The hiring of McGwire by St. Louis proves how meaningless hitting coaches are. McRae has a good hitting philosophy and they let him go. What is McGwire going to teach?? Uppercut, try to hit every pitch out of the park. And of course take enhancers?

McGwire, like many (most) sluggers, tried to hit every pitch a mile. That was his hitting philosophy. All or nothing for Mark.

LaRussa better hope the millionaire has a good work ethic, cause it seems to me hitting coaches are grunt boys: Make sure the players have their tapes ready, schedule extra BP, etc. What the heck is McGwire going to teach any hitter??

 

Why would you assume that a player can only teach the way they did it?

I imagine quite of these quotes are taken out of order, and that the firing quote came right in the middle of it. Not that it matters a ton, just that I imagine that's probably how it happened.

 

And it is also Cowley trying to start s*** up. He likes doing that, even if this is newsworthy.

 

I do think Walker has worn out his welcome, but he is going to be apart of the equation next year, and I do imagine he will be on the hot seat.

 

 

I feel strongly both ways about this issue and so it seems you do do

 

Can't blame Cowley for writing a story about the issue we have been debating here on Soxtalk for quite awhile now

Why would you assume that a player can only teach the way they did it?

 

 

Interesting question and observation. We have heard the same thing said of the Big Hurt

Interesting question and observation. We have heard the same thing said of the Big Hurt

The most important skill of a hitting coach is the ability to communicate and work and adjust to each persons skill-set. If you can do that and of course have an understanding of hitting as well as the ability to break-down guys swings (from when they were rolling to when they weren't), than you'll be pretty good, imo.

 

Coaches that have a my way or the high-way one size fits all approach are not very good, imo. And I also think the mental aspect is so very important in baseball (hitting coach, pitching coach, etc). The only portion its less important for is the manager because the X's and O's calls aren't really related to the mental aspect of the game.

 

The manager does have a key job to do in keeping the team prepared, motivated, etc. I'd argue that depending on the type of manager you are, that could be more important (ie, if you are a sit back wait for the 3 run mgr, than x's and o's, ie hit and runs, bunts, etc, get thrown out the window and your motivation becomes much more important).

Why would you assume that a player can only teach the way they did it?

 

I probably shouldn't assume anything like that.

How many home run hitters are hitting coaches?

I probably shouldn't assume anything like that.

How many home run hitters are hitting coaches?

 

I think it is pretty irrelevant what kind of hitter a hitting coach was. Any hitting coach worth his weight will recognize each hitter has a unique approach and detail his program with each hitter accordingly.

The hiring of McGwire by St. Louis proves how meaningless hitting coaches are. McRae has a good hitting philosophy and they let him go. What is McGwire going to teach?? Uppercut, try to hit every pitch out of the park. And of course take enhancers?

McGwire, like many (most) sluggers, tried to hit every pitch a mile. That was his hitting philosophy. All or nothing for Mark.

LaRussa better hope the millionaire has a good work ethic, cause it seems to me hitting coaches are grunt boys: Make sure the players have their tapes ready, schedule extra BP, etc. What the heck is McGwire going to teach any hitter??

 

Rudy Jaramillo never played in the major leagues and is one of the best hitting coaches in the MLB. McGwire is fine.

One of the qualities I heard mentioned by several people in the Cardinals organization was Mac's work ethic, hard working, etc.

I will predict the hiring of McGwire will be a disaster. How many zillionaires actually work hard as coaches on MLB staffs? I would love to see a study on this vs. how many assistant coaches need the money. McGwire must be awfully bored to take any position excpt 1B or 3B coach.

I will predict the hiring of McGwire will be a disaster. How many zillionaires actually work hard as coaches on MLB staffs? I would love to see a study on this vs. how many assistant coaches need the money. McGwire must be awfully bored to take any position excpt 1B or 3B coach.

Maybe he's motivated to manage some day... He would take it pretty serious if that were the case.

I will predict the hiring of McGwire will be a disaster. How many zillionaires actually work hard as coaches on MLB staffs? I would love to see a study on this vs. how many assistant coaches need the money. McGwire must be awfully bored to take any position excpt 1B or 3B coach.

Don Mattingly was a pretty big star and is now a respected hitting coach / bench coach who many believe can manage. Pete Rose was not a zillionaire, but he was a star player and a very respected manager.

Mattingly is a good example, thanks.

Rose probably needed the money with all his gambling. I don't know everything about McGwire's personality, just the mope who "testified." Maybe he's the greatest guy in the world and a hard worker. He'll probably delegate the grunt parts of the job to somebody else anyway. McGwire prolly carries a lot of clout still in that clubhouse. If I had to bet, he'll be perceived worse than McRae at least publicly. Was LaRussa looking for a scapegoat for his team's flameout? At least the Sox don't take the easy cliche way out and fire Walker as scapegoat for the bad season.

 

Those of you who go to Soxfest who get worked up about hitting coaches should grill KW about the job and get some candid answers about the Sox organization's philosophy on Walker. Aren't KW and Oz pretty candid at that session?

Edited October 31, 200916 yr by greg775

I don't know why it is but when you have quite a few home run hitters, they all seem to shut down at once. Without any speed you can walk a few of them and hope to keep the ball in the park because they won't hurt you on the bases.

 

I doubt most hitting coaches can make a major difference in veterans. One thing I did notice that PK after having a lousy 2008, made adjustments in hitting. I don't know if Walker had anything to do with that.