Doc defends Dubee, calls Wild Thing "off base"

Earlier today, former Phillies pitcher and current MLB Network analyst Mitch Williams basically called for the firing of Philllies pitching coach Rich Dubee.

Among other things, Williams said several pitchers had mechanical issues that any other pitching coach would be able to see and address.

Prior to Friday's game, that word traveled to the unofficial leader of the Phillies pitching staff, Roy Halladay. Halladay did not mince words when asked about Williams.

"Coming from the mechanical wonder," Halladay began. "I strongly disagree. To come form a guy who's not around, who's not involved, who's not involved in the conversations, who honestly has no idea what's going on – he really doesn't, he has no idea what's going on – for coaches and players to make comment like that it's completely out of line. Rich Dubee, when I first came over, he taught me a changeup. If I didn't have that I wouldn't have had the success I had. Especially dealing with the injuries I dealt with, if I didn't have that pitch, if I didn't have him working with me, I really would have been in a lot of trouble.

"In my opinion, I think it's a statement that I feel like he has to make amends for, I really do. There are very few pitching coaches that I respect more than Rich Dubee.

"Watching Kyle Kendrick, the stuff that he's learned, the way that he's grown, it's because of Rich Dubee and it's because of his work ethic and the way he goes about things.

"It really does upset me, it upsets me that guys outside of our group of guys that don't uderstand what's going on make comments like that. Hopefully it's something he'll learn from. I'm not sure if that's the case, but he couldn't be further the truth, and I don't think it's the first time he's been off base."

Wiliams' assault on Dubee came on 94-WIP's Morning Show on Friday.

"I see things now, in this pitching staff that as a pitcher you don't feel, that's why there's coaches," Williams said. "Halladay is struggling—when he was earlier, it was plain as day what was wrong and it wasn't fixed. You watch things go on—it may be time for a new voice with the pitchers. ... It's not personal. I think that these pitchers have to hear something because what they're doing right now just isn't getting it done. They are way too talented for it to be what's going on right now," Williams said.

And now more from Halladay:

"I've heard (Williams) criticize a lot of guys for mechanics, and for a guy who has never been a pitching coach, I mean, I wouldn't do that. I wouldn't go and look at any player in the major leagues and say, 'well he should do it this way.' I just don't understand where that comes from, I really don't. You know, former players, guys that had certain success doing it a certain way, there is no one way to do things. And to think that you know the one way to do it, it's a little bit arrogant. And I think he's criticized quite a few guys in the past on mechanics. It's something I would never do. … What matters is your success and how guys get it done. It's not (always) mechanical, it's a matter of confidence, there are a lot of things that go into it. I really feel he's wrong on this one. I'm sure he's not a bad guy, I'm sure he's trying to do the best he can at his job, but I really feel like he was kind of off the mark on this one."