Baseball for the Thinking Fan

Login | Register | Feedback

btf_logo
You are here > Home > Baseball Newsstand > Discussion
Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Sunday, February 05, 2023

Park life: Three days with GOAT coach Tom House and his ‘misfits’

In early August 1992, the Rangers were in Seattle. The Mariners had a struggling giant on their staff: the lanky, 6-foot-10, 28-year-old Randy Johnson. Nolan Ryan was Johnson’s idol, and like House, Johnson was a USC product.

Hours before a game in the series, they met Johnson at the Kingdome. The two uniformed Rangers personnel visited with Johnson in the Mariners bullpen, in foul territory on the playing field down the first-base line.

Johnson made a few throws. House made a suggestion. Instead of landing on the heel of his right foot in his delivery, he ought to land on the ball of his foot.

In 125 1/3 innings that season, Johnson posted a 4.52 ERA and walked 97.

After the bullpen session, Johnson posted a 2.65 ERA over 85 innings and struck out 117 while cutting his walks to 47 - a reduction of about two walks per nine innings.

In a one-on-one discussion with Ryan for a magazine piece in 1996, Johnson said: “It’s unheard of, unfortunately, to have other people on another team take the time to help another professional athlete. … You and Tom House didn’t have to help me.”

Much of House’s eye comes from studying video, motion analysis, and staring at biomechanical stick figures for 40 years. He’s almost apologetic for his ability to “see things,” drawing from his mental library.

House was hired by the Rangers in 1985 when the club was looking for an edge to close the gap with rivals who had more resources and talent.

House credits then GM Tom Grieve and manager Bobby Valentine’s openness for allowing his experiments. “They were behind it 100%,” House says.

Even future U.S. President George W. Bush, the managing general partner of the team’s ownership group, gave his approval.

“I got along with Barbara the best,” House said of the Bush family.

RoyalsRetro (AG#1F) Posted: February 05, 2023 at 03:30 PM | 3 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: tom house

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

   1. Walt Davis Posted: February 05, 2023 at 07:41 PM (#6115859)
I assume this means hired in the 85-86 offseason cuz nobody wants to brag about the 85 Rangers (plus BV took over mid-85). Still the question "who was on the 1986 Rangers staff and how did they do?" rarely crosses my mind. Probably not since 1986 if ever.

Charlie Hough was Charlie Hough. Asking 202 innings from 20-yo Ed Correa may not have been the brightest idea -- he managed 70 the next year and that was that. A fairly big load was given to 23-yo Jose Guzman who missed all of 89-90 then broke again at 31 but otherwise regularly managed a full load. But also 22-yo Bobby Witt who survived it all just fine. 21-yo Kevin Brown got a cuppa. Lot of young pitching talent on that team. Also a top relief season from Greg Harris, Mitch Williams was Mitch Williams (maybe he needed to land on the ball of his foot) and a young Jeff Russell had a solid season. All told a 105 ERA+ which by Rangers' standards is practically the 2022 Dodgers.

House was certainly not shy about reliever workload. In 86, Harris threw 111, Williams 98, Russell 82 and Mahorcic 79. The next year it was Williams for 108, Mahorcic for 99 and Russell for 97 (and Harris 140+ but he made 19 starts). But usage was normal after that.
   2. Ron J Posted: February 06, 2023 at 11:35 AM (#6115904)
Interesting. I knew about Ryan's involvement but hadn't heard that House was a part of the sessions that helped Johnson get a consistent landing point.
   3. Zach Posted: February 06, 2023 at 05:37 PM (#6115978)
Really nice article.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

 

 

<< Back to main

BBTF Partner

Dynasty League Baseball

Support BBTF

donate

Thanks to
cHiEf iMpaCt oFfiCEr JE
for his generous support.

You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.

Hot Topics

NewsblogOMNICHATTER for June 2023
(329 - 8:09pm, Jun 10)
Last: Booey

NewsblogRangers ace Jacob deGrom needs Tommy John surgery, will miss rest of 2023 season
(38 - 7:45pm, Jun 10)
Last: baxter

NewsblogJays pitcher Anthony Bass sorry for posting video endorsing anti-LGBTQ boycotts
(194 - 7:36pm, Jun 10)
Last: Captain Joe Bivens, Pointless and Wonderful

Newsblog2023 NBA Playoffs Thread
(2694 - 6:47pm, Jun 10)
Last: i don't vibrate on the frequency of the 57i66135

NewsblogOT Soccer Thread - The Run In
(494 - 5:05pm, Jun 10)
Last: spivey

NewsblogRed Sox outfielder Alex Verdugo benched after failing to hustle on the basepaths, per report
(22 - 4:04pm, Jun 10)
Last: The Honorable Ardo

NewsblogBlack coaches and players say Kansas City Royals' academy to grow local talent has lost its way
(1 - 9:03pm, Jun 09)
Last: Starring Bradley Scotchman as RMc

NewsblogArraez and Let Us Swing
(43 - 8:28pm, Jun 09)
Last: The Yankee Clapper

Sox TherapyLining Up The Minors
(44 - 7:16pm, Jun 09)
Last: jacksone (AKA It's OK...)

Hall of Merit2024 Hall of Merit Ballot Discussion
(119 - 6:57pm, Jun 09)
Last: Jaack

NewsblogAngels place surging Anthony Rendon on IL with groin strain
(8 - 3:08pm, Jun 09)
Last: Anthony22

Hall of MeritReranking Shortstops: Results
(3 - 2:29pm, Jun 09)
Last: Bleed the Freak

NewsblogFormer MLB Stars In Upstate NY, Here's How You Can Meet Them
(25 - 12:59pm, Jun 09)
Last: Anthony22

NewsblogMLB postpones Yankees, Phillies games as Canadian wildfire smoke harms air quality
(37 - 11:18am, Jun 09)
Last: JL72

NewsblogEconomic boost or big business hand-out? Nevada lawmakers consider A’s stadium financing
(17 - 10:13am, Jun 09)
Last: RoyalsRetro (AG#1F)

Page rendered in 0.2313 seconds
48 querie(s) executed