McDowell on becoming Orioles pitching coach

New Orioles pitching coach Roger McDowell anticipates a smooth transition for the staff he's inheriting because of his relationship with the man he's replacing.

McDowell was close to Dave Wallace, who retired from major league coaching after the season and returned to the Braves organization.

"I mentored under Dave Wallace and I also have a very good friendship with Dom Chiti," McDowell said this afternoon in a conference call with the local media. "I learned everything I know about being a pitching coach probably from Dave Wallace and I think from that standpoint the pitchers can rest assured that there will be a familiarity with them."

McDowell is eager to start connecting with his pitchers through conversations and observing their bullpen sessions. Through any sort of quality time that he can muster.

"I think it's very important to build that relationship within the staff to gain that trust," said McDowell, the Braves pitching coach for the past 11 seasons before they fired him in October.

"I try to never, ever forget how hard this game is and what you go through on a daily basis over the period of a championship season."

McDowell thanked manager Buck Showalter, "who I respect a whole lot," and expressed his appreciation at being part of the Orioles family. It became official today, with McDowell replacing Wallace and Double-A Bowie pitching coach Alan Mills replacing Chiti as bullpen coach.

"It was a long process for us," Showalter said. "I knew going into the season this would be Dave's last year in this capacity. We felt real lucky to have someone like Roger available with his credentials and his background and his knowledge of the major leagues. Especially with interleague play.

"We talked to a lot of people and we kept coming back to Roger. We had interviews with a lot of good, quality people and felt like Roger stood out.

"Where Alan's concerned, I've known Alan for a long time. One of our strengths has been our bullpen and I think Alan can help maintain that, along with Roger. We're very lucky to add these two guys. I think they're a great fit. They bring qualities you look for in these positions. Both have walked the walk and understand the ups and downs of a season.

"I've talked to a lot of players and they're all excited. I'm excited to wake up the next morning when you make a decision like this. I feel real good about it today and I know the players do."

In relating to the pitchers, McDowell will call upon his experience as a major league reliever and the ups and downs that occur over 50-70 appearances. He'll focus on the work that starters must do between outings, "whether it's improvement on their sides, the improvement of their pitches, having a better understanding of the lineups, a better understanding of how your particular repertoire plays versus a particular lineup, staying with your strengths."

"That being said," McDowell added, "the most important thing for me has always been about the pitching staff and having a comfort level. I think it's very important to build that relationship within the staff and to gain that trust."

There's no set timetable for achieving it. The process can't be rushed.

"Hopefully, it'll be by spring training, having conversations, whether it's face to face or on the phone, getting to know them and getting them as comfortable as they can be," McDowell said. "Usually from my experience, when you're able to execute consistently is when you probably are the most comfortable in your surroundings. And that's what I hope to bring to the table. We get that comfortable feeling, and not to make it a comfortable feeling where we don't compete, but compete at the highest level in the toughest division in baseball.

"That being said, we'll cross that bridge and we'll make those adjustments. It's based on them, not on me. It's me getting to know them and gaining their trust in me."

It's another example of how McDowell will rely on what he learned from Wallace.

"I think one of the things I've always hung on to, and Dave Wallace told me one of the first times we talked about being a pitching coach and me cutting my teeth in Single-A, was they don't care how much you know until they know how much you care," McDowell said. "That's one of the things I've always tried to maintain. Care about the individual and understand them, get to know them and understand the ups and downs of a major league season and having that guy in your corner."

McDowell will immerse himself in video as a means of learning about his staff, but he issues a warning.

"You can watch all the tape in the world and it doesn't tell you everything about pitchers," he said. "You get to see them compete, see the shape of their pitches, the consistency of their execution. You get to see all of those things, but you don't get to learn about the individual. How long it takes, I don't know. Hopefully, it doesn't take too long and the staff gets comfortable with me, and I'll obviously lean on Buck and the coaching staff who have been with these pitchers. Alan, who has been with them in spring training and over the course of the last four or five years.

"I don't think there's just one way. You go through the process and hopefully make it as quick as possible. I don't foresee any problem with that."

One adjustment for McDowell will be serving as an American League pitching coach where the opposing lineups outside of interleague play include a designated hitter.

"I think it's a big deal," McDowell said. "You're going from having a pitcher in the lineup to having nine hitters. When you have a legitimate one through nine, there's going to be an adjustment period. It's going to take a lot of work on my part to understand and get familiar with the opposition. I not only have to learn the pitching staff and coaching staff. But everybody has those things you have to learn and that's a big part of my learning process - learning a new league and a whole new one through nine lineup.

"I'm going to lean on a lot of people who know a lot more than me and get their thoughts and ideas."

McDowell and Mills already have a comfort zone from their season as Orioles teammates in 1996.

"We had a good time, but there's a time to get serious and a time to enjoy some hijinx once in a while," McDowell said. "When it's time to go between the lines, you won't find anybody better than Alan Mills."

Mills countered that he already knew plenty about McDowell from his days playing the video game "RBI Baseball."

"When I got a chance to become his teammate, I was already familiar with his stuff because I used him all the time," Mills said. "As far as a competitor, you couldn't find anybody better. I remember being a fan of his before he came over to Baltimore from watching him pitch in New York. When he came over to Baltimore, I learned a lot from him in a short amount of time. He helped me a tremendous amount of time."

The new hires give the Orioles a fresh voice as well as an air of familiarity. It's a nice mix.

"It just worked out that way," Showalter said. "There's no blueprint were you say, 'OK, you have to have exactly this to be able to do this.' Obviously, both of them have great resumes, but it's a people game, it's a relationship. Sincerity plays out in a hurry and I think our pitchers will see these guys don't have an agenda.

"We're off to good start in the offseason with these additions and I think we're very fortunate to have one already on board and another who was out there. Roger had other opportunities and we appreciate him waiting on us. He was a coveted guy who has built a great reputation in the game, as has Alan.

"When you look at all the things you're in need of, these guys were the best fit. We put together a great list of guys to interview and we felt this was the best fit for who we are and how we have to do it."

Another list of candidates is being crafted to replace director of pitching development Rick Peterson. They also need a new assistant hitting coach, though Showalter said he wanted to check back with Mark Quinn about his future plans.

"It's very much like this process," Showalter said. "We felt like this was a priority and made sure we went through it diligently. Dan (Duquette) and the organization were amassing candidates and trying also to be fair to other organizations. You don't want to get too late into it and ask permission to talk to somebody.

"Like all our moves, we'll look within first and see if there's anyone who can handle that role. I think we're close to gathering a list of people we want to interview. There are some things we're looking at with the pitching coordinator. I think Dan and the organization and Brian Graham will turn their attention to it now."

The Baysox obviously need a new pitching coach with Mills' departure.

"We'll have a couple of additions with the pitching coordinator and someone to fill Alan's shoes," Showalter said. "And Alan, we know how big shoes that is, right?"

"I have no comment, Buck," Mills replied.

Get used to the levity.

"These are guys you'll love being around them," Showalter added. "They take the right things seriously. Guys realize you can't be around each other eight months and take yourself too seriously."

Read more of Mills' quotes on Steve Melewski's blog on MASNsports.com.