Rick Peterson

Eric Harding "Rick" Peterson (born October 30, 1954) is a pitching coach and former pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was a pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, but is most notable as the pitching coach for the Oakland Athletics and New York Mets. Peterson is known for his unique use of biomechanical research and psychological principles to help pitchers improve their pitching motions.cite news | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_1_62/ai_94818629 | title = A's pitching coach Rick Peterson using a philosophical approach to teaching| first = Norman | last = Macht | publisher = "Baseball Digest"| date = 2003-01-01 | accessdate = 2008-02-12 ] His nicknames include "The Jacket" and "The Professor."

Early life

Peterson was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The Baltimore Orioles drafted him out of high school, but instead of signing with the Orioles, he chose to go to Gulf Coast Junior College in Panama City, Florida. He then attended Jacksonville University and graduated with a combined degree in psychology and art.

Playing career

Peterson was drafted for the second time in the 21st round of the June 1976 free agent draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates. At that time, his father, Pete Peterson, was Pittsburgh's farm system director and future general manager. Rick Peterson played in the class-A Pirates organization for four years, from 1976-1979.

Coaching career

Peterson began his coaching career in Minor League Baseball when he coached with the single-A Salem Pirates (now Salem Avalanche) of the Carolina League from 1979-1980. In 1980, he was part of the coaching staff with the (R) Gulf Coast Pirates of the Gulf Coast League. From 1981 to 1982, Peterson was with the (AA) Buffalo Bisons of the Eastern League. After his stay in Buffalo, he got a coaching position with the (AA) Lynn Sailors of the Eastern League in 1983.

In 1984, Peterson became the bullpen coach of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Peterson held this coaching job with the Pirates from 1984-1985.

Peterson joined the Cleveland Indians organization in 1986 and was a part of the coaching staff of Waterbury (AA) of the Eastern League in 1986, Buffalo (AAA) of the American Association in 1987 and Colorado Springs Sky Sox (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League in 1988.

After departing the Cleveland organization, Peterson joined the Chicago White Sox farm system and spent six seasons there as a pitching coach. Peterson was with Birmingham Barons (AA) of the Southern League from 1989-1991, Vancouver (AAA) of the American Association in 1992, and Nashville (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League from 1993-1994. After spending many years in the minor leagues, Peterson was promoted to the White Sox on June 21, 1994.

From 1994 to 1995, Peterson stayed with the White Sox as a Co-director of the sports psychology program as it related to performance behavior.

In 1996, Peterson became the Toronto Blue Jays minor league pitching coordinator. The following season, he was the pitching coach of the Trenton Thunder, then the AA affiliate of the Boston Red Sox.

Peterson joined the Oakland Athletics organization as a roving minor league pitching instructor for the 1998 season. He was named the major league pitching coach for the A's on March 26, 1998. He is well-known for helping the A’s develop the ‘Big Three’ of Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, and Tim Hudson. All three pitchers became 20-game winners under Rick Peterson and Zito won the 2002 American League Cy Young Award. After he arrived in 1998, Peterson helped his pitching staff obtain an American League best ERA for two years, 3.63 in 2003 and 3.58 in 2002.

Peterson joined the New York Mets in November 2003 as their pitching coach, replacing Rick Waits. Peterson gained the ire of many Mets fans when in July 2004 he allegedly said he could "fix" Tampa Bay Devil Rays pitcher Victor Zambrano in "10 minutes" and allegedly said that Mets’ top prospect Scott Kazmir was at least 3 years away from being a Major League pitcher. Many believe that his support, along with these statements, led to the infamous Kazmir trade, where the Mets traded Kazmir for Zambrano. Overall, Zambrano had dismal results with the Mets after the trade, while Kazmir was immediately promoted to the majors by the Devil Rays and instantly became one of the most promising young pitchers in baseball. Early in the 2006 season, Zambrano suffered a season ending injury to his elbow, further contrasting his performance with Kazmir's. Others claim that Peterson was merely giving his opinion as pitching coach, and that any blame for the trade should fall on GM Jim Duquette, owner Fred Wilpon, and COO Jeff Wilpon. Victor Zambrano was not resigned after the 2006 season; he is no longer in baseball.

On February 2, 2007, Peterson's contract with the Mets was extended through the 2009 season.cite news | url = http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070202&content_id=1793191&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym | title = Mets coaches receive new contracts, Peterson signed through 2009; rest of staff also ink deals| first = Marty | last = Noble | publisher = "mlb.com"| date = 2007-02-02 | accessdate = 2008-02-12 ]

On June 17, 2008, Rick Peterson, along with Manager Willie Randolph and first base coach Tom Nieto, was fired from his position with the New York Mets.

References

* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_1_62/ai_94818629 A's pitching coach Rick Peterson using a philosophical approach to teaching]
* [http://www.baseballprospectus.com/news/20030217keri.shtml Prospectus Q&A: Rick Peterson]
* [http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070202&content_id=1793191&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym Mets coaches receive new contracts]