Roch: Hitting Coach Terry Crowley is coming back

[LookinUp]

http://www.masnsports.com/school_of_roch/2010/10/staff-injections.html

The title pretty much says it all.

No other decisions have apparently been made, though some of the top targets are obviously going to be interviewing for multiple jobs, which you all know but does pretty definitively explain the delays.

[Moose Milligan]

Ohhhhh this will be rich.

[Art Wing]

The guy has naked pictures of somebody important locked away in a safe somewhere.:002_scry:

[NewMarketSean]

I guess I have to err on the judgement of Buck Showalter but I really don't see why they can't go in a different direction here.

[clapdiddy]

I think I'm going to leave it at this...

I don't think Terry Crowley is the problem with the hitters on this team. The problem is the quality of hitter we are drafting and signing. No one was going to change Izturis, Wigginton, or Patterson to become a more patient hitter.

Now, he does have some work to do on Wieters, but I think he's had plenty of positive impact with some other hitters on this team.

[Frobby]

It's fascinating. Even if he actually is a very good hitting coach, it's fairly amazing that he has kept his job through 3 GM changes and 4 managerial changes despite poor offensive results over the years for this team. You'd just think one of these managers would want to try something different.

[ChaosLex]

Not the biggest fan of Crow, but if that's who Buck wants, I support his decision.

[Moose Milligan]

Is this where we've returned from the honeymoon with the hot wife and she's started to stuff her face with donuts and put on weight?

[Can_of_corn]

I think I'm going to leave it at this...

I don't think Terry Crowley is the problem with the hitters on this team. The problem is the quality of hitter we are drafting and signing. No one was going to change Izturis, Wigginton, or Patterson to become a more patient hitter.

I agree with this point however...This is Crowley talking about Nick:

"Sometimes, I think, he is a little too patient. But it's proven to be good for him.

I find it disturbing that he thinks one of the few O's hitters that have a good approach is too patient. I would rather have a guy preaching patience and getting ignored by free swingers then a guy that that doesn't preach patience at all.

One would think watching the Yankees, Sox and Rays wear down our pitchers game after game and series after series that someone would get the message.

Baseball isn't a grip it and rip it kinda sport.

[ShaneDawg85]

I think I'm going to leave it at this...

I don't think Terry Crowley is the problem with the hitters on this team. The problem is the quality of hitter we are drafting and signing. No one was going to change Izturis, Wigginton, or Patterson to become a more patient hitter.

Now, he does have some work to do on Wieters, but I think he's had plenty of positive impact with some other hitters on this team.

This isn't bullpen coach or catcher we're talking about here though. This is the hitting coach, something far more important and valuable. There's no justification for keeping someone at the same position through 6 different GM administrations and almost as many manager's with such horrible results. None. Even if you acknowledge the lack of offensive talent, there's still no justification for it. The Orioles were never one of the top offensive teams in the AL even when they had talent. The one constant has been Crowley, and it's not justifiable that he continues to get a pass despite the offensive struggles.

[LookinUp]

I think I'm going to leave it at this...

I don't think Terry Crowley is the problem with the hitters on this team. The problem is the quality of hitter we are drafting and signing. No one was going to change Izturis, Wigginton, or Patterson to become a more patient hitter.

Now, he does have some work to do on Wieters, but I think he's had plenty of positive impact with some other hitters on this team.

My opinion is that there's obviously a problem with the hitters, but I think there's also obviously a problem with the coach.

Apparently the organization has determined that the problem is with the players, not the coach.

This is where I skeptically defer to the expertise of the O's brass.

[Hank Scorpio]

It's fascinating. Even if he actually is a very good hitting coach, it's fairly amazing that he has kept his job through 3 GM changes and 4 managerial changes despite poor offensive results over the years for this team. You'd just think one of these managers would want to try something different.

Perhaps they have... we've all heard whispers about PGA's loyalties to Crow.

I don't think this is the universe-ending decision it'll be made out as around here, but it'd be disturbing yet unsurprising if Buck clamored for someone else and was overruled by Angelos.

[JTrea81]

My new theory is the Orioles are looking for a new Elrod and Crowley has been chosen to be just that...a lifer coach as long as he wants to stay or as long as an Angelos owns the team.

This does put the offense at a disadvantage to start, but as long as we acquire players who are already established patient hitters and have their own routine, they probably won't listen to what he has to say.

[Frobby]

I find it disturbing that he thinks one of the few O's hitters that have a good approach is too patient. I would rather have a guy preaching patience and getting ignored by free swingers then a guy that that doesn't preach patience at all.

I think you have to put that quote in context. Obviously Crowley thinks Nick is a good hitter and has a good approach at the plate. I happen to agree that Nick sometimes is a little too patient. As I posted the other day, the percentage of the time he swings at the 1st pitch has gone from 27% in 2007 and 2008 (his best two seasons) to 21% in 2009 and 17% this year. Has that really helped him? I think there are times he looks at a fat pitch that he could really do something with, and then ends up behind in the count swinging at pitches that are harder to hit. Overall, I'd much rather have 9 guys like Nick than 9 guys who follow the approach of most of our other hitters. But yes, I think there are times when Nick is too patient.

[Moose Milligan]

My new theory is the Orioles are looking for a new Elrod and Crowley has been chosen to be just that...a lifer coach as long as he wants to stay or as long as an Angelos owns the team.

This does put the offense at a disadvantage to start, but as long as we acquire players who are already established patient hitters and have their own routine, they probably won't listen to what he has to say.

Not a bad theory, but a big part of Elrod was the community relations role...shaking hands, signing autographs, making appearances...Crowley isn't really that kinda guy. Seems like a plenty nice guy but I don't see him out shaking hands and kissing babies.