Big Papi is stealing the FOX pre-game show. We need a new coach. Hers are two in one body! (We did not need a new word, but I couldn't resist!) Benchitting coach would be oerfect for him
Big Papi is stealing the FOX pre-game show. We need a new coach. Hers are two in one body! (We did not need a new word, but I couldn't resist!) Benchitting coach would be oerfect for him
I don't get this push for Papi as a coach. He was a leader as a player but there's a big difference between that and being able to do the same thing as a coach.
Besides, nothing tarnishes a great player's legacy like failing as a coach. Is the risk really worth it from Ortiz's perspective?
How much are Marco Hernandez and Christian Vazquez supposed to learn about hitting from a guy who hits in a completely different way? Ortiz made a big study of how to hit his way, but has he really got stuff to share with guys who have to get on base in a completely different way? Not sure. And neither are you.
And the idea of putting a guy in at bench coach with no prior coaching experience is absurd. You want a guy there who can run the team if the manager is ejected. It's not a figurehead position, the bench coach is the XO of the whole damn team, often handles more of the nitty gritty decisions than the manager does. You absolutely want a veteran, experienced coach there. As in experienced *at being a coach.* Especially if we're going to have an untried manager running the show.
Last edited by Dojji; 10-26-2017 at 08:28 AM.
If history tells us anything, the path to redeption for any bad baseball team is marked with a deep rotation of durable starters, a world class defense in both infield and outfield, a lineup that can generate runs in more than one way, a bullpen that won't steal defeat from the jaws of victory, and a top end catcher to hold the whole package together. These are the conditions by which victory is achieved, anything that does not accomplish these objectives is a waste of resources.
I agree the idea of Ortiz coaching or managing is a non starter. Those who make the suggestion also forget another reason, why would Ortiz want to? He certainly doesn't need the money. He is beloved by virtually everyone in baseball, red sox fans or not. Why would he risk that? He has got one of the best deals going doing what he is doing. I just don't see him wanting to do anything else.
"Hating the Yankees like it's a religion since 94'" RIP Mike.
"It's also a simple and indisputable fact that WAR isn't the be-all end-all in valuations, especially in real life. Wanna know why? Because an ace in run-prevention for 120 innings means more often than not, a sub-standard pitcher covering for the rest of the IP that pitcher fails to provide. You can't see value in a vacuum when a player does not provide full-time production."
Generally, the new hitting coach (not Big Papi) will go along with Cora, who probably holds the view of the current Astro's. They are aggressive and may appreciate the idea of launch angle associated with home run hitting, etc. Watching the big swingers on both the Astro's and the Dodgers, they tend to loop their swings to achieve the high launch angles. Their timing has to be nearly perfect and against front line pitching the runs have been hard to come by in some of the games. It seems to be an all or nothing approach, strikeout versus power hit.
I prefer Ted Williams old approach where during the swing, the bat maintained and angle that would describe the path of the ball as it naturally dropped. That way, the bat stays in the plane of the ball as it drops and the chances of making solid contact improve. I will like it if our batters get more aggressive but not if he go to these longer looping swings.