Jerry Weinstein remembers Chris Bosio as “an emotional, adrenalized, competitive guy” at Sacramento City College in 1982.
“He has organized himself very well since then, and he has turned into one of the better pitching coaches in baseball,” said Weinstein, Bosio’s former coach, who is managing Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.
“When he started, it probably was more of an emotional thing. But it has become more orderly. (Plus) he really understands the mechanics of the game and the psyche of individual pitchers on the staff.”
As pitching coach of a Cubs team returning from its second straight lengthy postseason, Bosio will help sculpt an eight-man bullpen.
“Spring training is a chance to figure a lot of things out,” Bosio said. “We’re looking forward to seeing what we have. We have some guys we picked up, some minor-league guys. (Now) we’ll let the competition begin.”
Bosio’s list of chores starts with getting to know veteran newcomers Wade Davis and Koji Uehara, who have plenty of postseason experience but were plagued by injuries last season.
Second, returnees Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop have appeared in 385 games over the last three seasons, but they struggled in September after returning from injuries.
Third, Carl Edwards Jr. and Justin Grimm return, but the Cubs remain cautious regarding a bigger role for Edwards as Davis, Uehara and Rondon all have extensive closer experience. Grimm, who has pitched in 203 games over the last three seasons, understands he must approach this spring more carefully than in the past.
“Usually I’m firing and ready to go,” Grimm said. “I’ll use some of my time wisely this year and have more during the season instead of throwing 97 (mph) the first day of spring training.”
Grimm learned the hard way when he missed the first month of 2015 because of a sore right forearm after he made a career-high 73 appearances in 2014.
“That’s something I struggle with,” Grimm said of his eagerness. “I’ve always worked super hard, and I’m ready to go from day one because I don’t like to think my job is ever safe. And nobody on this team should ever think that way. Then you’re going to get complacent.
“It’s just more using my time wisely and making sure I’m ready to go for the season when the time is right.”
Bosio also will be tasked with managing starting depth as the Cubs have four returning pitchers in the rotation who made at least 29 starts.
“There’s survival depth,” President Theo Epstein said. “That’s where your 20th to 25th pitcher comes in. Then there’s depth of guys you want in big games, to pitch in big spots. I think we’re particularly deep with those kind of guys. That’s nice and where you want to get. (But) you never get there in all facets, like in the pen.”
The Cubs’ pitching in the playoffs impressed Weinstein as the staff performed as Bosio once did – with toughness, aggressiveness and resilience. Now it’s a matter of Bosio and Co. using the most of their 6 weeks of spring training developing a healthy, dependable and deep bullpen.
“That was the one thing we did more than anything, make sure the emotion works well for you as a young player,” Weinstein said of his work with college players during Bosio’s time. “He’s not young anymore. None of us are. But he has matured into a tremendous teacher.”