Coaching Staff Discussion

[strumdatjaguar]

A lot of questions as to how many Twins insiders fill out the coaching staff. Does Bruno return as hitting coach?    Is Terry Steinbach part of the staff? Do we have someone with extensive managerial experience (minor or major) as Third Base Coach or Bench Coach, and wouldn't that person logically be Gene Glynn?   Does Mientkewicz get promoted to Class AA or AAA?   Is there a place for Dougie Baseball on the Major League Staff?  Pitching coach - Should we go outside of the organization or is it Bobby Cuellar, the biggest question of all?   Is there a place for fired Cubs Manager Rick Renteria on this staff???

Finally, are we going to have to put up with the nickname Molly?  The uke's use of it always grated on me!

[Oldgoat_MN]

Very important questions, some of them.

 

It seemed to me that Bruno had great success with Danny Santana. The kid hit better than he ever has before and he had enough PA to allow other teams to exploit any weakness. 

 

Vargas hit poorly his last few weeks, but we don't really know what we have there.

 

I am a Cuellar fan, but I don't know if he is the best available.

 

This will be fun.

[Bark's Lounge]

My guess is that a few coaches will remain for the 2015 season. Brunansky seems like the most likely to remain as our offense did good for the most part.

 

I don't know jack squat about what goes into finding a qualified pitching coach, but maybe if Joe Maddon wants to bring in some of his own coaches in Wrigleyville, Chris Bosio might become available. This scenario is extremely doubtful as I'm pretty positive all of Tampa's coaches are under contract and Maddon's departure from TB was far from pleasant. It appears Epstein and Hoyer were satisfied with Renteria and his staff's handling of the team. They just could not pass on adding Maddon.

 

Maybe some bullpen coaches would be good candidates:

 

Eddie Perez (ATL)

Mark Gardner (SF)

Matt LeCroy (DC) (I did not list this gentleman to piss anyone off)

 

Like Old Goat said - "It will be fun."

[goulik]

We think we know the manager now so who will he and Ryan hire? Here's a few thoughts/ options. Feel free to discuss my options and destroy my suggestions, fill in the coaching positions I left open and add your own suggested coaches. For the love of God though, please don't bring the pros and cons of hiring Molitor into this thread...thats a different thread.

 

Bench: Ozzie Guillen- Latin bench voice that has managed and can be a resource for a rookie manager

 

Pitching: Bert Blyleven- He's been managing the Dutch national team which has done surprisingly well and he will tell the young pitchers like it is. He is an insider so to speak but he definitely has his own mind and isn't a yes man.

 

Hitting: Tom Brunansky- Young hitters were not afraid to pull the ball with him as a coach. I think Joe Mauer could benefit from some more time with him.

 

First Base: Gene Glynn- He has earned a spot up here. Another good resource for Molitor and a reward for job well done up to this point.

 

Bullpen: Bobby Cuellar- I am all for cleaning house but all the other peoples positive comments about Cuellar have me bringing him back.

 

Still open:

Third Base Coach

Infield Coach- Vavra's job this past year

Outfield Coach- Ullger's job this past year

Assistant Bench/Base Running Coach- Molitors previous job

[SweetOne69]

No to Guillen and Blyleven. Blyleven makes more in broadcasting than he would as a coach, plus he only works 100 days a year.

 

Guillen is too much of a loud mouth and I don't think he would be able to keep his mouth shut.

 

I think Yount will be the bench coach.

[big dog]

Guillen would do everything possible to draw all the attention to himself.  That's how it's worked so far.  I think that's bad for a manager, but it's a lot worse than bad for a bench coach.  No thanks.

[Craig Arko]

How cordial is the relationship between Molitor and Jack Morris?

 

Another possibility is Cuellar as pitching coach, and Eddie Guardado as bullpen coach.

 

Definitely see Bruno and Glynn on the staff, and Yount seems a fair possibility.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

Rick Renteria might be a good candidate for the coaching staff now that he's officially unemployed.

[jorgenswest]

Pittsburgh's bullpen coach Euclides Rojas should be considered.

 

He is a former pitcher on the Cuban national team. After literally arriving on a raft, he played a few seasons for the Marlins in the minors. In 1997 he became an instructor in the Marlins system. He moved to the Red Sox as the bullpen coach in their successful 2003-2004 seasons and then was the Pirates Latin American pitching coordinator. In 2011, he took his current position as Pirates bullpen coach.

 

He is 47 years old and will be a major league pitching coach before he is done.

 

http://triblive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/pirates/s_743969.html#axzz3HvLRxFjW

[Rosterman]

The name Frank Viola has floated around. Denny Hocking has been getting experience in the minors.

 

Gene Glynn, Tommy Watkins, Rudy Hernandez, Ivan Artega could come up from within the system

 

If nothing else, would like to see Dougie and Jake move up a rung on the ladder of managerial jobs, the Twins give Cedar to Joe Vavra, and keep Tom Brunansky as, at least, the minor league hitting instructor.

 

Bobby Cuellar would make a great bullpen coach again. Keep him in the organization for sure.

[Thrylos]

New managers hiring people who know as coaches.  Here are a few names:

 

Pat Hentgen - who has been bullpen coach for the Jays and pitching instructor in that organization

Chris Bosio - who has had multiple jobs in the Brewers and Cubs organizations

 

Of course, one of his closest friends is Robin Yount who has been an MLB coach before and currently is a roving instructor for the Brewers.  Pretty good choice for a bench coach.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

I've heard the Yount rumor a couple different times, I would not be surprised if he is on the staff.

 

If they are looking for a baserunning coach, how about Roberto Alomar? Won with Molitor in Toronto, was one of the better base runners of the 90s, Hall of Famer! 

 

I think Bruno is the most likely holdover at this point, my uneducated guess is that Vavra and Ullger will not be on the new staff, but who knows?

[nicksaviking]

This thread sure is throwing some big names out there.

 

Molitor, Yount, Blyleven, Alomar?  Cooperstown West is what they'll call Target Field.

 

That's not even including the who's who of 1980s-90s baseball that is Morris, Viola, Hentgen, Guillen, Brunansky and Steinbach.  I think we just need a 1B and LF to field a team.  I think we need an upgrade to Mientkiewicz at 1B so I'll throw Paul Konerka into the mix and add Kirk Gibson to round out the outfield.  I think we got something here, these guys might contend.

[stringer bell]

I think it is interesting that most of the staff has advocates for them to be retained (except for Anderson). I basically agree. I don't think Gardy's staff was the problem (again with the possible exception of the pitching coach) and I also don't think it makes much difference who is on the staff. However, it may make sense to hire guys who can relate to the younger guys and the growing Hispanic presence on the field.

 

I certainly don't think Molitor needs an All-Star team for a coaching staff. Managing superstar Joe Maddon never played in the majors and coaching superstar Ray Searage was an undistinguished major leaguer. IMHO, the best coaches and managers were not great players. Hall-of-Famer Molitor has his work cut out for him. I think he's capable and I think he has a lot of talent in Minnesota and a lot more coming soon.

[Thrylos]

I think it is interesting that most of the staff has advocates for them to be retained (except for Anderson). I basically agree. I don't think Gardy's staff was the problem (again with the possible exception of the pitching coach)

 

I think that Vavry, Steiny and Scottie were part of the problem as well and will be terribly disappointed if they return.  Bruno and Cuellar are enough of outsiders that I would not mind.  But cannot be sacred cows (players or coaches or FO people) after 99+96+96+92.   If nobody is part of the problem, you will have the same problem.  And most of them (in all 3 categories mentioned) are part of the problem. 

[jokin]

Rick Renteria might be a good candidate for the coaching staff now that he's officially unemployed.

 

I really hope he's on the short list, but usually to qualify for a Twins spot, you need some connection to the club, I don't see one there on his resume'.