Is Popkins Next Firing in MLB Coaches Mid-Season

[Dave Borton]

(Popkins changed from Maki in Subjecl Line. Thx editor. E-db)

Yanks fired hitting coach Dillon Lawson after yesterday's loss. Cashman said, "... I ultimately felt that a change was needed and that a new voice overseeing our hitting operations would give us the best chance to perform closer to our capabilities." 

I thought it would be interesting to compare Yanks/Twins to see how the two teams compared. 

BA:
Yanks, .231
Twins, .232

OBP:
Yanks, .300
Twins, .309

Slugging:
Yanks, .410
Twins, .400

K%
Twins, 26.8%
Yanks, 22%

BA w/RISP
Twins, .232 (I was surprised it was this high. I checked it twice)
Yanks, .231

Question:
1. Should the Twins follow suit and make that unusual midseason change and let Popkins go?
2. Is Popkins merely a mirror of the entire organizational approach to hitting or is he just in over his head?
3. Is there anyone within the organization who could take over?

I support canning him now. I don't believe his termination would adversely affect the Twins anemic offensive effort. Further, I believe the roster needs a wakeup call. Coaches are like manager's termination: You can't fire a whole team but someone needs to assume some accountability for this team's dismal offensive failure thru 1/2 way point. 

Popkins should go and roster changes are also needed. As well, the culture needs to change. Twins' individual players decide if they need batting practice. Coaches not conducting daily infield practice. 

[beehles]

Maki is the Twins pitching coach.

[Brock Beauchamp]

3 minutes ago, beehles said:

Maki is the Twins pitching coach.

Yeah, the OP obviously means Popkins.

At this point, I'm completely okay with moving on from Popkins. Even though it may not be his fault, someone needs to take the fall for essentially wasting what has been a historic starting rotation for the Twins.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

Firing the hitting coach (Popkins) probably won't make a big difference, but it would be very hard to argue that firing him could result in worse performance than we are already getting.  I think it's time, and it sends the message that people recognize the problem and are paying attention. 

[CRF]

I'm sure he means Popkins. If they fire Maki, then we REALLY could have a problem. I agree...firing Popkins is the most logical thing to do, even though at this point, it may not accomplish much. It's kind of a token move, but it would probably be a good thing to have a different voice and someone with a different approach in there. They would hire someone from within, no doubt. That's the Twins way. If things remain the same as they are now, we're dead. 

[nicksaviking]

Firing Popkins seems like a reasonable move, but where do you get a new hitting coach mid-season? Dipping down to AAA seems like the only logical option.

[DJL44]

22 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

where do you get a new hitting coach mid-season?

I think they have two assistant hitting coaches on the MLB staff.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

36 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

I think they have two assistant hitting coaches on the MLB staff.

Not exactly inspirational candidates to be the head hitting coach

[Squirrel]

2 hours ago, beehles said:

Maki is the Twins pitching coach.

OP has been edited. 

[SpicyGarvSauce]

Firing Popkins should happen - but so should firing Baldelli.

Firing a hitting coach is such a low hanging fruit decision.

[Dave Borton]

2 hours ago, CRF said:

I'm sure he means Popkins.

Yes, it was early. No excuse. E-db.

 

30 minutes ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

Isn't he the backup hitting coach at Detroit?

Yes. I believe he lost the bench coach job at the Marlins when Mattingly left the Marlins.

 

 

 

 

 

[Parfigliano]

Popkins and his assistants should have been fired at least a month ago.  Bring up from AAA along with Wallner and Larnach.  Ditch Gallo via trade, leave by side of road, really dont care just get rid of him.  TELL Kepler he is primary in CF period.  IL Buxton until he can play both sides of the ball.  Play Jeffers 80% and Vasquez 25%.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

I'd rather wait until the off season so that we could review the possibility of bringing Rowson back.  Not sure we could get him in-season.  Isn't he the backup hitting coach at Detroit?

Rowson was the hitting coach for the 2019 club and it seems the criticism of the offense now, is that the Twins are trying to play the same style of ball that they did then, but without the ungodly amount of homeruns. I don't see Rowson changing the approach of the batters much.

Also, a few years removed now, I don't think he had as much to do with the team's success as we used to attribute to him. The juiced ball and lineup made explicitly to take advantage of a juiced ball was why they did well. It's not like the Tigers are tearing the cover off of the ball.

Also, I really dislike the idea of bringing back former players and coaches. Look ahead, try new things.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Popkins' resume is laughable. The guy has zero business being a hitting coach at the MLB level. This is a prime example of Falvey and Levine trying to prove they're the smartest ones in the room and they won't own up to the mistake. As I wrote in another thread, it is up to the Pohlad's now.

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

2 hours ago, DJL44 said:

I think they have two assistant hitting coaches on the MLB staff.

They do, which is also weird, but either of them would be better than Popkins.

[howeda7]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Firing Popkins seems like a reasonable move, but where do you get a new hitting coach mid-season? Dipping down to AAA seems like the only logical option.

Nelson Cruz is available. But seriously, why wouldn't you give the Saints coach a try? They scored 20 yesterday while the Twins scored 3 or less for the 50th time.

[howeda7]

2 hours ago, Bigfork Twins Guy said:

I'd rather wait until the off season so that we could review the possibility of bringing Rowson back.  Not sure we could get him in-season.  Isn't he the backup hitting coach at Detroit?

Unless this turns around, in the off-season Falvey, Levine, Rocco and the entire staff should be out. If they do nothing now and their "big move" in the off-season is to fire the hitting coach, God help them.

[RpR]

17 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Also, I really dislike the idea of bringing back former players and coaches. Look ahead, try new things.

Is that not part of the reason they are where they are?

[RpR]

5 minutes ago, howeda7 said:

Nelson Cruz is available. But seriously, why wouldn't you give the Saints coach a try? They scored 20 yesterday while the Twins scored 3 or less for the 50th time.

AAA pitching is mostly NOT at the level of the Big Show.

[howeda7]

Just now, RpR said:

AAA pitching is mostly NOT at the level of the Big Show.

What is the better option?

[RpR]

Just now, howeda7 said:

What is the better option?

Coach with major league exp.

[howeda7]

2 minutes ago, RpR said:

Coach with major league exp.

Who is available in the middle of the season that you want?

[RpR]

1 minute ago, howeda7 said:

Who is available in the middle of the season that you want?

I do not pretend to be a MLB expert, that is up the front office,, who do know that minor league is not the world of major league, therefore; breaking in a AAA coach is more of  a learning exp. for him than improving what they have.

It SEEMS, the current coaches results show that is not a good idea.

Just my opinion.

[wabene]

People might want to get off the Rowson train once and for all. I won't bother looking up the stats as it's been listed here many times before, but the guy oversaw last place offenses in Miami and now with the kitties. @nicksavikingmakes another great point that his successful offense here was the exact kind of swing for the fences routine that everybody is complaining about with this squad. 

Now who do they hire? St Paul looks to be overflowing in runs, but isn't CHS Field a big time hitters park?

 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

I know the line-up has holes. But for the love of god - we're talking about a historically bad line-up in terms of batting average, hits, and strike outs. Hard-pressed to believe that at least a major culprit is approach and scouting - falls on Popkins. He needs to go.

[Craig Arko]

I’d be in favor of hiring a more experienced coach, maybe not Molitor but I’d consider either Cuddyer or Nelson Cruz as good options. It’s unclear that the youth movement on the coaching staff has proved ideal, and a mix might be better.

[PseudoSABR]

Whelp we lost our chance at Sean Casey.  Yankees snagged him as their hitting coach.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

Is that not part of the reason they are where they are?

Um no? The game is continually evolving, you have to stay ahead.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

Coach with major league exp.

Wouldn't the good ones currently be employed?

[RpR]

23 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Um no? The game is continually evolving, you have to stay ahead.

Failure is staying ahead,?

We are ahead of what?