Gone from their current positions: Brent Strom, Mike Fetters and Dan Carlson
If you watched the Diamondbacks this season, you will not have any doubt about why the team failed to make the post-season. They had the best offense in franchise history, posting an OPS+ of 115, and leading the majors in runs scored: their 886 was more than forty above any other team. But the pitching… By earned runs, they came 28th, ahead of only the Marlins and Rockies. The ERA+ of 91 was the worst by Arizona since 2016, and the team hasn’t been at league average since 2019. Today, Steve Gilbert reported that the D-backs would be making major changes on the coaching side: pitching coach Brett Strom, assistant coach Dan Carlson and bullpen coach Mike Fetters will not return next year.
Strom is obviously the biggest name. He came to the team in November 2021, in what was a bit of a surprise, since he had announced his retirement, following the loss in the World Series of his then employer, the Houston Astros. He was widely regarded as a crucial factor in fine-tuning the Astros’ pitching staff and getting the team to the pennant, so it was seen as a coup for the D-backs to have his service. It wasn’t long before there were glowing reports: in May 2022, Tom Verducci wrote an article, “How Diamondbacks Pitching Coach Brent Strom Is Fixing Last Year’s Worst Team.” To be fair, the Arizona ERA did improve, though from 5.15, there wasn’t anywhere else to go.
However, the early improvement was not sustained. From 4.26 in Strom’s first season, the ERA went the wrong way, increasing to 4.48 last year, and then went up further to the 4.63 figure posted in 2024. Jack talked to the coach, who had one year left under contract, and said it was a surprise, but acknowledged the buck stopped with him: “Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and when it comes to the pitching, that’s me.” The move gives the Diamondbacks plenty of time to look for a replacement, and John Gambadoro Tweeted that he “would not be surprised if they go outside the organization.”
However, both Carlson and Fetters had been part of the organization considerably longer. Fetters had been with Arizona in various roles since 2012. Mike had played with the D-backs, becoming a cult hero for his head movement, famously parodied by Mark Grace during his one appearance on the mound. He had initially been the team’s quality control coach, moving to a bullpen role in 2017. Carlson had also appeared for Arizona, albeit only two games in the franchise’s rookie season of 1999. He rejoined as a pitching coach in 2002, first in the minors before becoming the pitching coordinator in 2014, and assistant pitching coach in 2022.
I do note the phrasing of Gilbert’s Tweet: “will not return to the @Dbacks next year in their current roles.” While I imagine Strom is unlikely to return in any role, I can see Carlson, and perhaps Fetters, being re-assigned to other positions. But whoever takes on the role of pitching coach will certainly have work to do. Though as with Strom’s arrival, it’s hard to see the ERA next year increasing again.