Coaching Staff Changes

[The Great Hambino]

32 minutes ago, jaimedude said:

It was 33 years ago, more than half a lifetime for a lot of us. What was Rocco 8 years old? This was supposed to be comical or satirical. I didn't have an issue with Rocco's use of the bullpen for the most part.  Only game I didn't like it was 09/07 with Ober. Bailey Ober was dealing, Royals were striking out and hitting weak grounder's. Hopefully Rocco learned from that game that when a starting pitcher is only a little over 80 pitches, and cruising, you let them pitch until they say they don't got it or anything left. You don't always have to use the bullpen automatically.  Slide had already started but things really seemed to click downward snd head South after that game. Twins were missing a lot of players that weekend. 8

Funny you mention that Ober game.  It illustrates a case where Rocco maybe did learn and tried a different approach.

Two Ober starts later, he was in almost the exact same position.  Instead of a 2-0 lead entering the 8th, he had a 2-1 lead entering the 7th.  Exactly 83 pitches thrown in both cases.  This time Rocco leaves him in ... and the lead didn't last past the next batter as a Naylor knocked it out of the park.  

This got overshadowed by what followed (Henriquez in THAT 10th inning in Cleveland), but to me it sort of encapsulates the entire six week meltdown.  Not trying to absolve Rocco - I'm on record that I'd move on from him - I just think he isn't always as rigid in his approach as it seems.   

When I was a kid I had one of those choose your own adventure books where there was no happy ending - every possible path was doomed to failure.  These last six weeks kinda felt like that.

[jaimedude]

On 10/2/2024 at 8:38 PM, The Great Hambino said:

Funny you mention that Ober game.  It illustrates a case where Rocco maybe did learn and tried a different approach.

Two Ober starts later, he was in almost the exact same position.  Instead of a 2-0 lead entering the 8th, he had a 2-1 lead entering the 7th.  Exactly 83 pitches thrown in both cases.  This time Rocco leaves him in ... and the lead didn't last past the next batter as a Naylor knocked it out of the park.  

This got overshadowed by what followed (Henriquez in THAT 10th inning in Cleveland), but to me it sort of encapsulates the entire six week meltdown.  Not trying to absolve Rocco - I'm on record that I'd move on from him - I just think he isn't always as rigid in his approach as it seems.   

When I was a kid I had one of those choose your own adventure books where there was no happy ending - every possible path was doomed to failure.  These last six weeks kinda felt like that.

Good recollection of the Cleveland game Hambino.  I had forgotten Ober stayed in because that was the game Henriquez pitched the 10th. Ronny looks like he has some good stuff, just needs to refine it, gain more experience in leverage situations like 7th or 8th inning. Outside of Sands, Jax, Duran bullpen was real crap shoot this 2024 season. Twins need to add some left handed reliable bullpen help. 

[nicksaviking]

I think someone mentioned Kevin Seitzer for hitting coach, and now he's available. No idea if he's any good, or what his hitting philosophy is, but Atlanta swung some pretty good bats prior to this year.

[Mike Sixel]

Would you come to Minnesota knowing the team will be sold and you out of a job in a year?

[nicksaviking]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Would you come to Minnesota knowing the team will be sold and you out of a job in a year?

GM or manager? Maybe not. As a hitting coach, I probably go where the money is and my best resume entries are. And a team full of underperforming high-end prospects may be a good spot for that.

You turn around the Twins top young hitters and you're probably interviewing for manager jobs.

[Mike Sixel]

4 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

GM or manager? Maybe not. As a hitting coach, I probably go where the money is and my best resume entries are. And a team full of underperforming high-end prospects may be a good spot for that.

You turn around the Twins top young hitters and you're probably interviewing for manager jobs.

I think that's my answer also. 

[lecroy24fan]

14 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

I think someone mentioned Kevin Seitzer for hitting coach, and now he's available. No idea if he's any good, or what his hitting philosophy is, but Atlanta swung some pretty good bats prior to this year.

I'm all in on him as long as he teached third basemen how to push a bunt foul.

 

[mrcharlie]

Coaching staff is important to how the players prepare for their game, both generally and vs a specific opponent.  In game it is more reflex reactions to a play; but good coaching can emphasize the positives and discuss the poor play in the dugout.  That said, I was repeatedly yelling at my radio for bone head base running and believe both Watkins and Conger are part of the problem.

[Parfigliano]

You weren't yelling alone

[Cory Engelhardt]

Skor is reporting that Matt Borgschulte is the new hitting coach. The last 3 seasons he's been one of the two hitting coaches with Baltimore. Before that he coached at a number of minor league teams in the Twins organization, and with the Saints specifically in 2021. 

I'm sure there'll be more to come. He's only 34, and former college coach and player.

[SF Twins Fan]

 

[nicksaviking]

So it looks like he was a hitting coach for the organization during the Bomba Squad era. But before anyone decides to freak out about sky high strikeouts, it does appear that like the Twins, the Orioles were better than average in that department last year.

I'm up for anyone who is willing to be flexible on approaches player-to-player and year-by-year.

[mrcharlie]

Twins need to improve their situational approach.  Only Correa seemed to do it with any regularity.  Of particular concern is how they give away at bats...not good at fouling off pitches until they get one they can handle(chasing pitches) or taking a walk.  Let's see how this improves.