PADRES: A well-kept secret

Watchful Balsley among top pitching coaches

By DAN HAYES - Staff Writer | Friday, April 11, 2008 5:32 AM PDT ∞

The Padres' Darren Balsley may be one of the top pitching coaches in baseball.

He doesn't ask for retinal scans, fingerprint matches or secured doors. But when the Padres are on the road, pitching coach Darren Balsley is highly protective of his pregame worksheets.

Written on 8 1/2–by-11 sheets of paper, Balsley's worksheets are blueprints for how Padres pitchers might want to target opposing hitters over the course of a series. Included in the schematics are copious notes of hitters' tendencies, statistical analyses of strengths and weaknesses and other forms of critical information ---- all derived from hours Balsley spent poring over video, reading scouting reports and reviewing previous notes.

Needless to say, it's common to find Balsley, a Mt. Carmel High grad, dutifully tracking down each top-secret document prior to each road game ---- all in order to negate the chance it falls into the hands of the enemy, better known as clubhouse employees.

Catcher Josh Bard says the act is just a quirk, part of the caring and steadfast nature that makes Balsley one of the top pitching coaches in all of baseball ---- perhaps even the best.

If you ask Balsley, though, his diligence is merely common sense.

"It's just like leaving a (football) playbook lying around," said Balsley, who pitched at Palomar College before playing six seasons in the minor leagues. "I'm sure ours is very similar to other teams, but we may have something in there that works for us that we don't want anybody else seeing. ... I usually assign one reliever to take care of them (like) Doug Brocail. The last couple of years, he gathered them up and hid them from guys."

Despite boasting a pitching staff that has led the National League in ERA for the past two seasons, Balsley largely remains invisible when conversation turns to the game's top pitching coaches.

Perhaps it's because he's tucked away in San Diego. Some knock Balsley's efforts because his pitchers play half their games in cavernous Petco Park.

Or maybe it's because, as Bard said, Balsley doesn't make a practice of "tooting his own horn."

When asked why he's been so successful since he was hired by the Padres on May 17, 2003, Balsley often credits his pitchers for being smart and athletic. He notes that his catchers work tirelessly to be prepared. And he mentions that bullpen coach Darrel Akerfelds is one of baseball's best bullpen coaches and could easily be a pitching coach if he wanted.

Whatever the reason, it's rare to hear Balsley's name mentioned among the best pitching coaches, and that's a fact that has Greg Maddux stymied.

After spending 11 seasons in Atlanta with Leo Mazzone ---- widely considered the best pitching coach of the past 20 years ---- Maddux knows what makes a good coach. And he sees those ingredients within Balsley.

According to Maddux, when it comes to mechanics and identifying a problem in a pitcher's delivery, nobody can match Balsley.

"He's the fastest," Maddux said. "(Other coaches) tell you something right to do, not necessarily what you're doing wrong. Balsley's pretty good at being on the money as far as what you're doing wrong. No (he doesn't get enough credit). Not even close. Maybe he wants it that way. He's got a good demeanor through the good times and the bad times. He's very even-keeled and he's smart. He knows the hitters very well, well as any pitching coach I've ever worked with. He watches a lot of video. And he really enjoys the tedious work."

That attention to detail is evident to Balsley's charges.

Jake Peavy knows that when he arrives at work, Balsley will have every variable of that night's game covered: what pitch a hitter doesn't like on an 0-2 count, when he's going to look for a fastball, what his tendencies have been of late. When that's combined with his own knowledge and that of his catcher, Peavy doesn't have to worry about anything but execution.

"He does his homework, and there are going to be no excuses for not succeeding," Peavy said. "He has you prepared and he leaves the ball in your court. It's up to you to do what you know you can do."

Bard agrees, but thinks there's even more to it. He notes that the level of support Balsley has for each of his pitchers is off the charts, and he believes that counts for a lot.

"He expects you to go out and execute and he believes you're going to do it," Bard said. "I think sometimes thinking you're going to execute and believing it rubs off on the guys. ... Balls is a pretty humble guy. There are other pitching coaches in this league that might be a little more self-affirming and making sure people see they're doing great. But I think Balls is one of those guys who's OK just putting the best staff out there. I think that's what he gets his satisfaction from, and I think that's why guys love to pitch for him."

Manager Bud Black also sees the hard work and dedication.

Before taking over the Padres, Black spent seven years as pitching coach for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. And he has a pretty good idea of what motivates Balsley to arrive at the park almost six hours before the first pitch is thrown ---- and to stay long after the game has ended.

"He really enjoys the day-to-day contact with the pitchers from a mechanics side to a strategic side," Black said. "I think more than anything, he cares about them."

He also cares about what his pitchers do with those worksheets. And Black knows his coach is sure to keep a watchful eye over each and every one of them.

"That's sensitive information," Black said with a smile.

Contact staff writer Dan Hayes at dhayes@nctimes.com.