Dave Wallace on his decision to retire as pitching coach

Dave Wallace wants to spend more time with his family and still work with young pitchers to take them to a higher level.

What's needed is a compromise.

Wallace, 69, has retired as Orioles pitching coach after three seasons and the search begins for a replacement.

The Orioles posted a 4.20 ERA in 2013 that ranked 23rd in the majors. In the first season with Wallace as pitching coach and Dom Chiti as bullpen coach, they improved to seventh with a 3.43 ERA.

The club ranked 19th with a 4.22 ERA this season, but the bullpen was first in the American League and third in the majors at 3.40.

Wallace spent four years as the Braves' minor league pitching coordinator before joining the Orioles. He also was pitching coach for the Astros (2007), Red Sox (2003-2006), Mets (1999-2000) and Dodgers (1995-1997).

Wallace spent 20 years as a coach and executive in the Dodgers organization. He served as senior vice president of baseball operations from 2001-2003 and was named interim general manager in 2001.

"There are a lot of reasons why it's the right time," he said today in a conference call. "Things happening in your life where you just want to kind of smell the roses a little bit, and family concerns, getting up there in age a little bit and just wanting to not get to the point where somebody's got to force you out. And I think greed gets a lot of people.

"I've been very, very fortunate and thankful and just talking things over with my wife we felt this is the right time to see the grandkids, see our daughter in high school and yet still continue to stay in the game in some capacity."

The exact capacity is unknown, but Wallace has some ideas.

"That depends on what is offered, I guess," Wallace said. "What I'd like to do is, my passion has always been developing young pitchers, so be that in uniform or be that in part-uniform and part-front office, I don't know. I'm not going to say that I'm sure there's going to be opportunities, but I feel pretty confident that at some point maybe there (will be). I haven't talked to anyone there yet about it because this is all so recent, but somewhere in the industry.

"I still love the kids, I still love developing the young guys, and it's so much fun being with Kevin (Gausman) and (Dylan) Bundy and those kind of guys. Having a little bit of an impact in what they've been able to do. We'll just see.

"My experience is pretty extensive, so I'm really not that concerned about what's going to be out there, if anything at all. And you know what? It's funny because probably for the first time in my life I'm not worried about next year and where are you going to work and what are you going to do? I feel somewhat relieved to where I'm at a point where I can check out the landscape a little bit and see what's happening."

Wallace indicated that he'd like to stay with the Orioles if they're able to find a spot for him.

"Obviously, I've got ties in Baltimore and as you guys know, Buck (Showalter) being the best game manager ever and I think our relationship was pretty good," Wallace said. "I haven't talked to Dan (Duquette) or him or anyone about that, but we still have some time yet, so I guess at this point we'll just wait and hear.

"Some of the most difficult things is walking away from relationships with the players. That's what you miss. So we'll see. I'm not sure what their priorities are, what their needs are. But it certainly is a place I've enjoyed being. I think the ballpark's great. And like I said the guys on the team, you have relationships with, so we'll wait and see. I'll leave it in their hands for a little while."

Wallace left the club on occasion this season due to family matters, with Chiti usually moving into the dugout. The retirement writing seemed to be on the wall, though he hadn't mapped out a plan when the season started.

"I didn't make the decision, but it was certainly a consideration," he said. "The last couple years, you just wonder at what point. As you guys know, I've had some health issues. That was years ago and knock on wood and thank God and all the blessings that I've stayed healthy and feel real good and still have energy and know that the job can be done.

"But again, probably some of the things that came up with home and family life, I think you always look at where we are in our lives and want to know if we can find time to enjoy some of the finer things and that's spending time with family and seeing grandchildren, take trips, just do things that you haven't been able to do in years.

"I'm not 45 years old anymore, so you wonder how much time you have left to do that stuff and while you're physically active and able to do some of it, as well."

The Orioles have plenty of internal candidates for the job, including Chiti, Triple-A Norfolk pitching coach Mike Griffin, Double-A Bowie pitching coach Alan Mills, special assignment pitching instructor Ramon Martinez and director of pitching development Rick Peterson.

Chiti's contract runs out this year, but Showalter said he expects all of his remaining coaches to return in 2017.

"I think that the ability Dom has, he can do almost anything he wants," said Wallace, who's remained close friends with Chiti through the years, including their time together in the Braves organization. "He is such an astute baseball/pitching guy that, my goodness gracious, I'm never going to speak for him because he can pick and choose his own, but he would be good at anything he does.

"I'm not surprised at all if he's one of the stronger candidates, but you'd have to talk to Buck and Dom. And I know the respect he has within that clubhouse with the players."

No one carries more respect than Wallace, who leaves his current post with many accomplishments and warm memories.

"I think we go back three years and Dom and I took a trip out west, and we met Chris Tillman, (Brian) Matusz, Miguel (Gonzalez) and Zach (Britton)," Wallace said. "To see Chris and Zach come on like they have I think is great. I think having Kevin have to learn at the big league level when he probably should have learned a little bit more on his way up, which is OK, but when he came up and learned.

"And then Brad Brach is a big guy. I remember we had our first minicamp in February in '14 and Brad was all over the place, his delivery. We got him from San Diego. And just building relationships and helping those guys move forward.

"But having Zach, what he's done, and Chris becoming the guy he has, the model of consistency, and I think Kevin is well on his way and I think the light went on about halfway through the year this year and he's starting to figure it out. Of course, Dylan Bundy really hasn't pitched, but his baseball acumen much to our surprise is off the chart pitch-wise.

"Those are the things that really make you feel good. And of course, Darren O'Day certainly has established himself. It's a combination of things, but those things stand out. Those guys are tremendous, and looking back where they were before the '14 season and now what they are after the '16 season and making the postseason a couple of times was tremendous."