Steve Karsay is stepping down as the Brewers’ bullpen coach, Tom Haudricourt of The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Karsay is leaving the position due to family considerations. There isn’t yet any word on a possible replacement as bullpen coach, though Haudricourt suggests that Triple-A pitching coach Jim Henderson might be a logical internal candidate.
Best known for his 11 seasons as a big league hurler from 1993-2006, Karsay transitioned into coaching and spent seven seasons in Cleveland’s organization as a pitching coach at four different minor league affiliates. Karsay took over as Milwaukee’s bullpen coach prior to the 2019 season, and Haudricourt put it, Karsay was “serving in essence as co-pitching coach” alongside formal pitching coach Chris Hook and associate pitching/catching/strategy coach Walker McKinven.
In Karsay’s three seasons with the Brewers, Milwaukee relievers have led all bullpens in strikeout rate (27.9%) and rank second in SIERA (3.78). Such arms as Josh Hader, Brent Suter and Devin Williams have been the cornerstones of the pen, but the Brew Crew has also been successful in turning unheralded arms into valuable relievers or in mining bounce-back seasons from more experienced pitchers looking for a change of scenery.
Beyond Karsay’s departure, another change to Craig Counsell’s staff could be in the offing. Single-A manager Matt Erickson is under consideration for a promotion to the Brewers’ coaching ranks in an unspecified role (though not bullpen coach). Milwaukee is known to be looking for a third hitting coach, or Erickson could possibly be added in a more general coaching capacity. The Brewers currently have 10 members of their coaching staff, with an 11th to be filled once Karsay’s replacement is found.
Erickson is a longtime member of the organization whose only MLB playing experience came in a four-game cup of coffee with the Brewers in 2004. Since retiring, Erickson has both coached and (since 2011) managed his hometown team, as the A-level Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are located near Erickson’s birthplace of Appleton, Wisconsin.
Go T Rats!
I hate to see Karsay go! He has done such a good job in Milwaukee.
Jim Henderson the former Brewer pitcher?
Yep, Big Jim the reliever.
Just need Axford on the staff somewhere now.
What team has the most coaches? The Brewers will have 11 with the new bullpen couch and possibly a 12th with a 3rd hitting coach. Does a team happen to have over a dozen coaches?
Every player needs their own fielding, hitting and running coaches, plus a coach to coach those coaches.
How come Counsell gets a link but Karsay doesn’t?
When you’ve got that many coaches…pitching coach; assistant pitching coach; associate pitching coach…how the heck can each be evaluated fairly? Can’t look at results cuz you don’t know who was responsible…probably a combination of all of them. It’s like when you have an offensive coordinator in football, but Brady is your QB. Does the coach deserve credit when you know you’ve got a hall of fame QB?
Yes exactly. Along these lines this from the article was a bit strange: “ In Karsay’s three seasons with the Brewers, Milwaukee relievers have led all bullpens in strikeout rate (27.9%) and rank second in SIERA (3.78).” Is he to be credited for that?
Whatever Milwaukee has done, it’s worked. Trevor Richards and Hoby Milner are looking like great finds for the pen as well.