Pitching Coach?

by RA Dickey on May 29, 2007 10:57 AM CDT

This team sucks there is no way to say that having another pitching coach would change that. While our pitchers may not be great, I think they are better than they have shown to this point. All we heard all spring training is how they were going to "pound the strike zone." However, we lead the world in walks. Any thoughts on our pitching coach? They have to shake something up and they aren't going to fire RW yet.

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Both Conners and Jaramillo

should be worried. Wash at least has the argument that he didn't have any control over them, and our pitching has been horrendous and our hitting erratic. Neither of those two seem to be conveying a coherent working message to these guys. (of course, the most egregious failure is with whoever is in charge of fielding, and that was where Wash + Chavez's gold glove should have been of help...)

Can someone tell me what there is to like about Conners, in particular? Is he still riding off his sucess as bullpen coach under Hershiser? I guess he's done wonders with the current bullpen as well. Is there any evidence he knows how to coach starting pitchers?

I wish Dave Duncan was with the Rangers

by JBImaknee on May 29, 2007 11:21 AM CDT reply actions

Connor

"Is there any evidence he knows how to coach starting pitchers?"

Not that this means anything, but Connor had been the pitching coach of three different teams-the Yankees, Arizona, and Toronto- before joining the Rangers. Randy Johnson won two Cy Young awards under Connor in Arizona.

"Then I met some friends for a beer, went to a BoDeans's concert, and son of a vondruke, if I didn't leave him at the concert hall."

by RCCook on May 29, 2007 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions

It's coming

Wash is about to get his own coaching staff in here before long which means Conner is as good as gone. Jaramillo is the most respected hitting coach in baseball for a reason, considering what he's had to work with I'd say he's the one guy on that coaching staff that is doing their job.

"My theory of hitting was just to watch the ball as it came in and hit it." --Tommy Lasorda

by BReed on May 29, 2007 11:45 AM CDT reply actions

I actually see it the other way 'round

Rudy is over-rated....these guys approach is horrible....worst pitch recognition I've ever seen, especially when ahead in the count....work the count, get ahead, then swing at a 2-0 or 3-1 pitch that bounces?

Mentioned on other posts, injuries & awful fielding have put added pressure on the pitching staff....harder to pitch thinking you need to strike everyone out....pitching "to contact" only works if you can catch the ball (throwing to the right base would be a bonus!).

by tklawless on May 29, 2007 12:28 PM CDT reply actions

What does he have to work with

You can't make chicken pot pie out of chicken crap. Pitch recognition is a gift, it can't be taught. Take a look of his track record with marginal guys that come in here and leave with multi-million dollar deals.

Plate discipline is something that really can't be taught either. The guys that are successful by being aggressive, have to continue being aggressive. That is bad team planning by JD.

Chris Young/Adrian Gonzalez for Aki Otsuka, the new Sammy Sosa/Wilson Alvarez for Harold Baines

by badradiorules on May 30, 2007 12:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Why do they need him?

If it can't be "taught"? Plus, he gets way too much credit for a couple of DeRo's.

by tklawless on May 30, 2007 9:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Randy Johnson

I think RJ might have won a Cy Young without Conner's presence. You could have had a cardboard cutout of a coach and he would have won.

by RA Dickey on May 29, 2007 1:39 PM CDT reply actions

Blame the players

The coaches are not throwing the pitches, or swinging the bats

by mattrpav on May 29, 2007 3:54 PM CDT reply actions

Speaking of coaches ...

Who do you hire if you fire Wash? We don't want Art Howe, do we? Nah. Rudy? Nah. Wak? Maybe, but ... nah. I wondered if Will Clark might be the guy to call. Just throw him in the deep end of the standings and hope The Thrill swims. Send Howe packing and have Wak move into the dugout to run the details and whisper sweet nothings into Will's ear during play. Hire Mark McClemore to coach 3rd base. Just a whim.

Speaking of Wak - he was an insider in the last regime and an insider in the present one. Wouldn't you like to hear an off-the-record discussion with him about where the break down has occurred and where the line between Ranger myth and reality falls? He's probably got a few HSO's. Evan, are you listening? Might be an article there.

Rangers Farm Probables

by shroomer on May 29, 2007 4:43 PM CDT reply actions