So Don Cooper is 63 years old and has to be getting close to the end of the road.  Therefore, I thought it would be interesting to speculate who will be his eventual replacement.

I’ve created two polls, one with who you think gets the job and second with who you want to get the job.  Vote away!

While I think he’s a bit of a long-shot, I really hope Zaleski eventually gets the job.  He seems like the one guy in the organization leveraging Trackman data and actually proactively working with guys to make changes to their arsenal.  Lambert & Stiever are just two examples of guys who have made major strides under him.  I think him landing the job would be a sign of a slowly modernizing front office.  That being said, I worry that Curt Hasler will just be handed the job.

Zaleski would be nice, someone from the Dodgers/Astros org would make me jump in joy.

 

Also I voted Hasler as the eventual successor  

Edited August 16, 20196 yr by TheTruth05

18 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

While I think he’s a bit of a long-shot, I really hope Zaleski eventually gets the job.  He seems like the one guy in the organization leveraging Trackman data and actually proactively working with guys to make changes to their arsenal.  Lambert & Stiever are just two examples of guys who have made major strides under him.  I think him landing the job would be a sign of a slowly modernizing front office.  That being said, I worry that Curt Hasler will just be handed the job.

Internally, Zaleski. Externally, someone from the Astros. 

The mets pitching coach is 82.

4 minutes ago, bmags said:

The mets pitching coach is 82.

Are you suggesting he may not retiree soon?

All of those options sans Zaleski are already pretty long in the tooth.  

I would hope they have a succession plan for Coop but fear that is too forward thinking...Lest they pull another Robin Ventura out of their collective asses...

12 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Are you suggesting he may not retiree soon?

i'm prepared for that.

I think there's a good chance Phil Humber will get that position.

I'd like an external candidate with some new ideas. 

Hahn as already stated when Coop goes, Hassler is taking his place.

19 minutes ago, bmags said:

i'm prepared for that.

I’m fairly optimistic he’ll retire in the next three or four years, although to your point this is baseball and you just never know.

Not sure if it’s something he’d want to do, but I love listening to John Smoltz discuss pitching on MLB network.  Something I’ve never said about Coop. I think he is someone that would automatically have the respect from our pitchers just based on accomplishments alone. 

29 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

I'd like an external candidate with some new ideas. 

Hahn as already stated when Coop goes, Hassler is taking his place.

He’s said this?  If so, do you have a link to the quote?

I heard they wanted to rebuild him like the six million dollar man, but they only offered five and NASA told them to take a hike.

Another outside the box candidate that might not seem outside the box very soon is Danny Farquhar. 

6 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

Another outside the box candidate that might not seem outside the box very soon is Danny Farquhar. 

I'd be happy if he's fast tracked. Pair him with Jerschele.

6 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

Another outside the box candidate that might not seem outside the box very soon is Danny Farquhar. 

^^^^

Honestly I think they hired Farquhar to groom him as Cooper's replacement. 

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

He’s said this?  If so, do you have a link to the quote?

No link. He said it at Soxfest a couple of years ago. Remember when he missed games with illiness? They were talking about how Coop can't go on forever, and when he goes, the new guy is already here.

2 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I’m fairly optimistic he’ll retire in the next three or four years, although to your point this is baseball and you just never know.

Based on what? Coop is a lifer. 

51 minutes ago, Y2Jimmy0 said:

Another outside the box candidate that might not seem outside the box very soon is Danny Farquhar. 

Good call...I totally forgot about him.

46 minutes ago, Jack Parkman said:

^^^^

Honestly I think they hired Farquhar to groom him as Cooper's replacement. 

He’s a good story! I don’t know much about his capability to be a great pitching coach. Is there some background that suggests he’s the guy?

1 minute ago, TaylorStSox said:

Based on what? Coop is a lifer. 

Based on what I’ve heard from someone that knows him in Nashville.  Obviously that’s speculation on their behalf, but I just can’t see Cooper enduring a full season grind at the age of 67.  He already seems to be slowing down IMO.

50 minutes ago, bmags said:

I'd be happy if he's fast tracked. Pair him with Jerschele.

I wouldn’t break up the Jerschele & Zaleski pairing.

6 minutes ago, SkokieSox said:

He’s a good story! I don’t know much about his capability to be a great pitching coach. Is there some background that suggests he’s the guy?

There is a story on the athletic from last year, where Giolito talks about how much Farquhar helped him. He's the reason Giolito ditched his sinker for the high 4 seamer. 

7 minutes ago, SkokieSox said:

He’s a good story! I don’t know much about his capability to be a great pitching coach. Is there some background that suggests he’s the guy?

I believe he’s very analytical and heavy into Trackman data.  We definitely need a more modern thinking pitching coach when Cooper calls it quits IMO.