[stevem810]

Today we look at Johan Guerin, the pitching coach for the Diamonds. His personnel sheet provides the background information on Johan as well as his accomplishments over the years (see sheet).

Looking beyond the information included, what is it that makes this coach so successful? If you are going to be referred to as a 'legend', you better live up to it.

After six highly successful years with the Montreal Royal organization, missing the post-season only once, he opted to leave and sign with the Diamonds. Never having been on a Royal team with a losing record, and with one championship under his belt as well as five playoff appearances, he chose to leave Canada and take his skills to Martinique.

Johan has mentioned in the past that he saw a tremendous opportunity to work with younger players who were still developing. The Montreal staff was pretty well set, so the challenge of young arms like Henri, Bour, and Burke was too much to resist.

After inheriting a 3.47 ERA, Johan's teams went on to post 2.84 and 2.48 ERA's, in that order. Now, in 1967, the pitchers are on a pace to shatter all FBL pitching records with their 1.70 ERA.

Guerin understands the framework that surrounds his pitchers better than maybe any other PC in the league. It's not always about mechanics, he often points out. "Sometimes you have to take a pitcher aside and find out what they are thinking. Or, what their approach is to their pitching they are taking. Is a player pressing? Are they fatigued? Or, maybe just distracted. I watch my pitchers closely while they are on the mound and in the dugout. It's not a one size fits all situation. Some you have to approach softly, while others need a challenge."

GM Meyers has often said that Guerin is irreplaceable. A vital cog in the Diamond process that too often goes unnoticed.