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Rumor: Thome as hitting coach


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QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 02:31 PM)
Very similar to Thome's general style too...with you know the "massive increase in muscle mass" exception. Lotta home runs, lotta strikeouts, very unique hitting style, big uppercut swing, lotta walks, weak on batting average.

 

I probably didn't think Mac was a very good choice as hitting coach for them, but hey, they were the #6 offense in the NL Last year and the #1 offense in the NL this year. Yeah, they added Berkman, they had issues with Rasmus, but thems the results.

I agree, McGwire has done an excellent job, but before he had the gig, I was in "WTF!" mode with the move. It has paid of really well for the cards.

 

Go Cards!!!

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By Doug Padilla

CHICAGO – With nothing official expected to come from the White Sox until after the World Series, there are clues that Jeff Manto will be named the club’s hitting coach as expected.

 

A White Sox source indicated Tuesday that Tim Laker will move from his post as Triple-A hitting coach to minor-league hitting coordinator. That was the position Manto held the past four seasons.

 

That would seem to indicate that Manto would move to the open position of major-league hitting instructor to replace Greg Walker, but that has not been confirmed.

 

Teams are now asked to embargo all news until after the World Series is completed.

 

General manager Kenny Williams said he was going to name the White Sox’s coaching staff under new manager Robin Ventura last week, but that official announcement never came.

 

Hitting coach was believed to be the only hang up, with Mark Parent expected to be the bench coach to replace Joey Cora and Tim McEwing expected to be the third-base coach to replace Jeff Cox.

 

There was also published speculation this week that the White Sox could also be interested in Jim Thome as their hitting coach.

 

Before serving as the White Sox’s hitting coordinator, Manto was the major-league hitting coach for two seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2006-07). Before that he was the Pirates’ roving hitting instructor for three years and managed for one season in the minor leagues with the Philadelphia Phillies.

 

The career .230 hitter played nine seasons with the Indians, Phillies, Orioles, Red Sox, Mariners, Tigers, Yankees and Rockies.

 

Manto is a Pennsylvania native and a Temple University alum.

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QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 02:04 PM)
I think the experience one impacts a manager's job a lot more than a hitting coach's job because the manager is much more about dealing with personalities than the hitting coach's job. Both the manager and the hitting coach have a technical side (actual moves, actual mechanics), but a manager has to massage egoes and deal with crises in a way I don't think a hitting coach must do.

 

I'd just like to know that they're evaluating him as a coach, and not just as a hitter or popular guy. There's a HUGE difference between being able to do something really well and being able to evaluate others' ability and properly coach them to success with said thing. That's totally different than game strategy.

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QUOTE (MEANS @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 03:36 PM)
Has there ever been a hitting coach/player?

 

 

 

 

I kid I kid.....

 

I don't. He would still be a great weapon off the bench, and there would be no better teaching tool then going up to the plate, hitting a ball 480 feet, and going back to said pupil and saying "see, that is how you hit the curve"

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QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 05:29 PM)
I don't. He would still be a great weapon off the bench, and there would be no better teaching tool then going up to the plate, hitting a ball 480 feet, and going back to said pupil and saying "see, that is how you hit the curve"

I gotta think "The time I need to stay in shape enough to swing a bat" and "The time I need to get in work with 25+ hitters" would have to be mutually exclusive.

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QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 03:29 PM)
Classiest managing staff ever assembled.

 

I could see Thome working, but I'd have him behind Laker and ahead of Thomas.

 

I think they could all do the job.

 

They seem to be looking at guys with stronger work ethics, and some character, and by character I don't mean the Oz kind. I am liking the direction they are going. This will definitly not be Oz II.

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Knowing full well that this would be a "perfect" White Sox hire, I'm going to again say that this job should go to a person who has both experience in teaching players how to hit/fix their mechanics and has paid his dues. With the emergence of some of the younger hitters due seemingly to the work of Laker and/or Manto, one of those guys deserves the chance at the job. I'm sure they won't even be interviewed, though.

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QUOTE (Tex @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 05:01 PM)
They seem to be looking at guys with stronger work ethics, and some character, and by character I don't mean the Oz kind. I am liking the direction they are going. This will definitly not be Oz II.

 

They shouldn't just go in the opposite direction, though. This reminds me of the Democrats running Kerry in 2004. Basically their entire campaign was "he's not Bush". Finding someone with differing qualities is a great idea, but make sure there is also some substance to the person.

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I think "paying their dues" is being overrated here. In politics it's what got Dole and McCain nominations. I don't want them hiring someone from within because he stuck around long enough to "earn it" because he "paid his dues". I believe "paying their dues" is different than having someone with experience and a track record. Paying their dues smacks of me as he's been here ten years, patiently waiting for his chance, so we ought to give it to him.

 

 

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QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 05:09 PM)
They shouldn't just go in the opposite direction, though. This reminds me of the Democrats running Kerry in 2004. Basically their entire campaign was "he's not Bush". Finding someone with differing qualities is a great idea, but make sure there is also some substance to the person.

 

I agree, I just believe that might not have been on the list when they hired Oz, and now it cracks the top 5. Oz will do that to you. It could also be a bit of a hang over from the win anyway you can even if it means a needle in your arse.

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QUOTE (Tex @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 05:09 PM)
I think "paying their dues" is being overrated here. In politics it's what got Dole and McCain nominations. I don't want them hiring someone from within because he stuck around long enough to "earn it" because he "paid his dues". I believe "paying their dues" is different than having someone with experience and a track record. Paying their dues smacks of me as he's been here ten years, patiently waiting for his chance, so we ought to give it to him.

 

That's why I said "and" :lol:

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QUOTE (Tex @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 05:09 PM)
I think "paying their dues" is being overrated here. In politics it's what got Dole and McCain nominations. I don't want them hiring someone from within because he stuck around long enough to "earn it" because he "paid his dues". I believe "paying their dues" is different than having someone with experience and a track record. Paying their dues smacks of me as he's been here ten years, patiently waiting for his chance, so we ought to give it to him.

 

Don Cooper disagrees.

 

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We really can't speculate how good or bad Thome would be as a coach unless someone has some experience with him other than watching him play. Personally, I don't see him being a hitting coach, but he has worked an awful lot with Charlie Manuel who is known as a hitting guru. Maybe they are going to do what Hawk has always thought should be the case, have 2 hitting coaches. Maybe Thome could be a coach/player. Maybe this Thome stuff is all BS.

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Good organizations continue to welcome minds that can help the organization.

 

Ted Williams was a dick but he was always welcome to Red Sox camp not as a manger but as a guy that knew baseball and share his philosophy of hitting.

 

Thome has been through it all.

 

The Yankees always welcome their former players into camp.

 

Hell Ventura was brought to camp just to share his ideas and work with guys.

 

Thome need no be named the hitting coach but having him around does not hurt.

 

Same as Thomas, Fisk, McDowell, Dotson, Thigpen etc.

 

While Bobby Thigpen may not be able to teach a great cutter the fact he may be able to talk to Santos about the trails and tribulations of being a closer can not hurt.

 

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QUOTE (sunofgold @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 06:56 PM)
Has Thome announced his retirement from baseball as a player? Think that he has to do that first. lol!

 

coworker of mine is close to Jim and his family (I live about 4 miles from Bartonville, Il), he told me about 2 months ago that Jim is retiring and he felt after #600 he had nothing left to prove

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QUOTE (Real @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 08:32 PM)
coworker of mine is close to Jim and his family (I live about 4 miles from Bartonville, Il), he told me about 2 months ago that Jim is retiring and he felt after #600 he had nothing left to prove

 

 

Is there some sort of study that shows that being a great player means you will be a great coach/manager?

 

I've said it before. I would only hire experiencved coaches and managers if I owned this team. I wouldn't bother taking shots if proven winners were available.

 

 

Bob

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QUOTE (gosox41 @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 08:59 PM)
Is there some sort of study that shows that being a great player means you will be a great coach/manager?

 

I've said it before. I would only hire experiencved coaches and managers if I owned this team. I wouldn't bother taking shots if proven winners were available.

 

 

Bob

 

I am perfectly content taking Ventura over Buddy Bell and Bobby Valentine.

 

You can ask for experienced managers all you want to, but the only one who may have potentially been available is Francona, and I don't know how much he actually wants to manage this year.

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QUOTE (witesoxfan @ Oct 19, 2011 -> 09:24 AM)
I am perfectly content taking Ventura over Buddy Bell and Bobby Valentine.

 

You can ask for experienced managers all you want to, but the only one who may have potentially been available is Francona, and I don't know how much he actually wants to manage this year.

But can't you see that there's a difference between the levels "Actually been a manager before"..."Actively worked under a manager and prepared for the next step" and "no managerial activity or preparation whatsoever".

 

I can tolerate the latter for a technique coach...but the actual manager's spot it might be nice to at least be at the middle level.

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QUOTE (Real @ Oct 18, 2011 -> 08:32 PM)
coworker of mine is close to Jim and his family (I live about 4 miles from Bartonville, Il), he told me about 2 months ago that Jim is retiring and he felt after #600 he had nothing left to prove

I live in West Peoria, about 8 miles or so away. Did you go to Limestone High School?

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