Sox officially hire coaches

[TaylorStSox]

So, they could have hired absolutely anybody who has played for a reasonable amount of time, and it's an OK move?

It's not like pulled these out of the Shell on Belmont and Kedzie and loaded them up in a pickup. They're baseball lifers.

[Cali]

.BTW, the "favorite" candidate for the Manager's position, Dave Martinez, has ZERO years experience managing at any level.

 

Four Years as a Bench coach vs. Robin having no years at anything besides player and former White Sox star.

 

I'll take the bench coach EVERY SINGLE TIME.

 

Also, Bench Coach to Manager has got to be the most taken route in all of baseball. Not Advisor for like 5 minutes/former player to Manager

 

[TaylorStSox]

It's just baseball, man. Lou Brown won a pennant.

[macsandz]

Manto better pray that Adam Dunn performs to his career numbers because that will make him look like a god.

 

The first thing Dunn should do is look up Berkman down in Texas and beg him to help.

[Dick Allen]

3B coaches are only do-nothing if you treat them that way. They are still on the coaching staff and interact with the players on a day to day basis. It was a HUGE upgrade to bring in McEwing over Cox. Being a base coach is how alot of "experienced managers" get their first time gig, like Alan Trammel who is a first time manager's bench coach (Kirk Gibson) and started out as the 1B coach for the Padres before being hired by the Tigers.

 

If Robin goes against most experts opinions and unquestionably fails, I would bet McEwing would be 1st in line for the managers chair.

Yeah, I agree with you, its baseball and Ventura is probably an expert at baseball, besides half the people who think he needs experience want Frank Thomas and his zero experience to be the hitting coach.

 

 

[winninguglyin83]

 

who can name the bench coach for Rangers or Cardinals?

 

This is a lot of whining about a fairly irrelevant position.

 

Cooper is the guy they obviously trust and he'll be important in the dugout.

 

If ventura likes parent, that's good enough for me.

[Milkman delivers]

who can name the bench coach for Rangers or Cardinals?

 

This is a lot of whining about a fairly irrelevant position.

 

Cooper is the guy they obviously trust and he'll be important in the dugout.

 

If ventura likes parent, that's good enough for me.

 

Bench coach Jackie Moore for the Texas Rangers:

 

Although he had a very brief career as a major league player — he batted only .094 in 53 at bats as a catcher for the 1965 Detroit Tigers — Moore has spent 30 years at the MLB level as a coach with the Milwaukee Brewers (1970–72), Texas Rangers (1973–74; 1975–76; 1980; 1993–94; 2009–11), Toronto Blue Jays (1977–79), Oakland Athletics (1981–84), Montréal Expos (1987–89), Cincinnati Reds (1990–92), Colorado Rockies (1996–98) and Houston Astros (2008).

 

Moore was promoted to manager of the Athletics on May 24, 1984, succeeding Steve Boros. He managed Oakland for 353 games—the balance of 1984, all of 1985, and 73 games into 1986

 

Bench coach Joe Pettini for the St. Louis Cardinals:

 

Pettini stayed with the Cardinals as a coach after his playing career ended in 1988. He started out as a manager with the rookie-level Hamilton franchise in 1989, then moved up the system, managing the Class A St. Petersburg franchise in 1990, the Class AA Little Rock affiliate from 1991 to 1993, and Class AAA Louisville from 1994 to 1996, where he managed the Redbirds to the 1995 American Association championship. Pettini compiled an overall minor-league won-loss record fo 475-569.

 

In 1997 Pettini was promoted to minor league field coordinator for the St. Louis Cardinals organization, where he remained until 2002. As coordinator, he was responsible for organizing the spring training schedules for up to 200 Cardinal farmhands every spring, as well as making decisions on what levels Cardinal prospects were sent to, and coaching those prospects during the minor league season. In 2002 St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa picked Pettini to be his bench coach, a position that he still holds.

 

In other words, they each have a f***ing s***load of experience.

[Milkman delivers]

Yeah, I agree with you, its baseball and Ventura is probably an expert at baseball, besides half the people who think he needs experience want Frank Thomas and his zero experience to be the hitting coach.

 

I think you're making a gross exaggeration. It seems that the majority of people in favor of hiring Thomas are the same ones who love the Ventura signing. There are obviously some exceptions.

 

It's just baseball, man. Lou Brown won a pennant.

 

Ah yes, the best argument to date. Some pretty awful managers have had success at one point or another, thus this move is great.

[TaylorStSox]

I think you're making a gross exaggeration. It seems that the majority of people in favor of hiring Thomas are the same ones who love the Ventura signing. There are obviously some exceptions.

 

 

 

Ah yes, the best argument to date. Some pretty awful managers have had success at one point or another, thus this move is great.

Clearly, the reference to a comedy is to be taken seriously.

[RockRaines]

Ah yes, the best argument to date. Some pretty awful managers have had success at one point or another, thus this move is great.

Yes, I much prefer your circular argument better. There are arguments on both sides which supports the fact you need to wait and see until they actually play a f***ing game before you can judge their performance. Right now you have Coop with a s***load of MLB experience as a coach, Parent who has experience as both a player and manager and Joe McEwing who has experience all over the place and has been called one of the best manager prospects in the entire minor league system. There is a s***load of experience in that clubhouse both on the field and in the manager's chair.

 

It doesnt really matter anyway, I will never see eye to eye with people who feel the need to have some as old as f*** and who has treaded water in a position without being promoted or being successful, just because they have been there before. I have always much preferred leaders like those who run start up companies, visionaries with energy, creativity, and who are driven by success.

Edited November 1, 2011 by RockRaines

[Milkman delivers]

Clearly, the reference to a comedy is to be taken seriously.

 

LOL I didn't even bother looking up who that was, just took your word for whoever the person was being bad. I didn't know his last name was Brown, but as soon as I looked at it just now I had to shake my head at how dumb I was.

[Milkman delivers]

Yes, I much prefer your circular argument better. There are arguments on both sides which supports the fact you need to wait and see until they actually play a f***ing game before you can judge their performance. Right now you have Coop with a s***load of MLB experience as a coach, Parent who has experience as both a player and manager and Joe McEwing who has experience all over the place and has been called one of the best manager prospects in the entire minor league system. There is a s***load of experience in that clubhouse both on the field and in the manager's chair.

 

How is my argument circular?

 

And yes, I understand that McEwing has a fine pedigree going to this point. Perhaps we would have been better served giving him the manager's seat, or at least have him as bench coach.

[JohnCangelosi]

fwiw, only Parent irks me. I'm glad McEwing is getting a promotion, and I like Manto. but Parent's hiring is terrible.

Please expand upon this. Is it just the lack of ML experience and you wanting a bench coach with a lot of experience to help Robin think through things since it's his first go at it?

[hogan873]

I'm really taken aback over the vehemence of the arguments in here. It's been pretty well known since a few days after Ventura was hired who the coaching staff would be. I believe that the only logical thing to do at this point is wait and see. The arguments from those who abhore these hirings essentially have the Sox losing a ton of games. We can't make a true judgement of how these hirings will work out until the season starts. To say the Sox will have a horrendous year because they hired some coaches with little experience is premature.

[southsider2k5]

How is my argument circular?

 

And yes, I understand that McEwing has a fine pedigree going to this point. Perhaps we would have been better served giving him the manager's seat, or at least have him as bench coach.

 

I wouldn't have minded Super Joe getting the job. He has put in the time. And then if you really want Robin to be in the organization, make him the 3rd base coach. To say it another way, Joe McEwing has managed successfully at all levels of the minors.

[iamshack]

I think you're making a gross exaggeration. It seems that the majority of people in favor of hiring Thomas are the same ones who love the Ventura signing. There are obviously some exceptions.

I think there are far less people who would have liked to see Thomas as hitting coach than who are pleased with the Ventura hiring.

 

For me personally, Ventura hold just a little bit more credibility than Big Frank in terms of coaching skills right now.

[Balta1701]

Gonzo

New Chicago White Sox hitting coach Jeff Manto said he plans to call embattled slugger Adam Dunn and Alex Rios.

 

But Manto doesn't plan to fly immediately to Dunn's off-season home to work on hitting. Manto simply wants to start dialogue with Dunn in hopes of gradually getting him ready for spring training and untracked for the 2012 season.

 

"I think communication is most important when it comes to hitting and approach to hitting," Manto said.

 

Manto served as the Sox's minor league hitting coordinator for the past four years and followed Dunn from afar last season. But he knows that Dunn is just one of several players he will attempt to help. Rios, Beckham and Dunn each struggled and hurt the Sox's chances of making a serious run in the American League Central.

 

"What I think I’m going to bring to the table is communicating and making these guys aware of what they’re trying to do," said Manto, speaking in general terms. "I do think a good at-bat and a good approach, it’s all statistics and wins and losses, it’s all a byproduct of a good approach.

 

"One thing in talking to these guys to find out what they were thinking. Why were you thinking fastball in a breaking ball count? And vice versa. Create some dialogue to maybe change their thought as to what they were doing.”

 

Manto did say that using videotape is important but said it places a distant third to communication and approach in his list of priorities in working with hitters.

 

Manto said that having a strong mental approach plays a large role in a hitter's success.

 

"There’s a definite mindset, a definite approach to hitting and it’s making sure that it’s not sometimes the goal is 500 at-bats. Maybe you set the goal for one night. Maybe you set the goal for one series. You’re constantly playing mind games to definitely get better.

 

"And definitely most of it, 90 percent or more, is mental. And that’s what I think I’m going to bring, making these guys aware of what’s going on. Not just going up there and swinging with mechanics - have an approach. And it’s a byproduct of having a plan."

 

Manto said he has worked with renowned sports psychologist Ken Ravizza when he played in the Angels' organization and later with mental skills coach Geoff Miller when Manto was Pittsburgh's hitting coach in 2006-07.

 

"They helped me coach," Manto said. "They threw out some ideas and understood the personality of a player or suggested this response this kind of way.

 

"There's a place for it. I don’t think it’s all inclusive. I think there’s a place for it."

 

Last year, the Sox employed sports psychologist Jeff Fishbein.

[Balta1701]

Gonzo V 2.0. This one includes previously tweeted quotes.

In one of his first duties as the White Sox's new hitting coach, Jeff Manto plans to contact embattled hitters Adam Dunn and Alex Rios.

 

"I'm not going to tell these guys I have any kind of magic dust or anything like that," Manto said Monday during a conference call in which the Sox confirmed that Joe McEwing was promoted to third base coach and Mark Parent will be the bench coach.

 

"Just to reach out, see how they're doing and hopefully when we get to spring training, hit the ground running."

 

The latter is extremely important because the tone was set last spring when Dunn joined the Sox and struck out 27 times in 67 spring training at-bats, then struck out 177 times and batted .159 during the regular season.

 

Manto, who replaces Greg Walker, stressed communication and having an approach as key elements to his theories on hitting. When asked specifically as to whether Dunn, 31, had lost bat speed, Manto had an interesting response.

 

"I don't think you can add bat speed to a player," said Manto, speaking in general terms. "I think maybe in that case, you have an older player, you look for the breaking ball more often than the fastball. If we can't get to the fastball, well, we'll cheat and look for the curveball or changeup.

 

"There are ways to get around it, and there are a lot of players who played for a lot of years just by making those types of adjustments. That's all it is, making an adjustment. Maybe changing your thought. You know what? Maybe that fastball tonight, that's why I'm going in the breaking ball mode."

 

Manto emphasized he wanted to talk to Dunn before drawing any conclusions and said he followed him last year from afar.

 

"I'm sure in the past he's had a lot of advice," said Manto, the Sox's minor league hitting instructor the last four years. "I don't think he lost anything, to be quite honest with you. It's just one of those years that happens.

 

"But as we walk into it, the past is the past."

 

Manto added that each player should have an approach that might not be similar to their teammates.

 

"Maybe you set the goal for one night," Manto said. "Maybe you set the goal for one series. You're constantly playing mind games to definitely get better. And definitely most of it, 90 percent or more, is mental.

 

"And that's what I think I'm going to bring, making these guys aware of what's going on. Not just going up there and swinging with mechanics. Have an approach, and it's a byproduct of having a plan."

 

Helping Manto will be longtime assistant hitting coach Mike Gellinger, and batting practice pitcher Kevin Hickey will return.

[Balta1701]

Version 3.0.

Jeff Manto has two years of experience as a major league hitting coach with Pittsburgh in 2006 and 2007. That's the only major league experience that any of the three new coaches -- third base coach Joe McEwing, bench coach Mark Parent and Manto -- have as they join the staff of White Sox first-year manager Robin Ventura.

 

But the new coaches, along with Ventura, believe the experiences of their playing days and what they've learned from former managers, coaches and players will help them in their new roles.

 

"I don’t worry as much when people start bringing up the experience," Ventura said. "If we were expected to go out and play, I would worry about our staff having to go field some positions. It’s the players. We’ve all played in different capacities, different ways, different teams and I just think the energy of all these guys and what they bring, it’s all positive. I don’t look at it as a negative."

 

Ventura played with McEwing with the New York Mets and respects that McEwing and Jeff Manto worked in the Sox's organization prior to their promotions. Parent and Ventura had the same agent during their playing days but Ventura has known Parent for at least 15 years.

 

"I totally trust what they’ll be doing and what we’re asking them to do and helping me," Ventura said. It’s just as important. I’m not just hiring friends that I think we’re going to go in there and have a great time. We’re here to work and win games. And that’s what I was looking for. I was looking for specific things, having Joe there.

 

And having Jeff, he’s got that hitting coach thing of looking for pitches and the mental side as well as the mechanical side. It’s a big thing at the major league level as it is at the minor league level. And I trust him with that. And with Mark, I've known him for a long time and seen what he’s done at minor leagues and the talks and even recently. I trust his baseball ability and all his managerial things in the minor leagues."

 

McEwing said the fact that he, Manto and Parent weren't highly successful players actually works in their favor.

 

"We’re all basically the same player – grinders, not silver spoon-type players," McEwing said. "We had to work for everything we got. Some got more than the other, some got less but all of us are grateful.

 

"We’ll bring that to the guys. That’s all we know. Grind it out and get the best out of what we got that day."

[Milkman delivers]

I think there are far less people who would have liked to see Thomas as hitting coach than who are pleased with the Ventura hiring.

 

For me personally, Ventura hold just a little bit more credibility than Big Frank in terms of coaching skills right now.

 

Agreed.

[southsider2k5]

Agreed.

 

Which is to still say neither of them should be doing it...

[bmags]

If they wanted grinders why not bring in Daren Erstad??!??!?!?!?!?

[Milkman delivers]

Which is to still say neither of them should be doing it...

 

Yes.

[greg775]

It won't matter who's coaching, the team will still be bad. There's no one scenario aside from the White Sox retaining Walker that would have led to any sort of reaction from me.

 

 

Let's be positive until they show us there is no reason for any joy

 

Do we feel any better about the manager and coaching staff now that it's settled in?

This is the first time in a long time I'm not in any hurry for the season to arrive.

I don't see any scenario where we have an excellent team.

[hogan873]

Do we feel any better about the manager and coaching staff now that it's settled in?

This is the first time in a long time I'm not in any hurry for the season to arrive.

I don't see any scenario where we have an excellent team.

I believe I'm in the minority here, but I'm excited about the season. I'm not overly concerned about the coaching staff right now because nothing has happened yet. I know, I know, lack of experience all around, but do we really think that this team will be worse just because Ozzie was replaced by Ventura, Walker was replaced by Manto, and Cox was replaced by McEwing? Really?

 

2011 was a miserable year, and two of the main reasons for that misery are gone. Hey, maybe on July 1st we'll be saying, "Oh my god, Robin is making worse decisions than Ozzie!" I doubt it, but if it happens I'll admit I was wrong.

 

The general doom and gloom about 2012 already just baffles me. Let's wait until the season starts and see what these guys can do. I'm pretty damn confident they'll do a better job than the previous crew.