes.  Felix Pie, who has decent speed, pinch runs for Wieters.  Janssen gets the next two guys to fly out.  Then the unthinkable happens: line drive single to center and Pie SCORES.  A couple of things went wrong for us on this play.
First: Pie was going on contact.
Second: Vernon had to move more then 20 feet in order to get to the ball.
Third: The Orioles third base coach is an idiot.
Forth: Johnny Mac's relay throw short hopped Buck at the plate even though he had a TON of time to plant and throw.

So into the top of the ninth we go down only a run.  On to pitch for the Orioles is new closer LHP Mike Gonzalez.  E5 works a great walk to get us going.  Snider comes up with a hit and a walk against the lefty.  E5 moves into scoring position on a wild pitch during the at bat.  Cult hero Randy Ruiz makes his way out to the on deck circle to hit for the Rally Killer, Johnny Mac.  Twitter goes fucking nuts.....there was a Randy sighting!

Anyways, Snider rips a double to the wall for the game tying RBI.  Huge hit for his confidence.  The Cito must have felt validated by his decision to not pinch hit for young Snider against a tough lefty reliever.  So validated in fact, he calls Ruiz back and sends Johnny Mac up to hit.  Twitter goes fucking nuts again.  It was pretty obvious he was told to get the bunt down which would move Snider to third with only one out.  Two strikes later with no result, I was a little concerned.  But doesn't he turn and square again, this time getting it down for the sacrifice.  Mission accomplished.  Go ahead run 90 feet away with only one out.  Gotta say that is a ballsy and impressive call by the manager right there.  Bautista hits a fly ball to center for the go ahead run.  Snider gives his manager a high five that almost takes his arm off.  Jays up 7 - 6.

Bottom of the ninth we go up only one run again.  Closer Jason Frasor is unavailable because he worked all three games in Texas, so no one is sure who is gonna get the call.  I ask the masses over twitter: Who gets the ball Scott Downs or Kevin Gregg?  Everybody says Downs.  And The Cito picks Gregg.  Twitter fucking blows up again.

Gregg throws a clean 1, 2, 3 inning.  2 strikeouts including Tejada to finish it.  He looked comfortable.  He looked sharp.  We win.

Coming up tomorrow:

LHP Dana Eveland makes his Blue Jays debut against RHP David Hernandez.  Hernandez was 4 - 10 last season with an ERA of 5.42.  He gave up 27 homeruns in 101 innings.

Can you say winnable game?

Player of the game for me was Travis Snider.  2 for 3 with a big run and a big RBI.  He hit righties.  He hit lefties.  He was patient.  He battled and refused to give in.  Even his only out was a productive one.

And I'm calling it right now: The Cito will stick him back in the nine hole tomorrow.  You watch.

Mike McCoy should get the start at second base for Aaron Hill until he is back after Johnny Mac's performance on offense and defense today.  Look for him to lead off.

That's all I got.  And if you aren't following GloBlair on twitter yet, you should be.  He is awesome.  Check it.

Player Hater's Ball - Febuary Edition

Buckle up.  This one may get messy.....

Dear: The Cito,

I have been an avid Blue Jay fan since I began walking.  Your face was in the dugout for as long as I can remember.  You started as the hitting coach in 1982 at the tender age of 38.  You then took over the managing duties in 1989 and we started winning games in our new stadium.  You did that.  I love you for it.  You had the horses and you let them ride.  You played your veterans and hit the rookie 9th in the line up.  It was what needed to be done with those World Series Champion caliber teams.  The strike came in 1994 and everything changed.  It wasn't your fault.  MLB realigned the divisions and started the wild card.  Management took away your horses and replaced them with guys like Erik Hanson, Bill Risley, Orlando Merced and Alex Gonzalez.  By the time 1997 rolled around we were a bottom of the division type team.  You were fired with 5 games to go in that season and it got messy.  We heard your name mentioned  for a while in the papers.  You were turned down for the manager job by Cleveland, Detroit and the Dodgers.  I'm sure there were many others as well.  After a few years had gone by we stopped hearing your name.  In 1999 you came back and were recognized in the Level Of Excellence.  It is the most prestigious award bestowed by the Toronto Blue Jays.  Rightfully so I might add.  You then returned as the hitting coach for us in 2000 and 2001 under Jim Fregosi and Buck Martinez.  It was good to see you back in the dugout where you belonged.  But it was short lived and you were let go again.  I was pretty sure it was for good this time.

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about anything you did for the Toronto Blue Jays organization up to this point.

I wish you had left it that way but you came back as Club Ambassador and Special Assistant to the President and CEO which to me sounds like a glorified Walmart Greeter.  Then at 64 years of age you made your return to the dugout as the manager in 2008 replacing Gibby.  At the time we were off to a slow start, 35-39, and things seemed bleak.  Our hitters were being taught to work the count and take walks by new hitting coach Gary Denbo.  It wasn't working.  Management cleaned house for you, allowing you to bring in your own guys and your own philosophy.  You had an immediate impact on the season and we went 51-37 the rest of the way under your tutelage.  You unleashed your hitters and told them to swing away at the first pitch if it was in their zone.  It worked.  Everyone was happy with the results.  We started thinking about what kind of damage we could do if we had you as the field manager for a whole season.  At first glance things looked wonderful with you back in the dugout.  But underneath it all, you were the same guy.  You managed the same way as you did before because it was the only way you knew how.

One slight problem, the team is very different now.

Back in the day, your championship winning teams policed themselves.  We spent more money on salary than any other team in baseball in 1992 and 1993.  You had Hall of Fame players you could lean on.  You had clubhouse veterans that were productive players.  You had a team full of pros that came to Toronto to win.  Managing in that type of environment must have been a dream come true.  I'm sure it was easy to push the cruise control button, sit back and watch the boys play.  Your line up card pretty much wrote itself and there was no need to change it in game because it was awesome.  You basically sat on the end of the bench and kept out of the way.  The only real decisions you had to make in game were with respect to pitching changes and your starters pitched deep into games for you.  Everyone had a defined role.

This is the type of team you exceeded at managing.

This in no way resembles the current group we have now.  I fully recognize you have very little control over player personnel.  You are given 25 guys to work with and you are forced to go with what you got.  I'm sure your input is valued and respected but at the end of the day your players are the players you are given.  Your current guys are mostly young, inexperienced kids.  They don't understand what it means to be a pro.  Take Travis Snider for example: young stud, can't miss type guy.  He made the team out of camp to start 2009 with so much promise.  You were tasked with making sure he was able to make the adjustment to the majors.  You hit him 9th in the order and refused to let him play against left handed pitching.  He made it till mid May and then was sent down to AAA after you deemed him uncoachable.  You had Roy to show the pitchers what it took to win.  He led by example.  They followed and made great strides.  He's gone now.  For the everyday players it is safe to say that Vernon is your guy.  He is the team representative and clubhouse leader.  But he was the one that called you out early October in the media.  There were whispers of clubhouse unrest.  The term mutiny was being used in the news to describe the team.  Vernon was the one who stood up and faced the music, not you.  He did little to calm the rumors down and actually sounded like he agreed with the idea of you being a problem.  You responded by saying you were surprised and unaware of any issues.  The GM was fired.  About a month later you signed a four year consulting deal with the team that is scheduled to start in 2011, all but eliminating any chance you would not be back as manager for the 2010 season.

People stopped asking questions but the damage was done.

This off season you were not heard from for quite a while.  Then you took part in last month's State of the Franchise event along with the GM and President.  You were quick to contradict yourself and your new boss.  You talked about how you could have as many as seven 25 homerun guys in your lineup but also said you may need to play some small ball to score runs.  You lobbied for the return of fan favorite Carlos Delgado even though your boss had already gone on record saying there was no interest only a week before.  You said: "If there's some way to bring Carlos back here, I'd love to see him back here, because he can do a lot of things as far as helping the young kids about knowing about hitting."  On top of all that you found the time to mix up some of your bullpen guys and make everyone aware of the fact that you had no idea Brandon Morrow was brought over here to be a starter.

What I'm about to say is with all due respect sir:

I think you are a fucking joke!

I can't stand by and watch you fuck up this once proud team any longer.  You do not have the type of players on your team that you need to be successful.  Deal with it.  Try something new.  Engage the rookies.  Teach them something.  Don't rely on your players to do it for you.  Writing the name Kevin fucking Millar into the clean up spot of your line up at the end of last season should have been grounds for your immediate termination.  Platooning him with Lyle Overbay was another one I have to question.  Not so much the fact that you did it but the fact you didn't talk to Lyle about it first. Refusing to pinch hit for guys like John MacDonald in a close game late is pretty much negligence on your part.  Running Jose Bautista out there against a bunch of AAA pitchers in September only assured his return for 2010.  Now you think he is your early candidate to lead off?  What does he have to do to lose it.....hit below .200 against right handed pitching?  Let me just briefly talk about the pitchers.  This group of guys had been brought along quite nicely by former pitching coach Brad Arnsberg.  He was able to make great strides with the young guys and things on that side of the house seemed fine.  But he wasn't your guy.  You two didn't seem to get along and at the end of last season he disappeared to the NL.  He was a great asset to this organization and well respected amongst his peers.  You sent him packing.  Very, very bad call.

Look for the pitching staff to take a major step back this season.

I could literally never stop writing this letter to you sir.  On a daily basis during the season you do or say things that blow my fucking mind.  I have no doubt that trend will continue this year.  I want to be one of the sheep that follow you blindly based on the fact that you led us to the promise land before.  I want to believe that you know more than us and you are always one if not two steps ahead because that is the way it use to be.  I want to, but I can't.

The game has changed and you have not.

So to you our fearless leader I say this in closing: Get whatever the fuck it is you need to get out of your system this year.  Consider it your season long retirement party.  Bask in the glory.  It is your time to shine.  But always know this, we will be waiting and not so patiently I might add, for you to leave the dugout once and for all.  And we worry dearly about the carnage you are destined to leave behind.

Sincerely,

P.S. Silky Johnson wanted to say a few words.  Go ahead Silk:

"The Cito, in regards to your hairdo, I suggest you change the oil every 5000 miles or so, it looks like you're pushing the limits....."

Couldn't agree more Silk.  Couldn't agree more.