Dodgers News: Brandon McCarthy Discusses Lure Of Analytics, Health
The overhaul of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ front office surprised many as it first began with prying Andrew Friedman out of Tampa Bay, where he led the Rays and routinely rejected overtures from other clubs.
With Friedman in place, next to make the move to Los Angeles was Farhan Zaidi, who left his assistant general manager role with the Oakland Athletics to become the GM of the Dodgers. Josh Byrnes, Gabe Kapler and others were eventually added to the group and the new regime was in place.
The makeover also resonated with Brandon McCarhty, who was a free agent at the time the Dodgers began their hiring spree. “It was a pretty big factor,” McCarthy said. “When I saw Friedman, and Farhan, and Josh coming here, I was fascinated by the idea of that many smart cooks in the kitchen.”
McCarthy made his spring debut Sunday, throwing two innings and allowing one earned run on two hits. He’s coming off a year in which he struggled with the Arizona Diamondbacks before turning his luck around following a trade to the New York Yankees.
McCarthy credits the Yankees organization for providing him with what he called a dossier on himself, which offered an in-depth look at his pitching tendencies and how to improve. While he said he hasn’t received the same information with the Dodgers, trust helped lead McCarthy to Los Angeles.
“Once I found out they were interested and we were going that way, I was fully on board because I don’t think they wouldn’t let me slide down an an end where if I physically was unable to perform, where they would let me get back,” he said Sunday.
Coming off a season in which he made over 30 starts for the first time in his career, McCarthy hopes it was evidence he’s recovered from shoulder troubles. While McCarthy allowed he feels stronger than he previously has, he’s aware of the work that lies ahead in order to shake free of the injury-prone label.
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