ASTROS From pitching coach to pin cushion
Houston's Jim Hickey works more on psychology than mechanics.
HOUSTON (AP) -- Astros pitching coach Jim Hickey doesn't spend a lot of time reminding players of mechanics or how to correct mistakes.
In charge of a pitching staff that includes Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Roy Oswalt, he doesn't have to.
On this team, his role is mostly one of motivation and understanding.
"I'm just a sounding board," said the man who never pitched in the majors. "Really, we don't need pitching coaches, we need pitching psychologists."
And in that regard Pettitte is one of his best patients.
"A pitching coach needs to be a good pin cushion," said Pettitte. "He's somebody that will talk to you during the game and listen to you and [you can] throw stuff off of him."
One win away
Hickey and the Astros are one win away from reaching their first World Series. They'll take a 3-2 lead in the NL championship series into St. Louis for Game 6 tonight.
The 44-year-old longtime minor league coach is constantly asked about how he handles conversations with Clemens, who is less than one year his junior.
"You just do what needs to be done and say what needs to be said for the most part," he said. "You don't think about who it is that you are talking to or what they've accomplished."
His advice varies more by situation than it does by player.
For the affable Hickey, knowing what to say isn't that difficult, whether it's Clemens or a rookie.
"Really deep down, just like everybody else, they're looking for the same types of things, the positive reinforcement, the pointing out certain things that maybe aren't going right."
Hickey, who pitched from 1983-89 in the minors and spent 14 more seasons as a coach, was promoted from Triple-A New Orleans in July 2004 after Astros manager Jimy Williams, pitching coach Burt Hooton and hitting coach Harry Spilman were fired.
Thrown into the job in midseason, he didn't have time to be awe-struck by Clemens or anyone else. He called a meeting when he first arrived to ask players what they needed and how he could help.
After Hickey came to Houston and manager Phil Garner took over, the Astros went 36-10 to claim a wild card berth on the final day of the season.
Garner said Hickey sat back and got a feel for the different players before immediately jumping in and giving advice.
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