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Twins Let Gary Lucas Go

Seth Stohs

By Seth Stohs
in Twins Minor League Talk

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Seth Stohs GOAT

Seth Stohs

Site Manager
Posted
Posted

Gary Lucas has been a pitching coach in the Twins farm system for a long time. 

 

In 2013, I had the chance to talk to him in the Cedar Rapids dugout for awhile and his passion for pitching and teaching and seeing his pitchers advance was evident. 

 

I talked to him a bit this spring, and again in July when I wrote an article on JO Berrios going to the Futures Game. 

 

Today, LaVelle Neal posted on his pregame blog that Lucas and the Twins parted ways. That's the nice way of saying it, I think. 

 

I've seen him work with pitchers. He is greatly responsible for the progress of JO Berrios from last year (where he coached him in Cedar Rapids) to this year (where he coached him in Ft. Myers). He's worked work Tyler Duffey and Jason Wheeler and Matt Tomshaw and David Hurlbut and Brandon Peterson and Mason Melotakis and, and, and... this was a good year in the Twins minor league system for pitchers (starters and relievers). 

 

I get that changes get made and such, but this one bugs me a bit. 

ashbury GOAT

ashbury

Verified Member
Posted
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Hard to believe there is dissatisfaction with the progress of the pitchers in the low minors.  I'm taking a wild guess that he wants a major league job and doesn't see one happening for him anytime soon with the Twins (even though we believe an opening at the top is coming soon).  Too bad to lose him, but I doubt it will be hard to find someone else good.

USAFChief GOAT

USAFChief

Twins Daily Contributor
Posted
Posted

If he's been in the system a long time, and done well, there must be evidence of that on the Twins pitching staff, right? Pitchers he helped mold that went on to help the Twins succeed?

 

Who are those guys?

 

I must admit I'm perplexed by the resistance to change things in an effort to get better results.

Thrylos St Paul Saints

Thrylos

Old-Timey Member
Posted
Posted

There is more that what meets the eye here, I suspect.

 

And Gary Lucas has been one of the most soft spoken (yes he is if you do not know that) Twins' coaches.  And pretty darn effective.  And pretty darn caring both about his kids and the organization.  Had a talk with him last ST about Hughes.  He was adamant that he was "our" (and he said that) "number 2 starter".

 

Gee

Hosken Bombo Disco All-Star

Hosken Bombo Disco

Community Moderator
Posted
Posted

In recent years, "loyalty" has been a Twins front office justification for keeping certain people in the same positions despite performance issues. I think Kwak is putting a cynical spin on Lucas's termination. Cynicism I share. Anyway, hope that helps. :)

Badsmerf Cedar Rapids Kernels

Badsmerf

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Please tell me this isn't the move the Twins use to "fix" their pitching problems. I'm fine with moving on from Lucas with the lack of success the Twins have had. I'm reserving a complete opinion until I see what other dominoes start to fall.

Rosterman Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

Rosterman

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

He possibly might just wish to retire, or move on. Been with the Twins a lot. A good, decent job. I'm sure he has had inquiries. Maybe there are more.

 

We do have Luis Ramirez, Rudy Hernandez, Ivan Artega an Henry Bonilla in the low minors as coaches. 

 

And weren't the Twins running one coach light in Elizabethton this season?

 

Also, interested to see if Sam Perlozzo returns.

Seth Stohs GOAT

Seth Stohs

Site Manager
Posted
  • Author
Posted

He will look for (and hopefully find) another pitching coach job. This isn't a move that Lucas wanted.

 

No, ETown had all three coaches... Ray Smith (Manager), Jeff Reed (hitting coach) and Henry Bonilla (pitching coach).

Badsmerf Cedar Rapids Kernels

Badsmerf

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Seth, you sound close to the situation. Any other details you feel able to share? Why is your opinion that Lucas should have stayed? I'm obviously that worried about this move 1) because I didn't get to see the impact Lucas had 2) because the Twins pitchers haven't just not been doing well at the MLB, they have had a ton of injuries and only this season look like prospects have taken steps. 

 

Change has to happen right now. Some, will be undeserving of being let go. Others, should be but wont. Unfortunately, who the Twins fire is going to be the main talker this offseason.

Seth Stohs GOAT

Seth Stohs

Site Manager
Posted
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Posted

I thought Jeff Reed retired.

 

He did (or at least chose not to coach for a brief while). Let's just say it wasn't surprising when he was again the hitting coach when the E-Town season started.

Seth Stohs GOAT

Seth Stohs

Site Manager
Posted
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Posted

Seth, you sound close to the situation. Any other details you feel able to share? Why is your opinion that Lucas should have stayed? I'm obviously that worried about this move 1) because I didn't get to see the impact Lucas had 2) because the Twins pitchers haven't just not been doing well at the MLB, they have had a ton of injuries and only this season look like prospects have taken steps. 

 

Change has to happen right now. Some, will be undeserving of being let go. Others, should be but wont. Unfortunately, who the Twins fire is going to be the main talker this offseason.

 

I guess I don't believe in the part about "some will be undeserving of being let go." 

 

For me, and the question you asked... I've seen Lucas work with pitchers. I saw the Twins minor league have a LOT of terrific showings from starting pitchers and relievers. With his work in the lower levels, he has guys ready to go to AA and guys like Wheeler, Berrios and Duffey all did well this year after moving up. In talking to him, he always understood the bigger picture. He would encourage guys to work on the pitches that they needed as they move up. He would say that guys are doing X and Y well, but he liked to also say that they weren't in the big leagues yet, so there is more they can do and work on. 

 

I don't know everything. I just think it was surprising. 

The Wise One First Round Pick

The Wise One

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

I guess I don't believe in the part about "some will be undeserving of being let go." 

 

For me, and the question you asked... I've seen Lucas work with pitchers. I saw the Twins minor league have a LOT of terrific showings from starting pitchers and relievers. With his work in the lower levels, he has guys ready to go to AA and guys like Wheeler, Berrios and Duffey all did well this year after moving up. In talking to him, he always understood the bigger picture. He would encourage guys to work on the pitches that they needed as they move up. He would say that guys are doing X and Y well, but he liked to also say that they weren't in the big leagues yet, so there is more they can do and work on. 

 

I don't know everything. I just think it was surprising. 

He once wanted to work closer to home. Lucas found himself working in Florida. Perhaps he was let go because he voiced sidpleasure.

Steven Buhr Prep Ball

Steven Buhr

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

I'd like to believe this is the first of major changes from Minneapolis to Ft Myers rookie ball but I sincerely doubt it.

 

Every Twins affiliate from Rochester to Elizabethton had a winning record this year.

 

Whatever is wrong with this organization, you'd be hard pressed to make a case that the issue is with the minor league staffs. The Twins made a few changes a couple years ago and since that time, the pipeline has filled with quality young players moving their way up. You may or may not think the Twins, as an organization, move top prospects quickly enough, but those decisions are not made by the minor league field staff.

 

Those who simply think getting rid of everybody in the organization will magically improve everything should be a little careful what they wish for.

Linus Cedar Rapids Kernels

Linus

Verified Member
Posted
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Wait, I thought everyone at TD wanted everyone fired for the past 4 years - you know, time to clean house and all.  Now the Twins are criticized because they are making changes to their personnel - I'm confused.

whydidnt Draft Eligible

whydidnt

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Every Twins affiliate from Rochester to Elizabethton had a winning record this year.

 

Whatever is wrong with this organization, you'd be hard pressed to make a case that the issue is with the minor league staffs. The Twins made a few changes a couple years ago and since that time, the pipeline has filled with quality young players moving their way up. You may or may not think the Twins, as an organization, move top prospects quickly enough, but those decisions are not made by the minor league field staff.

 

Those who simply think getting rid of everybody in the organization will magically improve everything should be a little careful what they wish for.

 

You obviously know more about this than many of us, and I agree that just making changes for changes sake is not the answer.  

 

Having said this, over the last few years, we seem to see many players advance to the majors that don't seem to have a grasp of basic fundamentals. From not taking proper routes on fly balls, to missing the cut-off man, to not running smart, etc. To me, this speaks to a failure somewhere in coaching at the minor league level, and means they should be making changes. These are basic things that really don't have much to do with talent, and are things the Twins continually miss on. In addition, the Twins philosophy regarding pitching has been an abject failure, they just don't advance quality arms to the majors. The staff down there may just be following marching orders, but at some point the guys hired to teach have to be responsible for the fact that few, if any ever do well at the major league level.

 

For these reasons, I think the Twins should be looking closely at all of their coaching, including at the Minor league level and they should make changes. I am obviously not qualified to determine if Gary Lucas was part of the problem or part of the solution, but in general support the Twins making changes in areas they have been doing poorly in, and that does include development pitchers.  

Thegrin First Round Pick

Thegrin

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

Twins prospects need to stop striking out.  Lucas may not be a hitting coach, but perhaps this signals an organizational wide change in the way prospects are taught.  There are new techniques in preparing pitchers that include exercises that add increased speed.  Perhaps they are looking for coaches that will emphasize new techniques that improve throwing mechanics and reduce injuries. 

70charger Ft Myers Mighty Mussels

70charger

Verified Member
Posted
Posted

 

“I’m not bitter. I don’t have a chip on my shoulder,” Lucas said. “I will keep pulling for the Twins. I know I just got caught up in the politics of the game.”

 

What kind of politics are going on here?

 

The Twins better have an A+ hire to replace him, otherwise this one kind of stinks.

nicksaviking MVP

nicksaviking

Community Moderator
Posted
Posted

There have been some good pitchers that have come under his guidence. However it does seem like despite some pretty good velociy, assortment of pitches and overall good stuff, Twins pitchers don't seem to miss as many bats as they should in what is a traditionally a league filled with lots of swing and miss youngsters.

 

Perhaps the move was a reflection of a changing pitching philosophy so many of us have been asking for. The Twins have been last in the league in strikeouts for most of a decade, surely that's an area they are looking to improve upon. I don't know the ins and outs of minor league pitching instruction, but if they viewed Lucas as a coach that is entrenched in a philosophy they no longer wish to employ, then letting him go would make some sense.

 

Still, he sounds like a good guy and it's sad to see anyone let go regardless of the justifications.

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