Red Reposter - The Search Begins for a New Pitching Coach

by Charlie Scrabbles on Oct 15, 2009 8:01 AM EDT in News

Hall o' Famer Hal thinks the LaRussa and Duncan rumors are crazy
In short, he says St Louis is too good and Cincinnati too bad a situation for it to happen. No way LaRussa (and by extension, Duncan) jumps from a division-winner to the Reds. He then casts his vote for Bats' pitching coach Ted Power. He says guys love him and unless he's promoted, he'll go somewhere else. So I guess my vote goes to Power as well. He's been getting terrific high praise, and if it's true that he will bolt unless he gets the job then I dont think it's much of a choice.
Walt Jocketty is in Goodyear, AZ at the new Spring Training complex
and is set to do interviews for the vacant pitching coach position. Sheldon lists all the usual suspects (Dave Duncan Sheik (because "Donuts" was too obvious), Ted "I Have the" Power, Mario "I Dont Like Sunny D, Pass Me a Grape" Soto), but he also throws out a few new names like former Mets pitching coach Rick Peterson and minor league pitching coordinator Mack Jenkins.
Jim Misudek at the Reds Internal Affairs blog says Jonny Gomes has been nominated for the Hutch Award
"The Hutch Award is given annually to the major league player who best exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication of renowned baseball player and manager Fred Hutchinson ("Hutch"). Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center -- which was named in Hutch's honor by his brother Dr. Bill Hutchinson, a surgeon, after Fred succumbed to cancer at age 45 -- is an independent, nonprofit research institution dedicated to the understanding, treatment and prevention of cancer and related diseases." I know this sounds weird, but beating cancer sounds just like something Jonny Gomes would do.
Reds Assistant Media Director Jamie Ramsey has a blog
"The goal of this blog is to give you an entertaining look into what goes on with the Cincinnati Reds, from an "insider's perspective." As an assistant director of media relations, I'm around every level of Reds employee here at the ballpark, from the front office to the players to the ticket takers and ushers. In my opinion, each is as interesting as the next and I plan on proving it by introducing these people to you." Welcome to the blogosphere Jamie!
MLBTradeRumors continued their Offseason Outlook series with a look at our Reds
Tim thinks Jonny Gomes makes too much sense to non-tender, Francisco Cordero is the most logical trade candidate, and Willy Taveras and Mike Lincoln were mistakes. Nothing new really, but still a nice overview.
Marc Hulet at FanGraphs has a quick review of the Reds minor league system
and he thinks Matt Maloney is on the up-swing, Devin Mesoraco could be a bust, and Juan Carlos Sulbaran could turn some heads next year.
OMGreds offers up a YouTube video of one of the last games at Crosley Field
The old Kodak 8mm film is always really cool-looking, even if I cant help but anticipate the president getting shot.
Diamond Hoggers asks, "When was the last time you enjoyed Cracker Jacks at the ballpark?"
I got some Cracker Jack at a Clippers/Bats game this summer and it was childhood-destroyingly disappointing. It was far too expensive, which wasnt surprising, but then there were no peanuts in the bag. None. Just a few stale puffs of tasteless popcorn. And the free prize was so exciting I forgot it in my seat after the game.

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Comments

First!

I guess my loyalty will go with ted power, though i’m still holding out hope for duncan

"Some times you get lucky; some times you get Willy Taveras." - Teh Fay

by joshuar9476 on Oct 15, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

Coaches

I most definitely vote for power. And while were at it we should bring Rick up as hitting coach and send brook packing.

The JV team just continues to dominate, move the JV coaches to Varsity.

by jrscheper on Oct 15, 2009 9:37 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

The powers that be will choose the Power that is.

Mark it down.

Jay Bruce will become a major league baseball STAR, starting in April, 2010.....

by Madville on Oct 15, 2009 9:40 AM EDT reply actions

I'd take Power for sure,

especially if it makes it possible to keep Gomes on the team.

Most of the young guys in the rotation have worked with Power, and he seems to help guys have success down there.

I'mma let you finish, but....

by nycredsfan on Oct 15, 2009 9:43 AM EDT reply actions

I remember someone on Redszone

hating on Power back in the day, so I’m still kinda skeptical of him.

Speaking of skeptical, all-you-can-eat fish n’ chips is just as bad of an idea as it sounds.

"And then there was the USAID guy in Kandahar who drove a giant pink Cadillac, which the locals set on fire one day. If you wanted to destroy something symbolic during a riot, you just could not do better than that. Good stuff." - Ghosts of Alexander

by Cy Schourek on Oct 15, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions

Holy cow

They actually sell “mountain oysters” at Rockies games?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 15, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions

There's definitely at least one restaurant in Denver that sells them

(Saw it on the Food Network).

by Brendanukkah on Oct 15, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions

they were at DNC events too

i mean sometimes Walt is like a prison shower, you know it is gonna happen, but it isn’t a good thing.

by justin007000 on Oct 15, 2009 12:37 PM EDT up reply actions

do they sell them in Cuba?

by Cy Schourek on Oct 15, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

my prof took a couple

and as he was chewing, we told him what was in his mouth…

i mean sometimes Walt is like a prison shower, you know it is gonna happen, but it isn’t a good thing.

by justin007000 on Oct 15, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Perhaps that’s the type of situation that led to the exclamation “nuts.”

by ol Pete on Oct 15, 2009 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

so what happened?

Did he spit them out or what?

All Things Bubba: Because how can you not love a baseball player named Bubba?

by BubbaFan on Oct 16, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions

justin hasn't made up that part of the story yet

give him a minute

Made from 100% Recycled Awesome,

by 'tHan on Oct 17, 2009 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions

bazinga!

by Charlie Scrabbles on Oct 17, 2009 9:44 AM EDT up reply actions

Weird that the MLBTR articles lists Nix and Miller

as in line for arbitration raises, while Bray is a non-tender candidate. If Bray is healthy, he needs to be in the pen over Lincoln. And it’s pretty staggering to think $10.25MM has been committed to Lincoln and Taveras, when both can’t justifiably lay claim to a roster spot over guys already in the system.

I’m also afraid the Reds think to highly of Francisco. I’m excited about his ascendancy, but ‘09 was the first year his OBP eclipsed .310 and he’s only 22. Maybe I’m oversimplifying, but it seems like all the roster moves should be very obvious this offseason, unless there’s a lopsided trade that favors the Reds or some financial windfall we don’t know about.

Yeah, those guys and the Cincinnati Reds. They're a terrible football team. / Because they're a baseball team? / Exactly. You know who's the worst football team? The Philadelphia Flyers. - Best Show

by RijoSaboCaseyWKRP on Oct 15, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions

ive read in a few places that Bray could be a non-tender candidate

i dont get it. he’s still not eligible for arbitration, so he’ll make the league minimum. is that really too expensive for a guy who was a serviceable bullpen arm just 2 seasons ago?

by Charlie Scrabbles on Oct 15, 2009 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

maybe it is because they are on the outside

and they just see a guy who only threw a few innings in AAA this year.

i mean sometimes Walt is like a prison shower, you know it is gonna happen, but it isn’t a good thing.

by justin007000 on Oct 15, 2009 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I'd like to see

the team consider Mike Griffin. He was with the organization in the ’90’s and has recently been in the Orioles system, AA in ’08 and AAA this past season. He has overseen the development of Chris Tilman and Brian Matusz.

The man who will one day be President is, at this moment, lying in his cradle, trying to find some strategic way to get his big toe in his mouth.

-Mark Twain

by poojols on Oct 15, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions

No love for Leo Mazzone?

Keep your shit off my whimsy.

by PeteyHendrix on Oct 15, 2009 3:40 PM EDT reply actions

No love for Leo Mazzone?

Not only has Mazzone proven that he can deal well with veterans, but also has proven he can take young studs and lead them to crafting bountiful – and sometimes HOF – careers. Among his pitchers’ accomplishments with the club are four ERA titles, six Cy Young Awards, and nine twenty game winners.

Wikipedia:

Mazzone has earned a reputation as one of the best pitching coaches in the modern era, having developed and coached perennial all-star pitchers such as Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. Greg Maddux also enjoyed his best seasons under Mazzone. Over the years, a number of pitchers joined the Braves and enjoyed some of their finest seasons under Mazzone only to regress after leaving. Denny Neagle, John Burkett and Jaret Wright are some of the most notable examples.

And let’s not lose sight of the "throwing program" that Leo instituted with the Braves. IIRC, he has his pitchers throw daily to keep their arms strong, solidify mechanics, and prevent injury. John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddux each had 5-YEAR-LONG streaks of not missing a start – following Leo’s program.

Dwell on that a moment, then agree with me. :P

Keep your shit off my whimsy.

by PeteyHendrix on Oct 15, 2009 3:43 PM EDT up reply actions