Thursday, May 17, 2012 |
Mickey Hatcher, Jerk And Ignoramus (Update: Or, Maybe That's Just The Author)
The Angels fired hitting coach Mickey Hatcher yesterday.If this is true — and the results certainly speak for themselves — the Angels have already upgraded at hitting coach. Too bad that's not enough. (Hat tip to Rev. Halofan.)Lots of “oh, what a great guy” stuff out there, particularly from those in the sports journalism community.
And I say … bosh!
I found Mickey Hatcher to be an aggressively ignorant clod.
I realize that he has a reputation as a fun guy, a prankster, a jokester … but I never saw that. Ever. Just heard about it, and marveled at it.
...
The measure of Mickey Hatcher was his persistently out-of-touch style as a hitting coach. Boiled down, it was this: “See a pitch … hack at it.”
It led to Angels teams that often had below-average on-base percentages. And this in an era where “everyone” pretty much had agreed that OBP is a very important statistic, because getting somebody to first base means you are far more likely to score a run. But Mickey Hatcher never coached “working the count” or “take a walk” because he didn’t believe in it.
Update: Mike Petriello reminds me that Oberjuerge has a rather checkered history at judging character, at one point calling Matt Kemp a "dolt" for his actions in a meaningless late 2009 game.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 |
Angels Fire Mickey Hatcher
Update: Bill Shaikin mentions the significant intelligence that the move was announced by Dipoto, not Scioscia. Definitely a warning shot to Scioscia. Mike DiGiovanna thinks this was all Arte's doing.
Update 2: Angels.com story.
"We think the absolute world of Mickey as a person and thank him for all of his contributions to this organization," Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said in a statement.The new hitting coach will be Jim Eppard, previously AAA Salt Lake's hitting coach."Sometimes in the sports world a point is reached where perhaps a new voice is needed in order to attain the desired goals and objectives. Unfortunately, we feel this is one of those times. Offensively, we have underachieved, and everyone shares in the responsibility of what has transpired thus far."
Update 3: Mark Saxon analysis at ESPN/LA:
Under former GMs Bill Stoneman or Tony Reagins, Tuesday's move seems unlikely, certainly in May. But Dipoto has brought in his own people and has his own vision for this team, one which doesn't always align with the way Scioscia and Hatcher viewed things. He vowed back in November to increase the Angels' emphasis on on-base percentage. Scioscia and Hatcher continued to preach patience only as a means to an end -- getting a good pitch to hit -- not as an end in itself -- a walk.Of course, when you bring in guys like Pujols who are arguably approaching the end of their careers — with warning signs, to boot — it makes you question the general manager, too.Of course, the man in the middle of all this is Pujols, who so far has a cost-to-home run ratio of 240 million-to-one. Mix in one struggling superstar, one new and powerful GM and you get a manager with less ability to stand up for his own guys.
Labels: angels, coaches, firings
Friday, November 26, 2010 |
Dodgers Re-Sign Jon Garland, Other Belated News
- Not the most momentous signing you'll see this offseason, but I still view it as a net positive in the you-can-never-have-too-much-pitching department: Jon Garland will return to the Dodgers on a one-year, $5M deal. The deal also contains an $8M automatically vesting option that kicks in if he hits 190 innings pitched in 2011.
- Hiroki Kuroda will likewise return, which is probably good news because he was really about the third- or fourth-best free agent pitcher available on the open market.
- The Dodgers signed ex-Oakland, ex-Toronto pitcher Dana Eveland to a split deal with terms as of yet unannounced.
- Three Dodgers were not offered arbitration at the deadline: Scott Podsednik, Rod Barajas, and Vicente Padilla.
- Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger signed with Seattle, ending his failed experiment with the Dodgers.
- Davey Lopes' return to the Dodgers headlines the finalization of the 2011 coaching staff: besides Lopes (first base coach), the team will have bench coach Trey Hillman, third base coach Tim Wallach, and hitting instructor Dave Hansen. Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt and hitting coach Jeff Pentland return in their respective roles.
- The McCourt divorce is official, but negotiations continue on what exactly that means. The mediator in the case has called in Bingham McCutcheon, the authors of the original MPA, perhaps as a way to save themselves from a potentially very costly settlement.
Labels: coaches, dodgers, transactions
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 |
Rob Picciolo To Replace Ron Roenicke As Angels Bench Coach
Additionally, Steve Soliz has been promoted from bullpen catcher to bullpen coach and Adam Nevala will become the head medical trainer. The team fired trainer Ned Bergert, who had been with the team for 36 years, last month along with several scouts
Labels: angels, coaches, front office
Tuesday, November 02, 2010 |
Dodgers Exercise Option On Podsednik And Other Post-Series News
Also — perhaps not unexpectedly — Tim Wallach is no longer in the running for the Brewers' managerial job, and will return to the Dodgers in some capacity, most likely the team's third base coach.
Update: Looks like Angels bench coach Ron Roenicke has been tapped to run the Brewers.
Update 2: The Padres exercised Adrian Gonzalez' 2011 option for $5M. He'll be a free agent in 2012.
Update 3: Prescience:
So, having thrown open Logan White's horn of plenty in the pursuit of the one whale you might want to harpoon, and in face of the likelihood that [Brewers GM Doug] Melvin laughed off my offer [for Prince Fielder], you can ratchet down expectations and try trading Loney and Theriot to the Orioles for Luke Scott. Scott will be another arbitration case, so this isn't about saving money, but about making sure you're not putzing around with Xavier Paul or Garret Anderson or Scott Podsednik or the like in left field in 2011.Update 4: Davey Lopes might return to LA as a third base coach. Speculation at this point, but no surprise that it's being mooted.
Update 5: The numbers are in, and the 2010 World Series is tied for the lowest ratings ever — with the 2008 Rays/Phillies World Series.
Labels: coaches, dodgers, hot stove, transactions
Monday, October 25, 2010 |
Tim Wallach Out As Milwaukee's New Manager, Likely Dodgers' Third Base Coach
Labels: brewers, coaches, dodgers, managers
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 |
Trey Hillman Likely To Be The Next Dodgers' Bench Coach
Thursday, September 16, 2010 |
... And Frank Drinks Too Much, And Jamie Smells Funny: Bob Schaefer Writes His Career Suicide Note
- Joe Torre isn't coming back
- Don Mattingly turned down managerial positions to stay in LA (from whom, and at what level?)
- Manny-steroids=no superman
- And most damningly, the Dodgers "will have to pull a rabbit out of the hat ... to contend next year".
Labels: coaches, dodgers, stupid ideas
Sunday, May 09, 2010 |
Pickoff Moves
Angels Take Two Straight On Matsui's Career 1,500th RBI: Angels 4, Mariners 3
Scary to think it's been almost two weeks since the Angels took two games in a row, but the April 25th win against Cleveland was that far in the rear view mirror.I liked the Angels scoring first, not so much Joe Saunders bleeding runs to make himself ineligible for the win, despite the fact that two of the runs were unearned. As he has all season, he wasn't much in the strike zone (of his 106 pitches, only 54 went in for strikes). The bullpen managed their job; worst offense in the league or no, it's still a positive development.
Hideki Matsui drove the winning run across in the 10th, and yay. Hopefully, this marks the end of his late skid. Kendry's still batting cleanup for a reason.
Haeger The Horrible, Part 7: Rockies 8, Dodgers 0
This was Charlie Haeger's seventh start for the Dodgers this year, and I was struck, looking back at his record, how he doesn't even have a single quality start past his first one, and even that was only a technical quality start thanks to an unearned run. The talk now is of Carlos Monasterios taking the job, and who can blame Joe Torre for that? Well, me, for one; why has it taken this long for the team to figure out that Haeger isn't getting it done? Is John Ely that bad?I looked up, and it was 6-0 in the first, and Haeger hadn't made a single out. The last time a Dodger starter gave up six runs while failing to record an out was Claude Osteen on August 28, 1971 against the Mets. Shockingly, the 31-year-old Osteen still had some miles left in him, continuing to compete in the majors for another four years, two of them with the Dodgers.
An embarrassing outing for the Dodgers, who failed to score despite getting seven hits off Rockies pitching; but all save for an Andre Ethier double were singles.
Mariners Fire Hitting Coach Jim Cockrell
The usual scapegoat has been fired. Lookout Landing says AAA Tacoma's hitting coach Alonzo Powell is his replacement.Labels: angels, coaches, dodgers, firings, mariners, recaps, rockies
Monday, November 09, 2009 |
Dodgers Return Entire Coaching Staff For 2010
LOS ANGELES – The 2009 National League West Division Champion Los Angeles Dodgers today announced that their entire Major League coaching staff will return for the 2010 season. Led by manager Joe Torre, the staff has guided the Dodgers to two straight National League West Division titles and two consecutive National League Championship Series. General Manager Ned Colletti made the announcement.The coaches:
Larry Bowa – Third Base Coach (third season)
Mariano Duncan – First Base Coach (fifth season)
Rick Honeycutt – Pitching Coach (fifth season)
Ken Howell – Bullpen Coach (third season)
Don Mattingly – Hitting Coach (third season)
Manny Mota – Coach (31st season)
Jeff Pentland – Instructor (third season)
Bob Schaefer – Bench Coach (third season)Bowa will enter his fifth straight season as a third base coach for Torre and his third with Los Angeles. The 2010 season will be Bowa’s 45th in professional baseball as a player, coach or manager. The California native and longtime Phillies’ shortstop will be inducted into the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame along with Dodger Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda this week.
Duncan played for the Dodgers from 1985-87 and 1989 was inducted into the Dominican Sports Hall of Fame in 2008. The San Pedro de Macoris native first joined the Dodgers as the first base coach in 2006.
Honeycutt will enter his fifth consecutive season as the Dodgers’ pitching coach and last year his staff led the Major Leagues with a 3.41 ERA. Since he took over the reigns in 2006, Los Angeles has posted a 3.88 ERA, which is the best in baseball over that time. In 2009, the Dodgers’ also led the Majors in opponents’ batting average (.233) and finished tied for second with 1,272 strikeouts.
Howell oversaw a bullpen in 2009 that led the Majors with a 3.12 ERA, finishing well ahead of the second-ranked Oakland A’s (3.46). Since Howell came onboard in 2008, the Dodgers’ bullpen ERA is a Major-League best 3.22 and the bullpens’ 999 strikeouts over that time ranks second to the New York Yankees (1,006).
Mattingly, who officially became the Dodger hitting coach at the 2008 All-Star break, will return for his second full season. In 2009, the club hit .270, which tied them with the New York Mets for tops in the National League. The Dodgers also led the National League with 1,511 hits and a .346 on-base percentage.
Schaefer will enter his 30
th year in professional baseball, a span that includes seven seasons as a minor league manager (1980-81, 1983-87). Schaefer also twice managed the Kansas City Royals on an interim basis, most recently in 2005. In a game against the Giants in San Francisco this past season, Schaefer’s knowledge of the rare “four-out rule” helped the Dodgers to an extra run in their 3-1 victory.Mota will enter his 31
st season as a coach with the Dodgers and 41st overall in the organization. He donned a Dodger uniform as a player in parts of 13 seasons from 1969-80 and 1982. His tenure as a coach is the longest in Los Angeles Dodger history.Pentland joined the Dodger organization in 2008 and next year will be his 13
th season as a coach on the Major League level. Since he officially joined the coaching staff on July 1, 2008, the Dodgers’ team batting average is .271, which is tied for second in the National League over that time.
Saturday, October 03, 2009 |
Pickoff Moves
Padres Fire Kevin Towers
Via David Pinto, the Padres have fired general manager Kevin Towers.Moorad declined to discuss specific candidates, except to say that his search had not been internal. Arizona Vice President Jerry DiPoto, who joined the Diamondbacks during Moorad's tenure in Phoenix, is considered a leading contender. Pat Gillick, who built World Series champions in Toronto and Philadelphia, has said he might leave semi-retirement at age 72 for the right situation “on the West Coast.”
Weaver Picks Up Record Win: Angels 5, A's 2
After finding myself grateful for missing out on Thursday's execrable 11-3 loss to the Rangers, I missed this one, too, and lived to regret it, with Jered Weaver picking up a team-high 16th win. It's also a personal best, as he's never had more than 13 previously. I found it pretty ironic that, listening to today's pre-game show, one of the beat reporters (I want to say Mike DiGiovanna of the Times) said that Weaver shouldn't start first because he doesn't do well on the road, and this on the heels of a road win. On the other hand, 4.78 ERA on the road, 2.90 ERA at home.Dodgers Stumble Becomes A Pratfall As Hot Rocks Win Fifth Straight: Rockies 4, Dodgers 3
I have little to add to MSTI's piece about yesterday's unbelievable mess of a game — I was attending a prep football game at which my niece Emily was cheerleading. I can only say they really need to wake up. Manny with a golden sombrero? Come on, now.Another Dick Fired
Via David Pinto, the infinitely giggle-inducing (and possibly tautologically-named) Reds pitching coach Dick Pole has been fired.Labels: angels, athletics, coaches, dodgers, firings, recaps, reds, rockies
Thursday, May 21, 2009 |
Pickoff Moves
Dodgers Sweep Mets, Look Forward To Doing The Same To The Angels: Dodgers 2, Mets 1
A fairly tight pitcher's duel from two guys you would not have expected it from — Livan Hernandez? Jeff Weaver? — but a pitcher's duel nonetheless. Hernandez outlasted Weaver, but it was J.J. Putz, the former Mariner whose electric stuff used to give the Angels fits, who ended up losing the game on an RBI single to Russell Martin, of all people. That much I saw, and then Jonathan Broxton coming in to nail the save. Me likee.As it turns out, the Dodgers can beat the Mets even if the Mets don't spot them any errors. And given the way the Angels are playing, I wouldn't be surprised if the Dodgers sweep them, too.
Everybody's Talkin' 'Bout Me: Matt Palmer's Missouri Hometown Abuzz
Welcome to Carruthersville, Missouri, where his mom owns a local restaurant:“Local people come by all day, even if they’re just coffee drinkers, and that’s all the talk,” Gardner said. “A lot of them bring newspaper articles or print them off the Internet. Everybody wants to talk about Matt.”Next thing you know, the Angels will have a radio affiliate there, too.
The Next Casualty Of Success: Roenicke Looking For A Managerial Stint
He's only had one interview so far.Dodgers To Play Yanks In 2010 Interleague Schedule
Should be a good series in the Bronx.Labels: coaches, dodgers, mets, recaps, yankees
Monday, February 16, 2009 |
Greg Maddux Comes Back To Padres As Spring Training Pitching Instructor
"Last year a lot of our conversations were about the future," Padres manager Bud Black said Monday. "I said, 'Greg, you have some freedom to explore. I'll tell you what I'm thinking about before, during and after the game."Black said he and Padres general manager Kevin Towers kept in contact with Maddux over the winter about the possibility of returning as a coach. Black said the Chicago Cubs also inquired about Maddux returning as a coach.
Labels: coaches, ex-dodgers, padres
Tuesday, December 02, 2008 |
Owlz Announce 2009 Staff
Labels: angels, coaches, minors
Monday, November 24, 2008 |
Rockies Name Virtually All-New Coaching Staff
Labels: coaches, ex-angels, ex-dodgers, rockies
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 |
Rockies To Hire Jim Tracy As Bench Coach?
Labels: coaches, ex-dodgers, rumors
Monday, November 03, 2008 |
Pickoff Moves, Bedtime Edition
White Sox Recycle Dodgers, Angels System Player, Coach
The White Sox have picked up Olmedo Saenz to coach Advanced Rookie Great Falls. Former Angels system coach Ever Magallanes will manage the Chisox' class-A Birmingham team. Interestingly enough, an ex-Sox went to the Dodgers, Carlos Subero, who is the manager for the Dodgers' Inland Empire Cal League affiliate.Ned: Signing Manny Won't Be Fast
Jon Heyman:Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said what's been obvious for a while, and that is that their talks with superstar free-agent outfielder Manny Ramirez aren't going to result in a quick signing."I'm not too confident it's going to be resolved in the next short period of time,'' Colletti said Monday at the baseball general manager meetings.
While Colletti said again that the Dodgers had yet to meet with Ramirez's agent, Scott Boras, or make an offer, sources say they intend to make an initial short-term offer at a high annual salary, something along the lines of $55 million over two years. Ramirez, the Dodgers' season savior who hit .397 with 17 home runs and 53 RBIs in 53 games, has made it clear he's interested in getting the best deal he can anywhere, suggesting during interviews in the playoffs that he wants a six-year contract.
Rangers Tab Mike Maddux For Pitching Coach
The Rangers have signed Mike Maddux as their pitching coach. Maddux previously was the Brewers' pitching coach, but became a free agent at the end of the year. It's likely that the Rangers came up with a big offer.Padres Get Michael Watt From Dodgers As PTBNL In Maddux Deal
The Padres acquired Michael Watt from the Dodgers as the player to be named later in the deal that sent Greg Maddux to the Dodgers.As part of negotiations that would send Padres pitcher Greg Maddux to Los Angeles on Aug. 19, the Dodgers refused to trade Watt. Creative thinking by Padres General Manager Kevin Towers helped the two sides strike a deal. Towers suggested that if the Dodgers reached the playoffs, the Padres could get Watt, in addition to minor league pitcher Eduardo Perez. The Dodgers eventually agreed, and when L.A. won the National League West, the Padres got Watt.Watson said that Watt was responding well to Dodgers coaching and conditioning methods by season's end. In the lefty's final 23 innings, he had 20 strikeouts and zero walks. He went 9-4 with a 4.35 ERA in the hitter-friendly Pioneer League.
The Dodgers' Logan White, a former Padres scout whose draft record since 2002 ranks “as good as anybody's,” according to Towers, selected Watt 86th overall out of Capistrano Valley High. In a waiver claim later in October, the Padres grabbed another player drafted out of high school by White, second baseman Travis Denker.
Towers and the Dodgers could talk trade again this month as Towers tests Jake Peavy's trade value. Jump-starting the GM meetings in Dana Point, Towers yesterday was to meet with the Cubs, Brewers and Cardinals.
Labels: brewers, cardinals, coaches, cubs, minors, padres, rangers, rumors, trades, transactions
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 |
Dodgers To Hire Lenny Harris As Minor League Hitting Instructor
Friday, October 24, 2008 |
Like It Or Not, Dodgers Will Send The Whole Coaching Staff Back For 2009
Labels: coaches, dodgers, transactions
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 |
Arizona To Retain All Coaching Staff For 2009
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