Minor league coaching: get away from ex players

[Dominikk85]

I think that is a thing that the sox could really improve at. of coursre having ex players as coaches is fine but I think there should be a hitting coordinator who is a sports scientist and not a former pro (ideally both).

 

hitting coaching has changed a lot due to super slow motion and biomechanics analysis and much of the stuff taught is out dated. for example the best players in the world actually do use a slight uppercut but most minor league instructors still teach chopping down to the ball.

 

 

the astros for example have a hitting coordinator named jeff albert. the guy is a biomechanics expert and knows all the new trends. the white sox have an older former pro in mike gellinger who has worked decades for the sox. I'm sure he knows the game and is a great teacher and person but he probably got the job based on seniority and getting along well in the organisation. IMO that is not how a top organisation should work.

 

I think the sox should get a young biomechanics expert that earned his merits outside of the organisation and is knowing all the modern trends and not promote guys based on merit and seniority within the organisation.

[BamaDoc]

Not a bad thought. I think we should get the best people/person we can. It could be a old player who happens to use the new toys. Look how things have changed in golf with instant swing tracker analysis. The best have incorporated the new tech right into their teaching. We also need a consistent organizational teaching program. When we had Charlie Lau, all levels taught his philosophy. We also have to realize that some players may click with certain styles or teachers better than others so you still have to be adaptable. It would be interesting to see an interview with Getz or hitting coordinator where they discuss how we do things.

[thxfrthmmrs]

I think many players are now using data analytics to refine their swing to perfect the exact lauch angle. Result: 2017 is already setting homeruns in total HR's, and more HR's were hit in the month of June than any other month in history of baseball.

 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.washington...-than-steroids/

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/10/sports/b...re-iphone-share

 

If we could implement these types of tools in the minor leagues, then it could completely change the game. I'm not surprised some teams are already doing it given how well prospects have performed once they come up.

 

EDIT: I didn't read the OP's entire post and I was also thinking Astros must have adopted the new age hitting philosophy, given that Altuve at 5'6 is now a homerun hitter, Springer became a completely different hitter, and some journeyman named Marwin Gonzalez is hitting like Miguel Cabrera.

 

 

Edited July 24, 2017 by 2005thxfrthmmrs

[Dominikk85]

I think the coaches probably should be ex players because players won't listen to a scientist who has only played D3 college but there should be a coordinator who creates a clear concept for all levels using the newest scientific principles.