Randy St. Claire will stay on as the Washington Nationals' pitching coach in 2007, while the rest of the coaching staff won't know its status until a new manager is hired.
St. Claire's return, announced Monday, guarantees some continuity for what could be an overhauled and inexperienced pitching staff.
``They say we're trying to rebuild, build for the future, so it always makes it a little uncertain with what's going to go on,'' St. Claire said. ``But with young arms, there's a lot to anticipate, so it's a fun time to be working with these young kids.''
He will be entering his fifth season as the club's pitching coach; only two men have lasted longer in the post with the Montreal Expos-Nationals.
The last-place Nationals had the highest team earned-run average in the NL last season (5.03), but St. Claire has drawn praise for his work the past two years with an injury-riddled and mostly young staff. He helped John Patterson develop into an apparent star-in-the-making and taught Hector Carrasco a changeup that revitalized his career _ earning him a US$6.1 million, two-year deal when he left as a free agent after the 2005 season.
General manager Jim Bowden, who hasn't spoken publicly since announcing Sept. 30 that manager Frank Robinson wouldn't be back, declined a request for an interview through a team spokesman.
Bowden instead issued a statement, saying: ``Randy St. Claire has done a fantastic job with our pitching staff. His work ethic, tireless attention to detail, and ability to communicate have allowed him to build positive relationships with our young pitchers.''
The Nationals went through 12 starters in 2006, and the bullpen was manned by minor leaguers for much of the second half. Starter Brian Lawrence and setup man Luis Ayala missed the entire season, while Patterson made only eight starts before having surgery on his pitching arm.
``One of the biggest keys is keeping everybody healthy,'' said St. Claire, a reliever for nine major league seasons. ``But you've got to do the best job with what you have.''
Other members of Robinson's staff in 2006 _ including hitting coach Mitchell Page, first-base coach Davey Lopes and third-base coach Tony Beasley _ have been told the new manager will have the option of keeping or replacing them.
Beasley said he was given permission to speak with other teams.
``My dream and desire and goal is to stay in Washington and be the third-base coach, but I respect that they would allow a new manager to bring in his own staff,'' Beasley said. ``That's just a part of the business.
``I'll just have to be patient.''
© The Canadian Press, 2007
