Balancing Act on the Bump - Carlos Chantres

Over the course of a Minor League Baseball season, teams constantly have to work with frequent changes to their rosters. Through all the promotions, demotions, injuries, trades, and other transactions, Charleston RiverDogs pitching coach Carlos Chantres needs to find a way to keep pitchers on patterns and have them ready to pitch and work their way up the system.

The New York Yankees have scores of pitchers in their organization, and well over 20 of them have pitched for Charleston this season. Chantres has been in charge of these pitchers, getting them prepared to succeed in the South Atlantic League and hopefully at higher levels of the organization once they are promoted.

"We are doing pretty good," Chantres said in an interview with RiverDogs broadcaster Sean Houston earlier in the season. "Obviously, there is always stuff you want to work on to get them better, but these guys have been working their butt off and doing everything that we asked."

During the first half of the season, the RiverDogs were battling the Savannah Sand Gnats for the league's best earned run average. Entering the month of July, Charleston is topping the Sally League with 714 strikeouts as a team.

Perhaps the best stat for Chantres and the pitching staff is the fact that seven RiverDogs pitchers have been promoted to the High-A Tampa Yankees in the first three months of the season. According to Chantres, pitchers that establish their fastball and build their pitching repertoire behind it can quickly find success at this level and work their way through the system.

"In this league, if you are able to throw your secondary stuff for strikes, you are going to have a good year." Chantres said. "The main goal, and for you to move up the levels, you have got to establish your fastball. If you are able to locate your fastball and throw the other stuff, you should be able to move up quickly."

Chantres pitched for 12 Minor League seasons, starting in the Chicago White Sox system and working alongside pitchers like Jon Garland, Kip Wells, and Chad Bradford. He became a pitching coach in 2007 and helped the Gulf Coast League Yankees to a 2.72 ERA that season, which was the best mark among all Rookie-Level teams.

2014 is the second season in Charleston for Chantres, who also coached the RiverDogs in 2011. Among the several pitchers that have been called up so far, Luis Severino stands out for his status as New York's top right-handed pitching prospect. Severino went 3-2 with a 2.79 ERA before he joined the Tampa Yankees on June 20.

"Severino has got an electric arm," Chantres said weeks before his promotion. "It is so easy, the ball comes right out of his hand. He is pitching really good, and he is putting up great numbers."

Although pitcher development is very important to Chantres, he also has to keep RiverDogs pitchers healthy and ready to work through a long season. Chantres needs to have a rotation of starting pitchers to open games and balance the workload of the bullpen to keep fresh arms available for late-game situations. Healthy, consistent pitching makes this balancing act easier.

"I think staying healthy is every pitcher's main goal," starting pitcher Rookie Davis earlier this season. "I hate missing starts. I do not want to tap into our bullpen whenever I do not have to."

Chantres keeps a close eye on his staff to maintain the health and skills of the pitchers while also trying to prepare them for the next level. Pitch counts, hydration, and rest are some of the key elements that Chantres takes under consideration. Even with the challenges of the job, Chantres is having fun as the pitching coach while working with the rest of the RiverDogs coaching staff.

"We joke around a lot. We try to keep it light because 140-something games is a grind, especially with road trips and these long bus rides. It can take a toll on you, but it has been great. These guys are fun to work with."