Rudy Hernandez hired as Assistant Hitting Coach

[USAFChief]

What does an assistant hitting coach do?

 

Habla Espanol.

[Seth Stohs]

What does an assistant hitting coach do? Besides get coffee for Bruno, of course. 

 

Another coach period. Another set of eyes. A liason. A confidant for the Latin players. Another guy who can throw extra BP, or sit and watch video. A great baseball man around the clubhouse.

 

And probably more. 

[Thrylos]

Question - Does anyone know if Rudy would also offer insight as a fielder? Was he an infielder, an outfielder, a catcher when he played? Is hitting his only specialty?

 

Might be wrong, so please correct me, but I haven't found any pro (MLB or MiLB) games played for him.   Looks like he is a coach coach...

[chamoman]

Is everyone talking about the same Rudy Hernández?

 

Seth says that he is Dominican, but I think he is this "Rudy Hernández" from the baseball hotbed of Maracay, Venezuela, where Eduardo Escobar is from, and near where Miguel Cabrera and others are from as well.

 

Check out the link: http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Rudy_Hernandez_(minors01)

 

I could be wrong, but if not, then he is the ex-infielder rather than the ex-pitcher. And that means, yes, Thrylos, he has five years of MiLB experience.

[Thrylos]

I take that back.  Here is the guy.  Indeed he does.   Also, scarily enough, in the organization that produced GardyNAndy.

 

From here:

 

After stints as manager of the Elizabethton Twins and GCL Twins, he was a coach with the Swing of the Quad Cities in 2004. From 2005 to 2008 he was a coach for the Beloit Snappers. He moved to the GCL Twins in 2009, the New Britain Rock Cats in 2010, the GCL Twins again in 2011, the New Britain Rock Cats again in 2012, and the GCL Twins again in 2013-2014.

 

Looks like he has been shuttling North and South every year or so in the system, so he probably knows most of the guys from his AA and A swings.

[Seth Stohs]

Correct. I don't know why I put that he was from the Dominican. He's from Venezuela. 

[jokin]

 

I also think the "hiring from outside the organization" mantra does get tiresome.

 

 

Funny, for many of us, that very mantra this offseason, and the possibilities that the Twins actually might finally be addressing their stale and invidious philosophical problems squarely in the face, is the least tiresome, most refreshing development since TR sacked the entire coaching staff.  At this point, I'd happily settle for the remaining hires be outsiders with a Minnesota connection that Terry is fond of, like Henry Blanco,  for example.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I don't get this whole "They need to hire outside the org just to hire someone outside the org" bit.

 

The guys they have hired thus far have had little to no relationship with the big league club (Molitor had one year), this organization, while frustrating to watch at the major league level has plenty of good things going for it in the lower levels. Hernandez is a perfect choice for the reasons mentioned above, and Glynn deserved a promotion as well as someone who can provide a fresh set of eyes to the major league roster as well.

 

Pitching coach IMO is the most important hire of them all regardless and I see them going outside the org for sure on that one.

if the minors look so good but haven't materialized into MLB players, talent or coaching? Probably a bit of both

[PseudoSABR]

The goal is -- whether hiring from within or outside of the organization -- a diversity in viewpoint.  Hiring from outside the organization is onto itself merely cosmetic if it ends up producing a clone of the coach he's replacing.  While having connections with the Twins organization, more importantly, the new coaching staff have attributes and/or resumes that separate them from the coaches they replace.  I imagine we'll see coaches hired from outside the organization, though I also imagine it will be easy for some to construe a connection to the Twins that questions whether it is outside enough.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

Virgil is from California and speaks pretty much no Spanish. 

Ah - I did not know that - good to know.

[ScottyB]

I still think that Robin Yount will be one of the hires, probably as bench or first base coach.  I sure would love to steal Sandy Alomar from Cleveland.

[nicksaviking]

I still think that Robin Yount will be one of the hires, probably as bench or first base coach.  I sure would love to steal Sandy Alomar from Cleveland.

 

Probably a hard steal considering his relationship with that club.  Still, he was among my top preferences to get the manager's job, though to be fair my knowledge of his baseball philosophies is lacking.  I liked that he was a catcher, I liked that he can relate to Hispanic players and I liked that he was a veteran of the AL Central, even though that last factor has more to do with the entertainment value of rivalries.

[James]

I still think that Robin Yount will be one of the hires, probably as bench or first base coach.  I sure would love to steal Sandy Alomar from Cleveland.

From what I've heard, Yount is not interested in the position due to the time commitment.  At least, that was the last news that I heard about him.

 

I like the hire of Hernandez though.  It seems like he has some attributes that the team really needs on the staff.  But, like everyone, I'm the most interested in who will be the pitching and bench coach.

[MileHighTwinsFan]

For one reason, it is virtually impossible to have a different perspective on much if you've risen up from within the organization and spent much of your formative time there. 

 

So by that definition - Molitor, Cuellar, Brunansky, and Steinbach are all external guys.  None spent their formative years with the Twins and have had only a limited number of years with the organization.   

[Seth Stohs]

So by that definition - Molitor, Cuellar, Brunansky, and Steinbach are all external guys.  None spent their formative years with the Twins and have had only a limited number of years with the organization.   

 

Or Glynn. Or Vavra.  Great point!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Correct. I don't know why I put that he was from the Dominican. He's from Venezuela. 

I think the original graphic illustration might have had DR instead of VZ as birthplace

[Rosterman]

Hernandez is a good solid choice. The Twins are looking at guys that can relate to not only many of the guys on the roster, but the 3-year future, too. I am actually surprised that Hernandez wasn't in the running for the organizational minor league hitting coach position. But part of this year's coaching staff is to also reward longtime or solid contributors to the Twins organization, who will also work with Molitor.

 

When we were talking about the need for a Latin coach, my mind had started to drift towards Jose Marzan, who is the Latin America coordinator for the Twins and has managed in their system in the past, and even was considered a catcher, at one time, and would probably make a great bullpen coach.And, yes, there will be some musical chairs in the Twins minor league system. Remember, Jason Bartlett expressed interest in working with the Twins. I'm not sure if the Rochester Red Wings coaches will be back as they seemed tied to Glynn when hired. I would like to see the Twins offer a spot for Doug Bernier, if he decides to retire....he runs an off-season hitting school. Joe Vavra is one guy I would retain and I bet he'd love to work out of Cedar Rapids, somewhat close to his Wisconsin home, and his sons would be passing thru that team at some point on the way up or down. 

 

The big question is pitching coach. The Twins need to replace Lucas in the minors, and someone in the majors. Who will they seek, find and will we all be overjoyed and happy!

[Mike Sixel]

So by that definition - Molitor, Cuellar, Brunansky, and Steinbach are all external guys.  None spent their formative years with the Twins and have had only a limited number of years with the organization.   

 

I wasn't arguing that one way or the other.....the question remains, for some people, why does any kind of external candidate matter. In no shape, manner, or form, have I discussed those 4 on this thread*

 

*I think

 

I'm trying to answer why external candidates matter, not if these candidates are external.

[SweetOne69]

I wasn't arguing that one way or the other.....the question remains, for some people, why does any kind of external candidate matter. In no shape, manner, or form, have I discussed those 4 on this thread*

 

*I think

 

I'm trying to answer why external candidates matter, not if these candidates are external.

 

Some people feel that the only way to change the perceived philosophy of the Twins' system is by hiring people from outside of the system.  They feel that all of the internal candidates have been brainwashed to keep doing what has been done during the Gardenhire Era.

[old nurse]

I wasn't arguing that one way or the other.....the question remains, for some people, why does any kind of external candidate matter. In no shape, manner, or form, have I discussed those 4 on this thread*

 

*I think

 

I'm trying to answer why external candidates matter, not if these candidates are external.

You still haven't answered why external candidates matter. Any of the coaches hired have spent a good deal of time outside of the Twins organization. It would be absurd to me to think they forget what they learned elsewhere as they spend time with the Twins organization.

[TheLeviathan]

You still haven't answered why external candidates matter. Any of the coaches hired have spent a good deal of time outside of the Twins organization. It would be absurd to me to think they forget what they learned elsewhere as they spend time with the Twins organization.

 

I'd like to see an outside hire just so the front office demonstrates less insularity.  I have no problems with these hires, but I wish more often we would reach out when we have openings.

[Mike Sixel]

Some people feel that the only way to change the perceived philosophy of the Twins' system is by hiring people from outside of the system.  They feel that all of the internal candidates have been brainwashed to keep doing what has been done during the Gardenhire Era.

No one feels anyone has been brainwashed. That's not how corporate cultures work. This is a discussion about corporate culture, group think, and change management. All very well understood, studied, documented, and analyzed phenomena in the world.

[Mike Sixel]

You still haven't answered why external candidates matter. Any of the coaches hired have spent a good deal of time outside of the Twins organization. It would be absurd to me to think they forget what they learned elsewhere as they spend time with the Twins organization.

 

search the internet, or don't. but there are decades of research on why external hires matter to organizations. And, I've laid out many reasons why it matters.

 

1. Groupthink takes place

2. Organizations don't change fast

3. You have a much smaller pool of talent to choose from

4. You generally have less innovation

5. You end up with people from the same culture, which can make relationships harder with new people (like players)

6. I don't want to keep typing

[nicksaviking]

I just want them to prove that they are willing to try things that may make them feel uncomfortable.  I hate to say it's symbolic, but largely it is.  This club is one of the most risk-adverse clubs in all of professional sports and a lot of us don't believe you can win a championship when you have such a severe level of trepidation about every move you make.  Continuing to hire candidates you or the organization is intimately familiar with over putting your trust in a new face just seems like an extension of this resistance to change.  I don't think any of us think these hires aren't qualified people, but at some point we need to see this team take a trust fall.

[TRex]

I think many people are overlooking (or underestimating) the complexities of these hires. These are coaches, not managers! They might not actually be that highly of a sought out position for the kind of candidate we would like!

 

First, I think what we inherently expect is that they will hire another coach from one of the other 29 major league teams. However, while a few staffs have been let go this off-season, most are still under contract and there is no requirement for their employer to grant permission for them to interview for a lateral move. So what the 'outside perspective' group really wants is for the Twins to properly identify other teams'  Gene Glynn or Dougie Baseball, and assumes the equivalent of Mientkiewitz becoming a coach for Tim Bogar in Texas rather than waiting for something to open with the Twins.

 

Second, despite recent Twins history, these coaching positions may not be very stable. Another couple of years of 90+ losses, and the whole group will get swept out whether they are doing a good job or not (starting with the GM)! If you are a highly sought after minor league or ML position coach with another team, are you going to make a lateral move that might leave you unemployed in two years?

 

Finally, Molitor does not have a Gene Glynn-type history of managing/coaching baseball, and has a very limited sphere of people he has worked with. The reason baseball tends to be an 'old boys' network is that these people pretty much live together for 9 months a year. I wouldn't hold it against him if he wanted to avoid a freshman dorm-room scenario by finding a worthy in house candidate he is comfortable with.

[nicksaviking]

 

Finally, Molitor does not have a Gene Glynn-type history of managing/coaching baseball, and has a very limited sphere of people he has worked with. The reason baseball tends to be an 'old boys' network is that these people pretty much live together for 9 months a year. I wouldn't hold it against him if he wanted to avoid a freshman dorm-room scenario by finding a worthy in house candidate he is comfortable with.

 

Which is the problem.  The freshmen who only hang out with the two guys they knew from high school don't enjoy college, end up dropping out and miss out on all the cool stuff the rest of the folks on campus can bring to the table, the good, the reckless and the eye-opening. 

 

Comfort should have ZERO influence on these decisions, in fact, doing something uncomfortable is usually the only way you'll ever experience new things.

[TRex]

Which is the problem.  The freshmen who only hang out with the two guys they knew from high school don't enjoy college, end up dropping out and miss out on all the cool stuff the rest of the folks on campus can bring to the table, the good, the reckless and the eye-opening. 

 

Comfort should have ZERO influence on these decisions, in fact, doing something uncomfortable is usually the only way you'll ever experience new things.

First, Molitor is not just 'the freshman guy', he is the boss. His coaches are responsible for executing his message. This is a little different than just learning to co-exist.

 

Second, are you really saying that Ryan and Molitor should hire the best baseball mind/body they can find irrespective of the personality behind it? So, if available, the Twins should hire TK for the bench coach and Ozzie Guillen for the rah-rah coach? Hey, maybe they could dig up Billy Martin while they are at it!

 

 

I personally am a bit of a goofball, and have hired straight-laced go-getters to work for me before and it just doesn't seem to work as well as hiring similarly goofy people.

[Rosterman]

As a roving minor league guy, Molitor has a pretty good idea of the strengths of a lot of coaches in the system and how he and they might relate. You won't find many coaches willing to leave a job to come to the Twins. There are some minor league guys you could grab, probably most with Twins ties in some ways rather than total outsiders. 

 

The Twins chose Molitor instead of an outside guy, who would've brought in more outsiders than insiders, to say the least.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

First, Molitor is not just 'the freshman guy', he is the boss. His coaches are responsible for executing his message. This is a little different than just learning to co-exist.

 

Second, are you really saying that Ryan and Molitor should hire the best baseball mind/body they can find irrespective of the personality behind it? So, if available, the Twins should hire TK for the bench coach and Ozzie Guillen for the rah-rah coach? Hey, maybe they could dig up Billy Martin while they are at it!

 

 

I personally am a bit of a goofball, and have hired straight-laced go-getters to work for me before and it just doesn't seem to work as well as hiring similarly goofy people.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, the Minnesota Twins announce their new pitching coach..

 

 

Max Patkin!