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Rays' Success Pleases Rothschild

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By CARTER GADDIS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 18, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Lou Piniella generated all the buzz, but another former Rays manager also made his return Tuesday.

Cubs pitching coach Larry Rothschild still lives in Tampa during the offseason. Yet, he had not set foot in Tropicana Field since he was fired on April 18, 2001.

The long absence from the stadium he helped christen as Tampa Bay's original manager in 1998 was because of the demands of the Cubs' schedule, not because of any lingering resentment about the method of his departure.

"You want them to do well," Rothschild said. "I live here, and it would be nice to have a team that does well."

Rothschild, 54, has found a healthy niche in his hometown of Chicago, where his pitching staffs have led the majors in strikeouts for each of the past six seasons. He's tied with the Twins' Rick Anderson for the third-longest tenure as a pitching coach in the majors, behind the Cardinals' Dave Duncan (13 years) and the Giants' Dave Righetti (nine years).

Rothschild was 205-294 with the Rays - still, the winningest manager in team history.

And he admires what he sees in today's Rays.

"They've gotten some real nice young players," he said. "They've developed some pitching. Any organization that does that is going to be in good shape. The young players are starting to develop and come through the system, and that's what's made the difference."

Reporter Carter Gaddis can be reached at (813) 259-8291 or igaddis@tampatrib.com.

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