Co-hitting coach Ryan Fuller, Fredi Gonzalez and Jose Hernandez let go

[BRobinsonfan]

9 hours ago, casadeozo said:

I wonder if this is a “ he was given an option to take a diffeeent role  in The organization and chose to leave instead”.

Or just a face-saving way of getting rid of him without making it look like he was fired.  But, that's 100% speculation on my part. 

[BRobinsonfan]

1 hour ago, Warehouse said:

Setting aside who the coach(es) should be, how many hitting coaches do you think we should have? Just one? 

Perhaps that is the right answer, but it certainly cuts against the trend in the rest of the industry.

Of the 11 teams with at least 86 wins:

  - 2 had two hitting coaches (Dodgers and Braves)

  - 7 had three hitting coaches

  - 2 had four hitting coaches (Diamondbacks and Tigers)

I say we try 5 hitting coaches.  One for left-handed batters, one for right-handed batters, one for switch hitters, one for bunting, and one for hitting behind the runner.  I am, of course, not serious - but we if we did it we could lead the majors in hitting coaches.  

[1fingerwillie]

10 hours ago, Orioles0615 said:

then its the players and we should start getting rid if them. 

No the hitting coaches are doing what they are told to do. The hitting strategy changed this year. That was not the hitting coaches' call. If people want to complain about the hitting, I suggest shooting higher up.

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, 1fingerwillie said:

No the hitting coaches are doing what they are told to do. The hitting strategy changed this year. That was not the hitting coaches' call. If people want to complain about the hitting, I suggest shooting higher up.

Kinda silly to think that the hitting coaches could change things up like that and it not be overruled from up high if they had an issue with it.

[Drifter]

9 hours ago, Warehouse said:

Setting aside who the coach(es) should be, how many hitting coaches do you think we should have? Just one? 

Perhaps that is the right answer, but it certainly cuts against the trend in the rest of the industry.

Of the 11 teams with at least 86 wins:

  - 2 had two hitting coaches (Dodgers and Braves)

  - 7 had three hitting coaches

  - 2 had four hitting coaches (Diamondbacks and Tigers)

I have no idea why any team would want more than 1 philosophy across the board, especially a young team. Possibly a player's demands or contract calls for his own hitting coach.. but I stand by my wish.

[SilverRocket]

1 hour ago, Drifter said:

I have no idea why any team would want more than 1 philosophy across the board, especially a young team. Possibly a player's demands or contract calls for his own hitting coach.. but I stand by my wish.

There should be one philosophy, and that's what the O's claimed to have. There's just a lot more work to coaching 13 hitters (plus callups) than one person can do. Going through video, coordinating with the data folks, developing a plan, all that stuff. Only so many hours in the day.

[Jammer7]

Each player is different. Each player may have a somewhat different hitting philosophy, based on their strengths and weaknesses. Not everyone is a “power hitter.” I would not coach a Tony Santander the same as a Jordan Westburg, or a Jorge Mateo, or a Cedric Mullins. Some should be more selective, while others may need to do more damage and it’s ok for them to K more because the power payoff is worth it. Some should have a more oppo approach, while others may need to try to pull the ball more. The Waltimore certainly has messed with many of our RH bats. 

Being a hitting coach is a lot of work, and it is usually not often a position held for many years. They seem to often be a scapegoat when the players do not hit. I wonder what drove the players to swing more at pitches they probably should not have. I seriously doubt it was Ryan Fuller.

Hitting coaches have a general philosophical approach, like Fuller would have hitters learn to take pitches they cannot hit well, with less than 2 strikes.. He wanted them to swing only at pitches they can do damage with. They do not dramatically change. For the Orioles to become much more free swinging, that must have driven Fuller to leave. So be it.

Going forward, they probably need to be somewhere in between the previous two years. In the playoffs, they get pitched to differently. It’s higher intensity. You have to be proficient in putting the ball in play. You have to be able to take what the game gives you, and execute. There is no excuse for repeatedly having runners in scoring position with less than two outs and repeatedly not being able to get them home. Bases loaded, no outs, hitters 2,3 and 4 coming up…we have to score there. The approach was to hit a grand slam. Awful baseball. A ton of talent on this roster, and something has to change. 

[Jammer7]

21 hours ago, eddie83 said:

Plenty of runs scoring off HR’s in the playoffs. 

This is true. However, it is more situational in the post season. Guys are pitched to differently. You have to take what the game gives you. Home runs happen, but the best teams know when to take that shot and when to shorten up or be more line drive oriented. Home runs can be a surprise to good hitters who simply were in time and put a good swing on plane through the ball. It was a line drive that ran out of field.

Hitters have to know who they are. Some sit on fast balls early in the count in a certain small box. If they get it, they take that A swing. Or maybe they sit off speed early. They may take a strike that is more of a pitcher’s pitch, or one they were not looking for. if you’re sitting fastball early, not a great idea to swing at a curveball. Or vice versa. Whatever the case, with two strikes, you have to think contact and productive at bat. For some, that approach may be sooner in the at bat, of the situation dictates it. There is no BABIP if there is not a ball in play. So luck plays no role in a strikeout.

It seemed like the Orioles, as a whole, in 2024 were looking a certain pitch, and if the pitch was hittable they would hack. Even if it was just off the plate. Too many big swings, and tons of resulting misses, in key situations where shortening up a bit was the better approach.

Lastly, not many of our guys are true “home run hitters.” What I mean by that is when Santander strikes out swinging at a piece ch with a big cut. I get it. That is his game to be focused on driving the ball. That is what he gets paid to do. Along with that comes a fair amount of swing and miss, and roll over ground balls. Not all our hitters should be having the same approach. Gunnar may hit 35-40 home runs in a season, but he is a much more dynamic hitter than just a “home run guy.” He is capable of doing anything on the field. He is extremely talented, and we have a few more that may fall into that category some day. There are times to adjust and take what the game gives you. Go oppo for a single, put pressure on the defense.

This game is hard, but we can do better. If we are going to win, we must do much better. 

 

[Baseball fandom]

On 10/11/2024 at 12:26 PM, Orioles0615 said:

Clean house

Yep I agree. Damn if I knew Francona was available this coaching staff would be out of here. I think he could have been Baltimore 's version of Boche come out of retirement and maybe go all the way. I think he's an hell of a manager. Also why only one hitting coach let go. They both should have been gone. This was silly only letting one go. 

[eddie83]

The team chased at a ridiculous high rate in the playoffs. That’s on the players. Not on the philosophy.