The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Radinsky a jack of all trades at age 50
With all due respect to the debonair, bearded gentlemen in the Dos Equis commercials, the title of “most interesting man in the world” might have to be shared with Scott Radinsky.
The 50-year-old native of Southern California is a baseball survivor, cancer survivor, lead singer and songwriter for the punk rock band Pulley, husband, father, world traveler and founder of Skatelab, a popular skateboard park in his hometown of Simi Valley, Calif. The park is home to the Skateboard Museum and Skateboarding Hall of Fame.
Radinsky, now in his third season as bullpen coach of the Los Angeles Angels, was a accomplished relief pitcher in the major leagues for 11 seasons. He made his big-league debut in April 1990 with the Chicago White Sox and his final appearance with the Indians in October 2001. He missed all of the 1994 season after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Disease.
In 557 games, Radinsky was 42-25 with a 3.40 ERA and 52 saves. He retired after the 2001 season.
Radinsky returned to baseball in 2005 as pitching coach of the Lake County Captains. He worked his way up the ladder in the Indians’ minor-league system to the Double-A Akron Aeros and Triple-A Buffalo Bisons and Columbus Clippers before taking over as Indians bullpen coach in 2010.
He was promoted to pitching coach of the Indians in 2012, but was fired Los Angeles Angels bullpen coach Scott Radinsky at Progressive Field on Aug. 5.
on Aug. 9 that season as the Indians stumbled to a 6894 finish.
He was hired by the Los Angeles Dodgers as a minor-league pitching coach in 2013. Three years later, he was back in the big leagues with the Angels.
Radinsky’s offseason agenda includes plenty of time spent with his wife, Darlene, and their three children, running Skatelab and playing weekend concert dates with Pulley. The band released its eighth studio album, “No Change in the Weather,” in 2016.
We caught up with Radinsky in the visitors dugout at Progressive Field on Aug. 5, before the finale of a three-game series between the Angels and Indians. Do you deserve at least equal billing with the Dos Equis guy? No (laugh). He looks interesting, doesn’t he? I like the commercials. Before we get to baseball, let’s talk music. What
comes first for you as a songwriter, the lyric or the lick?
A lot of times, the lyric. I scribble a lot of stuff down on long rides in planes or the bus, I have a bag stuffed with notebooks, binders, napkins, anything I’ve written on. When I come up with the riff, I have that book to go to. I’ll pick out a riff and put lyrics to it. The music inspires what lyric I’m going to use.
You’ve pitched in front of 30,000 fans in the big leagues and played live with Pulley in front of thousands of fans. Which is more nerve-wracking?
Oh, man, it’s the band. You stand on stage with a microphone in your hand in front of some (expletive). yelling at you. On stage with the band, there’s not a lot of banter back and forth. It’s a wall of music, the best of what we have, beginning to end. There are nerves and anxiety in baseball, for sure, but I feel much more comfortable here (points toward the pitcher’s mound).
Describe the feeling of being on stage, fronting the band
I’m totally in another place. I’m reluctant to look at video, but when I do, I’m almost embarrassed by what I see. There is this 50-year-old man on the stage, bouncing around and acting like a 15-year old. It makes me realize I don’t now what I’m doing. As soon as we start, It’s a different world.
They say with age comes wisdom. Did you feel wiser when you turned 50 in March?
When I was young, I thought 50 was black balloons and you are over the hill. All of a sudden, I’m 50 and realize I’m not even close to that. Wisdom is gained every day along the way if you are willing to absorb it. The trials and tribulations of life make you a stronger person. I’ve gone through speed bumps and setbacks, whatever you want to call them. I hurdled right over them and kept charging through. The future is wide open.
Speaking of speed bumps and setbacks, is it bittersweet to come back to this place given the way it ended for you with the Indians?
I was bitter at first, probably that whole first year after the firing. I could have brought some of it on myself. I had my beliefs. I don’t think the organization was in as a strong of a spot then at the majorleague level. They want to blame me. I’m accountable. It’s fine. The players are the ones I worked for. I still received texts. I still get handshakes. Guys go out of their way, come across the field and say “Hi.” That makes me realize I did something right. I impacted them in a positive way at a point on their lives when they needed help. That’s the definition of a coach.
What memories do you have of your coaching debut in 2005 at Lake County?
I remember everything. (Indians third base coach Mike Sarbaugh) was the manager. Jim Rickon was the hitting coach. We had some good players on that team. Chris Gimenez and Tony Sipp come to mind.
Angels manager Mike Scioscia just denied a report he won’t seek a new contract and step away after 19 years in this job. What kind of a guy is he?
He truly cares about his players and gets to know you as an individual. The Tony LaRussas, Terry Franconas and Mike Scioscias of the world are really secure in their spots. They know who they are and are confident in what they do. They set the tone for the team.
You’re a punk rocker from way back. When in Cleveland, do you visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum?
Been there many times. I like that it changes, that there is always new stuff to read. People who I’ve respected and idolized in my life on the musical side of things, I can sit and learn things about them I didn’t know.
Are your three kids most impressed by dad the baseball guy, dad the punk rock guy or dad the skateboard park guy?
Zero, none of that (laugh). I hope they are impressed that when I can be around, it’s 100 percent of me for them.