The SF Giants Secret Weapon? #TheShift #SportsTalk #SFGiants

There is no doubt that the San Francisco Giants have a marvelous young pitching staff that should keep then in the running for more World Series trophies in the future. But raw pitching talent needs to be nurtured and what better a person than he of ex-Yankeedom Dave "Rags" Righetti? Throughout all the hub-bub that was the NLDS, NLCS, and the World Series and post-game I really didn't hear very many props hurled his way...which is kind of a shame in a way. I would like to see the Yankees have him back as a pitching coach in a heartbeat. That being said...let's take a look at his tenure shall we?

One of baseball's premier pitching coaches returns for 11th season in San Francisco, becoming 1 of just 5 individuals since 1900 to serve as Giants coach for at least 10 years, joining Larry Jansen (12 years, 1954 and 1961-71), Bob Lillis (11 years, 1986-96), Wes Westrum (10 years, 1958-63 and 1968-71) and current bench coach Ron Wotus (1998-present)...10-year run is 2nd-longest in San Francisco history among pitching coaches, behind only 11-year stint logged by Larry Jansen (1961-71)...has been integral part in helping coach 2-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, who has established himself as one of games top pitchers...during time at helm, SF hurlers have posted 4.10 ERA, 4th-best among all NL staffs and 5th-best in majors...only Los Angeles Dodgers (3.91), Atlanta (3.93), Oakland (4.01) and St. Louis (4.09) boast lower ERA's since 2000...led staff to 2nd-place finish in NL for ERA in both 2002-03, marking 1st time Giants team finished in top 2 in consecutive years since 1959-61...team also placed 2nd in majors in ERA in 2009 with 3.55 mark, behind Dodgers' 3.41 figure...Giants starters have amassed 589 wins and .525 winning pct. to rank 4th and 5th, respectively, in senior circuit...bullpen, too, has consistently performed under his tutelage...SF relief corps is tied for 3rd in NL with 266 wins over last 10 years, while ranking 3rd with .536 winning pct....Giants' pen ranks 3rd in league with 428 saves, and 6th with 3.98 ERA...SF has been stingiest long ball staff in NL since he took over pitching reigns (1,433 total).

2009
Staff posted 2nd-lowest ERA (3.55, 571er, 1,446ip) in majors, their highest ranking since 2002 (2nd - 3.54)...staff led majors with 1,302 strikeouts, marking 1st time in SF-era history that club has paced majors in strikeouts and just 3rd time since 1900...San Francisco's 1,302 strikeouts established franchise record for single season, surpassing 2008 total of 1,240...Giants registered 18 shutouts in 2009, by far most in majors and tied for 2nd-most in single-season in SF-era history (also 18 in 1976).

2008
Giants finished 9th in NL with 4.38 ERA (701er, 1,422.0ip) and tied for 2nd with 12 shutouts...SF ranked 7th with 41 saves, but placed 3rd in save pct. (68.3% - 41-for-60)...SF pitchers established single-season franchise record with 1,240 strikeouts on season, 2nd-most in senior circuit (behind Chicago - 1,264).

2007
Giants were 5th in NL with 4.19 ERA, club's lowest mark since 2003 (3.73)...oversaw starting rotation that ranked 4th in league with 4.24 ERA, while leading senior circuit in innings (968.2) for 1st time since 1968...rotation also tied for 2nd in loop with 86 quality starts, while amassing just 5th 700-strikeout campaign in SF history (also 1964 and 1967-69).

2006
SF staff ranked in league's top 5 for ERA during majority of campaign...Giants were 5th in NL with 4.24 mark on Sept. 9, but pitchers were touched for 7.67 mark over last 19 games...SF starters ranked 7th in senior circuit with 4.58 ERA, while finishing 2nd with both 982.2 innings pitched and .258 avg. against.

2005
Did tremendous job under trying circumstances, as 24 pitchers employed by Giants marked 3rd-most in franchise history...only 1990 club (26 hurlers) and 1995 edition (25) sent more players to mound...SF had 3.58 ERA after All-Star Break, 4th-lowest in senior circuit.

2004
Starters owned NL's 2nd-highest winning pct. at .592 (61-42)...under his tutelage, Jason Schmidt won career-high 18 games and established SF record with 251 strikeouts, while Noah Lowry fashioned 2nd longest career-opening winning streak in Giants franchise history at 6-0.

2003
Guided SF staff to 2nd place finish in NL ERA race (3.73), despite using 13 starting pitchers, most starters used by SF since 1991 club gave 15 different hurlers starting assignments...helped guide Jason Schmidt to 17-5 mark with league-best 2.34 ERA, campaign that resulted in 2nd-place finish in NL Cy Young voting.

2002
Directed best Giants pitching staff in 13 years, as club's 3.54 ERA ranked 2nd in NL and was club's lowest since it posted 3.30 mark in 1989...also marked 1st time SF had finished in top 2 of league for ERA since 1987, when it led circuit with 3.68 ledger...tutored rotation that boasted 5 different 12-game winners, becoming 6th quintet to do so in franchise history and 1st in 79 years...Russ Ortiz (14-10), Kirk Rueter (14-8), Jason Schmidt (13-8), Ryan Jensen (13-8) and Livan Hernandez (12-16) joined NY Giants staffs from 1905, 1906, 1910, 1917 and 1923...with Hernandez (216.0 innings), Ortiz (214.1) and Rueter (203.2), Giants also had 3 different hurlers top 200-inning plateau in same season for 1st time since 1991 (Bud Black, John Burkett and Trevor Wilson).

2001
Completed 2nd year as SF pitching coach, overseeing staff that finished 7th in NL with 4.18 ERA.

2000
Marked 1st year on Major League staff...guided pitching staff to 4th-best ERA in NL (4.21)...Livan Hernandez (17-11), Shawn Estes (15-6), Russ Ortiz (14-12), Mark Gardner (11-7) and Kirk Rueter (11-9) became only 4th SF team to have 5 different 10-game winners (1968, '73 and '82)...Giants posted 3.45 ERA (264er, 688.0ip) during 2nd Half, best in majors.

1999
Returned to Giants organization, serving as roving minor league pitching instructor...served as SF's interim pitching coach May 3-5 in Pittsburgh, while Ron Perranoski visited his ill mother.

Playing Career
During his banner 16-year big league career, stylish left-hander made stops with Yankees (1979, 1981-90), Giants (1991-93), A's (1994), Blue Jays (1994) and White Sox (1995)...posted 82-79 record with 3.46 ERA and 1,112 strikeouts in 718 career games (89 starts)...with 252 career saves, ranks 27th on Major League Baseball's all-time save list...ranks 2nd on Yankees' all-time charts for saves (224) and games pitched (522)...began career as starter, then converted to reliever in 1984...earned American League Rookie of Year award in 1981 after going 8-4 with 2.06 ERA (2nd-best in AL)...played major role in Yankees' trip to World Series in 1981...earned 2 victories in Division Series vs. Milwaukee, winning Game 2 as starter and Game 5 in relief...was also winning pitcher as starter in Game 3 of ALCS vs. Oakland...had no-decision in only appearance vs. Dodgers in World Series...while wearing New York pinstripes, tossed no-hitter against Boston Red Sox, July 4, 1983...was 1st Yankee no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in 1956 World Series...in 1984, notched 31 saves in 40 chances during 1st campaign as reliever...was named to American League All-Star squads in 1986 and 1987 while with New York...established then-Major League record with 46 saves in 1986...finished 4th in Cy Young voting and 10th in AL MVP (BBWAA) balloting that year...was named to AP post season All-Star squad while also earning Rolaids Relief Man of Year and The Sporting News Fireman of Year awards...won 2nd straight Rolaids AL Relief Man award and tied for Fireman of Year in 1987 with 31 saves...signed with Giants as free agent, Dec. 5, 1990...ranked 5th in NL with 24 saves in 1991...total was 2nd best in Giants history at time, trailing only Greg Minton's 30 in 1982...notched 1,000th career strikeout April 29, 1991, fanning St. Louis' Felix Jose.

A Giant in the Community
Serves on Board of Directors for Jean Weingarten Peninsula Oral School for the Deaf (JWPOSD), having done so for last 15 years...is involved with various Cerebral Palsy organizations and El Camino Health Care...contributes to Ronnie Lott's charitable foundation as well as Boys and Girls Clubs of America...has been involved with Leukemia Society...has lent his image to Organ Donor Awareness Day player cards...in 2005, visited veterans home in Yountville, CA...has been fixture at KNBR/Giants Winter FanFest.

Personal
San Jose (CA) native was All-League baseball player at Pioneer High School...also attended San Jose City College...was named state Junior College Player of Year in 1977...brother, Steve, played in Texas organization from 1977-79...father, Leo, was star shortstop in Pacific Coast League while playing for San Francisco Seals...married (Kandice, February 11, 1989)...3 children (triplets Nicolette, Natalee and Wesley, July 19, 1991)

Needless to say...GREAT JOB RAGS...I'm proud of ya as a Yankee fan!!!