By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, NY — Mike Quade has been around professional baseball for more than three decades, but the first-year Rochester Red Wings manager anticipates adjustments in the upcoming season.
“It’s not like riding the bike necessarily,” Quade said Tuesday at Frontier Field when acknowledging his time away from managing. “I went out to coach third for the first time in four and a half years.”
When the Red Wings open their 2015 season at Buffalo’s Coca-Cola Field, Quade will start his 18th year as a manager in minor league baseball. But it will be his first in that role since 2011.
“You do it for a long, long time, but that was a big break,” Quade said. “I still had to get my feet wet there.”
Time will tell, but Quade and the 2015 Red Wings should prove a perfect fit. The first-year coach inherits a roster with 20 returning players from last year’s team and 24 who have played at some point with the Rochester nine during their career.
“A lot of these guys have been together both here and in the organization. I’m the new guy,” Quade admitted.
The veteran players give the new manager reason for optimism. From work ethic, attention to details and desire to win, Quade has been impressed.
“I was totally impressed,” Quade stated. “If you start with that, these guys will realize their talent levels. We pitched it extremely well. We played great defensive, and the bats were much better later in the camp. Having a group that did things and a staff that knows what’s going on made it very easy to transition it made very to get back into it.”
Quade like the rest of minor league baseball will adapt to the pitch clock which will be used this year.
“Much ado about nothing for me. I’m all in. I mean let’s go. Get the ball, make a decision and execute a pitch. Get in the box, figure out what you want to do, put a good swing on the ball.”
The Florida resident pointed out the possible dilemma with the new rules intended to speed up the pace of play.
“The game is geared toward offense,” he said pointing out the smaller ball parks and the influence of fans who like to see more runs cross the plate. “It’s hard to cut back on time when you want more offense. We’ll see how it plays out.”
The Twins organization enforced the 20-second clock during intra-squad scrimmages.
“We were averaging in all of our games somewhere between 10 and 12 seconds per pitch,” Quade explained. “It gives you eight seconds on the back end. That’s an eternity. We had no problems whatsoever.
“It’s obviously something that’s been dictated, but I just don’t think it’s a big deal.”
Alex Meyer will get the first crack at the pitch clock. Rochester’s Opening Day starter went 8-6 with a 2.84 ERA for the Wings in 2014.
“I don’t think it should be an issue,” said Meyer who experienced a pitch clock in college. “If you are getting warned, then you are probably taking too much time.”
Meyer is one of nine returning pitchers to Rochester staff including Logan Darnell, Trevor May and Caleb Thielbar.
“It’s just speaks to the type of people the Twins have brought into this organization,” Meyer commented. “There are some great, not just baseball players, but people in general. There’s a reason they’re coming back.”
Meyer averaged 1.17 strikeouts per inning (tops in the International League among starters) last year.
“I’m excited. Want to go out there and get the season started on the right foot.”
The game will be broadcast on WSYL-AM (1040) and Time Warner Sports (Channel 26).
Quade managed Iowa (Pacific Coast) for four seasons from 2003-2006 before serving in the same for the Chicago Cubs in 2010 and 11. He has been a roving coach for the past few seasons.
Leave a Reply