Arizona Diamondbacks - long-time coach Sherlock leaves for Mets

Glenn Sherlock, who was an original member of the Arizona Diamondbacks coaching staff, was named to Mets’ coaching staff

For the Arizona Diamondbacks, here’s another tie from the past cut and now forgotten.

After completion of the 2016 season, the Diamondbacks had two coaches, pitching coach Mike Butcher and hitting coach Dave Magadan, under contract for the next season. Rumors were heavy that Mike Hazen, the new general manager and Torey Lovullo, the new field manager, would begin to build their own staff, and release several familiar names.

As soon as Hazen assumed the reigns, he sent Matt Williams, the third base coach, and Mark Grace, assistant hitting coach, packing. At the same time, rumors circulated that bench coach Glenn Sherlock would not return in that capacity, but offered another job within the organization.

While Sherlock expressed a desire to remain in the dugout, he began, at the same time, to entertain options. A decision was reached Tuesday. That’s when Sherlock, at 56-years-old and an original member of the Diamondbacks coaching staff dating back to 1996, decided to bolt and join the staff of New York Mets manager Terry Collins. On Tuesday, Sherlock was named as Mets’ third base coach.

Sherlock’s departure, while not surprising, was indicative of Hazen’s thoughts expressed at last week’s general manager meeting in Scottsdale. When commenting on the release of Williams, Grace and bullpen coach Garvin Alston, Hazen pointed to a new regime in place and a new beginning at hand.

“We had to give the manager some freedom to put some staff together,” Hazen said at the GM meetings. “That’s a responsibility that we have.”

Now, Lovullo is searching for a bench coach, a third base coach, an assistant hitting coach, if he feels one is necessary, and a bullpen coach.

The departure of Sherlock was not unexpected. The native of Nahant, Mass. served in various capacities with the Diamondbacks, and commenced his duties two years before the first pitch was thrown on March 31, 1998. Most recently, he was the third base coach to then manager Chip Hale during the 2015 season, and last year, as Hale’s bench coach.

A catcher by trade, Sherlock worked with catchers in pitch calling, operating in concert with the pitching staff to ensure quality starts, and enhancing defensive skills. Over the past season and one-half in particular, Sherlock worked closely with Welington Castillo on framing, and improvement was detected in trying to find an extra strike to two for the pitcher.

At the time of his departure, Sherlock was on the Diamondbacks staff for 19 seasons, and he only one remaining who served on staff prior to the team’s opening day game in 1998.

Now, first coach Dave McKay, along with Butcher, Madigan and Ariel Prieto, who essentially serves as an interpreter for Yasmany Tomas, remain as coaches. Both Hazen and Lovullo continue to mull over candidates for several spots, and Hazen continually tells listeners the process will not be rushed.