SI.com's Jon Heyman says that the Cubs are close to signing Rudy Jaramillo, and he'd become the highest-paid coach in Cubs history:
Jaramillo turned down the Rangers' offer to remain their hitting coach last week and is expected to become one of the two or three highest-paid coaches in the game with the Cubs. It is believed he will receive a multiyear deal for about $800,000 per year. Dave Duncan and Mike Maddux are thought to currently be the highest paid coaches in baseball at about $750,000. Duncan's contract is up, so he will likely regain his spot as baseball's highest paid coach if he decides to stay in St. Louis.
Coaches can only do so much, but it's surprising that a man with the reputation of Jaramillo, in a game where players make huge multiples of millions of dollars, is likely to be paid only twice the minimum salary -- and, if the figures are correct, only about 1/3 as much as Aaron Miles is going to be paid in 2010.
In any case, this is a good decision. Batting coaches may be overrated, but many players say that Jaramillo has helped them. This is a good move by Jim Hendry.
0 recs | 152 comments
Maybe he can get
that Aaron Miles OPS above .500
MJMars - October 19, 2009
Yeah, this ought to fix it.
santoswoodenlegs - October 19, 2009
Depends
Is Jaramillo left handed?
Archie - October 20, 2009
You're stealing my material! See below...
Zeke - October 20, 2009
LOL
oops. The z key failed me…
Great minds think alike…and, as my wife always reminds me, fools seldom differ.
Which are Cubs fans? ;-)
Archie - October 20, 2009
Gumby approves
eths - October 20, 2009
He also has a book to promote
Shanghai Badger - October 20, 2009
All of the above...
Zeke - October 20, 2009
funny (or sad) thing is, this was one of the first things I looked up.
He spent 4 years in Rangers organization – never made it to the bigs. .258 avg, .341 slg. And yes, he is left-handed.
Then again, so was Perry. And Joshua.
ballhawk - October 20, 2009
i guess we need to get more right handed
jesus christos - October 20, 2009
If nothing else, it's a nice symbolic gesture.
daver - October 19, 2009
Changing of the Guard Begins
After years where the hitting coach was just a random buddy of the manager or a random Cub veteran (and to be frank, this applies to all of the coaches besides the pitching coach), it is interesting to see an accomplished coach being strongly pursued by the Cubs for once. Whether Rudy can make any difference is unclear, but having a full staff with quality coaches (both in the majors and minors) will make the franchise more self-sustaining and should lead to a few more wins. Hopefully more signings like this will come.
I am a bit surprised that Rudy considered the Cubs given that Lou is seemingly a lame duck manager, but the high salary and probably an opt-out clause with a moderately large buyout are offsetting that issue.
Qixotl - October 19, 2009
Jaramillo turns 60 next year.
He’s probably not going to take too many more jobs as a hitting coach — he may be looking at the Cubs job as his last baseball job.
Al Yellon - October 19, 2009
That sounds like another old fat guy who's on the coaching staff...
Does Rudy enjoy Whoppers after a game and a nice margarita poolside too?
lswaidz - October 19, 2009
Who are you referring to?
daver - October 19, 2009
That would be sweet Lou
lswaidz - October 20, 2009
Multi-year deals...
…for hitting coaches are like gold, and he could care less whether the manager has only one year left on his deal. He will get his dough regardless of what the new manager wants and that’s all that matters to him.
MPH73 - October 19, 2009
Rothschild
made it through the last manager change, I bet if Lou does retire at the end of the year Jaramillo would stay.
slocs55 - October 20, 2009
I agree...
…Hendry promised Rothschild he would be taken care of when he turned down the 3 year offer from the Tigers before Lou came onboard. Taking Rothschild was part of the package for Lou, and this hitting coach would probably be part of the package for the next manager after Lou.
MPH73 - October 20, 2009
Presuming the next manager is Sandberg...
… and I think that’s a better than even bet — you’d think that the Cubs would have at least checked with Sandberg to see if Jaramillo would fit his bill as hitting coach (I assume he would).
Al Yellon - October 20, 2009
I doubt that a lot, actually
A lot can happen in a year, and to give the “heir apparent” input this far in advance would be a rotten organizational strategy – what kind of signal does that send to Piniella, Trammel, etc?
If Sandberg is the next manager, he’ll get a little input on his coaching staff, but Hendry is going to have the final say. If Lou Piniella, with 20-plus years of experience inherited a pitching coach, why would Sandberg have a voice on the hitting coach in his first job – which he might not get, anyway?
Shanghai Badger - October 20, 2009
Well said...
…if I would have read this, I would just agreed rather than written my own.
MPH73 - October 20, 2009
No way Al...
…way too premature for Hendry to be doing something like that at this point in time. Way too much can happen between now and when they will be searching for the next manager.
This is simply Hendry going after a guy he thinks is the best fit to fill the bill as hitting coach to help them win now. I highly doubt he has even contemplated who it would impact the next manager.
MPH73 - October 20, 2009
I have no problem...
…with this move.
With that said, I can see it now; the media will be going on and on about how the Cubs are hitting better (as a team) in 2010 because of Jaramillo. The fact of the matter is, even if the Cubs didn’t have a hiting coach in 2010, they have no where to go but up when it comes to offense.
MPH73 - October 19, 2009
What did they need a hitting coach for?
They had Lou! He can fix anyone just by taking them aside and working with them personally!
DGU - October 19, 2009
Wasn't my point...
…I’d bet if the Cubs would have retained Joshua, their team offensive production would have been much better in 2010. In fact, they could have hired a whole bunch of different guys and the offensive production likely goes up in 2010.
Very very difficult to figure out the “cause and effect” with hitting coaches, and that’s the point I’m trying to make.
MPH73 - October 19, 2009
True,
a few guys can only go up, if their production goes down they won’t be around much longer.
slocs55 - October 20, 2009
DON MATTINGLY
Not really, but I always liked his mustache.
IowaCubs- - October 19, 2009
Which he no longer has.
Al Yellon - October 19, 2009
Is he left-handed?
Zeke - October 19, 2009
Pay
IIRC I read somewhere today that the Yankees batting coach is paid about $1M.
dmlichte - October 19, 2009
If you can find a link, post it.
Al Yellon - October 19, 2009
Here
The article was posted here earlier, detailing both Jaramillo and the possibility of Stephen Drew being on the market
dmlichte - October 19, 2009
I read same thing yesterday - now trying to remember where...
I was blown away when I read that – not because it was $1M, but because of who the Yankees hitting coach is.
Kevin Long.
Kevin Long? Who the freak is Kevin Long?
(answer: Royals farmhand for a few years. Never made it to the bigs.)
ballhawk - October 19, 2009
Those who can't...
DGU - October 19, 2009
maybe we should scrap jaramillo and make miles our batting coach, just so we have the title of highest paid coach in baseball!
jesus christos - October 19, 2009
Those who can't...
DGU - October 19, 2009
Heyman's numbers are off
Mike Maddux makes $500,000 and Duncan makes less. I actually think Maddux is the highest paid coach but he may only be the highest paid pitching coach but neither Maddux nor Duncan make anywhere near $750,000
Doggie Stalker - October 19, 2009
Proof? Cite?
Al Yellon - October 19, 2009
The Maddux figure is basically correct
though there is some dispute between articles about his signing as to if he made a little more than $500,000 or closer
to $600,000. Duncan however does make around a million. Obviously I should only trust myself with numbers re
members of the Maddux family. All others I should double check.
Doggie Stalker - October 19, 2009
Hmmm.
I’d still like to see a link.
Al Yellon - October 19, 2009
What??? You doubt the Maddux Maven??? The Amighty Oracle of All Things Greg & Mike???
Blasphemy, Al. Pure, unadulterated blasphemy. You’ll surely rot in hell while being blasted by a 24/7 audio woo-woo assault for doubting the Doggie Lama…
ballhawk - October 19, 2009
Damn straight
Here pest ( and I mean Al not you ballhawk)
http://www.arlington.org/sports_recreation/rangers_baseball/rangers_news/newpitching
Doggie Stalker - October 19, 2009
Well, let's see.
First you said above that Duncan makes “nowhere near $750,000”, then you said he makes “around a million”. No cites for those, either.
From the arlington.org article:
Looks like he makes “around” $600,000 a year — maybe $500,000 for the first two years, each year, if that quote is correct, though it’s not written very well.
In any case, $800,000 for Jaramillo would be more than that.
Al Yellon - October 19, 2009
I admitted I was wrong about Duncan and corrected it.
However you should not doubt me on things Maddux. I can’t help it if the Arlington paper has has two figures but several places wrote up $500,000 which I actually looked up this summer when Dave said he was one of the highest paid coaches so I was curious. Apparently unlike players salaries there is no actual reliable list for coaches salaries.
Off to the theater. Go Angels. Please don’t let the Yankees sweep.
Doggie Stalker - October 19, 2009
Now on that last part, you & I are in total agreement.
Al Yellon - October 19, 2009
Walks, bring back the walks.
One of the reasons we scored so many runs in 2008 was the walk total that neared the cubs all time record. Do that again and this team’s hitting will be back to acceptable.
mrcubsfan - October 19, 2009
Actually...
… the 2009 Cubs drew only 44 fewer walks than the 2008 version (592 to 636). It was the team batting average dropping 23 points that had a lot more to do with the lack of run scoring.
Al Yellon - October 19, 2009
Seems like half of those walks were Milton, though.
Everybody else is going to have some slack to pick up. :-)
Goodie1969 - October 19, 2009
Revisionist history.
Bradley finished third on the team in walks (66), behind Kosuke Fukudome (93) and Derrek Lee (76).
Al Yellon - October 20, 2009
Not surprised it felt like he had more walks.
He got them in bunches over one week here and one week there. Bradley also didn’t have many of those pesky hits to break the walk streaks up either.
N Oakley - October 20, 2009
Pettite
What is it about Andy Pettite that makes him so tough in post-season? He hasn’t been that good in the regular season in a long time.
KedzieKid - October 19, 2009
I'm ambivalent about this move.
There’s a Rob Neyer blog post that addresses Jaramillo and the possibility of his going to the Cubs, but moreover speaks to the overall effectiveness of hitting coaches. He suggests that if you did away with the hitting coaches on half of all teams and at the end of the season tried to sort out which teams had hitting coaches and which didn’t, you would have a tough time. Here’s that post
Lots of players credit Jaramillo with helping them, but I read a quote somewhere from DLee basically saying “ultimately, the hitting coaches don’t make much difference.”
Either way, I don’t think this is a bad move; I just don’t think we’ll be able to accurately determine whether or not it’s a good move.
mykalmorgan - October 19, 2009
Me too.
Is Rudy that great, or can his success be attributed to where he’s been coaching? Is this our big offseason splash for 2010?
dogbone - October 19, 2009
I'll disagree mildly.
If the players think it’s a good move and/or if the players feel he is helping them, then it doesn’t really matter if he’s helping in anyway you can measure statistically. At this level, player confidence is a good in and of itself. All we have to do is look to Felix Pie’s time among the Cubs to see how confidence in your hitting approach, or a lack thereof, can affect a hitter.
DGU - October 19, 2009
Rudy the Placebo?
Now that is a catchy nickname…
vonde6 - October 19, 2009
Rudy Placebo
I think you are onto it.
Archie - October 20, 2009
I guess that's what I was kind of saying
I don’t think it’s bad move, we just really know if it has actually made a difference.
mykalmorgan - October 20, 2009 via mobile
*typo
“…we just WON’T really know…”
mykalmorgan - October 20, 2009 via mobile
Call Me Paranoid
I can just see a Jim Hendry press conference explaining how much better Soriano and Milton will hit in 2010 because of their Rudy reunion. “No one feels worse about last years’ events than Milton, and after having a long, heartfelt conversation with him, he understands that what he said was wrong, he took his punishment like a man, and now we want the fans to give him another chance.”
dogbone - October 19, 2009
Not only did I just throw up in my mouth a little, I think I soiled myself.
“Say it ’ain’t so, Joe…”
Zeke - October 19, 2009
If you hear anything like that, just tell yourself
“Jim Hendry is increasing his trade negotiation leverage.” But I doubt you’ll hear anything like that from Jim himself.
DGU - October 19, 2009
Come 1/1 if Hendry still holds Bradley's contract, phrases like that are
exactly what you’ll read about.
In fact, having the ability to sign Jaramillo and feed crap like this to the press may make Jaramillo more valuable than his role as hitting coach. Up the offer Jimbo!
N Oakley - October 20, 2009
I don't get it...
The Cubs, seemingly, had finally adopted a patient approach. Now they go out and get a guy who preaches being aggressive. Seems like they’re moving backwards.
kanderber - October 19, 2009
Wasn't Von about aggressiveness?
And aggressiveness itself isn’t necessarily opposed to OBP valuing.
DGU - October 19, 2009
It all depends....
…because hitters come in all shapes and sizes and all of them have certain natural tendencies. This is why the best hitting coaches are really more psychologist, than they are a guy who spends a bunch of time on mechanics, especially with veterans.
On the aggressive question, there is nothing wrong with being aggressive with hittable pitches, but some guys just can’t distinguish the good from the bad very well. You tell them to be aggressive and they just hack away. For instance, I don’t think anyone needs to tell Soriano to be aggressive (or even Ramirez), but a guy like Bradley should probably be told to be more aggressive.
This is why a hitting coach who stresses patience or aggressiveness is really never a perfect match for any team, because every roster will have a mix of guys who are either too aggressive or too patient already. You take each guy one at a time and try to get them to use their talents to the fullest.
MPH73 - October 19, 2009
Rec'd; well said.
Do you expect Coach RJ to a one-note coach, or is this just a caricature that’s out there?
DGU - October 20, 2009
If he is as good as reported...
…there is no way he cookie cutters his approach, it just doesn’t work very well with the individualism you have with hitters.
MPH73 - October 20, 2009
Cubs proving again to be a joke franchise
Quick – who is the Phillies hitting coach? The Yankees? The Red Sox? The Dodgers? – you don’t know because the position doesn’t matter.
You can’t have it both ways – say that bringing this guy in is some cure-all while bemoaning the futility of firing the last two.
If the Cubs overpay for a fucking hitting coach then they remain as stupid as always.
Gibbon Jockey - October 19, 2009
While I understand your premise...
…what’s the alternative? Go after the lesser known, unproven guy?
So the Cubs overpay for a hitting coach, is that dollar difference going to make an impact on who we sign? No.
The idea of overpaying for a guy isn’t known until after the results are in. Did we overpay for Soriano, maybe. Many said we overpaid for Lilly at the time, would anyone argue that now? I should hope not.
cubswynn - October 19, 2009
My point is
that resources are finite. There is a pool of money and it gets dispersed. To use too much of that pool on a meaningless position is not a wise allocation of resources.
Gibbon Jockey - October 25, 2009
its 800k
who cares? Are you paying him? Does this mean we wont sign that 42 round draft pick? Cubs needed a hitting coach and they got the best one available, why does that make the franchise a joke?
bheidge - October 19, 2009
I'd rather sign that 42 round draft pick
than overpay a guy who the big leaguers don’t listen to anyway.
No, it’s not my money, but I’d rather invest that money in material than ceremony.
Gibbon Jockey - October 25, 2009
Jeez,
I didn’t realize that a batting coach could get your shorts all jacked up. 800 thousand for one of the best in the business I see no big deal. I think it is a good move, will the Cubs win the series because of it, no, but it should not hurt.
Just think of money thrown away at all of the players that walked through that clubhouse, so for me 800grand is no big deal. Good move.
Grockcubs - October 19, 2009
Dude
No need for the f-bomb. Chill out. This ain’t your frat house.
Archie - October 20, 2009
If I offended your delicate sensibilities
then turn the fuck away.
Gibbon Jockey - October 25, 2009
I think you're over-reacting.
And I’d like to know precisely who has labeled Jaramillo a “cure-all.” Certainly not anyone in the Cubs organization as the man hasn’t even been officially hired yet. And most of the comments I see here take a fairly realistic, balanced approach to this development.
daver - October 20, 2009
True, I probably am over-reacting
but it’s bothersome to see so many of the same mistakes repeated. How much worthless talent is this team going to continue to pay too much for?
Gibbon Jockey - October 25, 2009
Don't know the Phillies coach, but the other three are
Kevin Long, Dave Magadan and Don Mattingly. So three of four isn’t bad. What’s my prize?
If Jaramillo can help Soriano regain the hitting form he had in Texas, then the Cubs offense becomes potent again. And that would be worth bringing in a fresh face to serve as hitting coach.
Bill Potter - October 20, 2009
I had to look it up.
The Phillies’ hitting coach is Milt Thompson.
Al Yellon - October 20, 2009
Milt seems to be doing a fine job, too.
Trying to get through that lineup unscathed 3-4 times in a game is near impossible.
Bill Potter - October 20, 2009
What is also lost in this
is that they had to pay Perry/Joshua something last year. Paying an extra 400,000 grand or so for your hitting coach the next season is not going to make or break the budget of a big market franchise
TheRiot Police - October 20, 2009
Agreed.
And if Jaramillo helps bring Soriano and Soto back to near their 2008 levels of production, I would venture to guess we’ll agree that the money was worth it.
Bill Potter - October 20, 2009
Why do the Cubs seem to always overpay...
for people when many other successful teams are not?
Twins, Marlins, St.Louis, Atlanta.
CubFanSince1970 - October 19, 2009
Well I since I DID research the figure.
St. Louis is paying Duncan one million so that is a lot and very likely the highest in baseball.
Doggie Stalker - October 19, 2009
IMO...
…Duncan is worth 10 times the best hitting coach in baseball.
What he has done with the pitchers he has had to work with, far and away exceeds any impact a hitting coach will have, no matter who he is.
MPH73 - October 19, 2009
+1 and rec'd
Archie - October 20, 2009
-1 and Unrec'd
Oh please, he’s the most overrated of them all. Wainwright would have been a Cy Young candidate with any other coach and that goes with Carpenter. Every other supposed “success” story fails after one year. Plus he has been able to do absolutely nothing with any of the other farmhands that bubble up through their system. He’s the Mark DeRosa of pitching coaches.
WayneCampbell08 - October 21, 2009
Folks, it's OUR fault they do this. The Cubs are willing to "overpay" for things because as fans
WE overpay for our Cubs game tickets, ballpark food, beverages (LOTS of beverages), souvenirs, conventions, etc., etc., etc.
When we stop watching Cubs games on free TV, cable, satellite, the web, and iPhones and stop buying the products advertised on those same distribution venues, AND when the Cubs cease to draw 3 million fans a year to Wrigley and when their licensing revenue for all ancillary Cubs merchandise sales falls, they will have no choice but to stop.
The revenue won’t support it. But as long as we’re willing to feed the beast, (and those other businesses that support the beast), “it” will continue to eat.
Supply and demand. We demand. They supply.
Now, WHEN do single game Cubs tickets for 2010 go on sale?
(PS- “overpay” depends on what side of the negotiations table you are sitting on… )
Zeke - October 20, 2009
Tickets almost always go on sale the Friday after President's day in Feb
But who knows if Rickets might not move it up to December for quicker cash and more interest.
Doggie Stalker - October 20, 2009
LOL. I was being factious to illustrate my point that as Cubs fans
we can SAY on the one hand we won’t get sucked in to over-buying “The CUBS” brand, and then on the other hand are just as quick to ask when the next opportunity is for us to part with our dollars and put them in the Cubs’ coffers…
Hence: “Man, these ticket prices are a RIP OFF!” closely followed by “When do single game tickets go on sale?” ;)
Zeke - October 20, 2009
Lol
You said “factious” (meaning: divisive), but I assume you meant “facetious” (meaning: funny). Typo irony?
mykalmorgan - October 20, 2009
Duh. This is what I get for quickly accepting the first option of spellcheck, figuring "it knows what I mean"...
Zeke - October 20, 2009
Reminds me of the old joke
about two old ladies eating at a restaurant in the Catskills.
The first woman says, “Ugh. Can you believe how horrible the food is here?”
To which her friend replies, “I know. And in such small portions.”
Goodie1969 - October 20, 2009
Years ago, the ownership was too stingy and we grumbled...
Now the organization is willing to invest (and has the cash to do it) and we grumble.
If Jaramillo is as good as many say then fine, and if not we will be allowed to grumble again.
eths - October 20, 2009
Yep. 'Ya can't win fer losin' with us Cubs fans ;)
It’s part of our charm…
Zeke - October 20, 2009
Exactly.
daver - October 20, 2009
I like this summary
vonde6 - October 20, 2009
There you go.
And all the while, everyone more or less ignores that what the team spends, and on who, has no direct corrilation to their own wallet.
The Cubs will continue to set prices as high as they believe the market can bear, no matter if they spend a dollar or a billion to run the ship.
Whining about the team spending money is just plain redic. Complain about HOW, maybe, but not the act of spending it.
AndrewJStone - October 20, 2009
Hendry is, once again, grasping at straws...
Sure I’d like Rudy Jaramillo. But this is textbook Hendry. Change the strategy for winning every 6 months and pay through the nose for something you think you need.
Jaramillo is not going to please certain Cub fans, especially those who lurk around here. Why? Well, he preaches aggressiveness at the plate. A lot of it. Some of the sabermagicians are going to swear it’s Dusty Baker back in the dugout.
BLou - October 19, 2009
I agree...
…and 3 hitting coaches in a span of several months is a bit much.
Does Hendry really think that Soriano, Soto, Bradley and Miles couldn’t hit their way out of a paper bag because of the failure of Perry and Joshua?
Obviously, he does feel there is some correlation because he wouldn’t have canned both Perry and Joshua in the same season. I don’t quite get it, but hey, nothing wrong with hiring the big name and letting him enjoy at least one year as the hero as the guys who struggled last year have better years (which they likely would have anyway).
MPH73 - October 19, 2009
there's nothing unusual about canning two coaches in the same season
once you’ve decided to make a scapegoat of the first coach by firing him in mid-season, you’ve pretty much given the kiss-of-death to the second coach. True, there are exceptions, but few people wear the “interim” crown well.
ballhawk - October 20, 2009
Even if Jim Hendry buys into the idea that hitting coaches don't do much
which he very well might actually, last season was a pretty miserable offensive season. Some of it was just health issues, but not all of it. Giving Soto and Fontenot some time with their old coach wasn’t a bad stratagem for an interim, even if it didn’t work.
DGU - October 20, 2009
Correct me if I'm wrong...
…but, technically speaking, I don’t believe Von Joshua was “canned” – and certainly not “in the season.” I believe he finished the season as the Cubs hitting coach and was then moved back to Triple A. One might call that a demotion, but his employment with the Chicago Cubs organization did not unequivocally end.
daver - October 20, 2009
Not being asked back...
…to a position he was put in tells you Hendry thought he needed to make a change, doesn’t it?
MPH73 - October 20, 2009
Yes, absolutely.
I just think it’s a little misleading to imply the Cubs changed hitting coaches twice this season. They really only changed once and now have decided to go in a new direction – probably because a “name” candidate is available and apparently willing to join the organization.
daver - October 20, 2009
I understand...
…but the Cubs will still end up with 3 different hitting coaches in 09, and that doesn’t happen too often.
This may end up being a wonderful hire, but what did Perry lose from a terrific 08 season to 09? I’m sure he was the same hitting coach he was last year, and with the same core group of players.
MPH73 - October 20, 2009
That's really kind of misleading.
The Cubs had two hitting coaches for 2009 — Perry and Joshua.
Jaramillo starts his work, even if he’s signed during calendar year 2009, at spring training next year.
You’re right about Perry. He didn’t suddenly get dumb last offseason.
Al Yellon - October 20, 2009
Sometimes a coach only has a few things to teach.
And Perry’s gains in OBP were in area where it was easiest for the Cub hitters to make forward strides. I agree that Perry had done a good job. I wasn’t pleased with his firing, but there’s a lot going on in the clubhouse here that none of us have any info on.
DGU - October 20, 2009
Interestingly...
… the Cubs drew only 44 fewer walks in 2009 than in 2008. The lack of run scoring was largely due to the 23-point drop in BA, not the lack of walks.
Further — the Angels say that Bobby Abreu’s influence on them has led them to draw more walks and be more patient. The Angels drew 481 walks in 2008, 547 in 2009.
Wonder if Abreu would have helped the Cubs do the same…
Al Yellon - October 20, 2009
I'm not sure what Abreu would have added
over the already similarly reported gains made in Dome’s shadow his first year.
I also wouldn’t key the offense to the AVG or the OBP per se. I’d suggest – without looking this up statistically to confirm, but just sort of remembering the flow of the season – that we rarely had a lineup where two-thirds of the guys in the lineup (and too often even 4/9 of them) were performing below replacement level. It wasn’t the same guys throughout the season; it was just a consistent problem.
In 2008, there was no rest going through our lineup. You had the pitcher, and sometimes Dome, but that was it (actually, I think this is also why Theriot walked so much more that year, but that’s a different story). In 2009, that pressure was totally gone because every inning there would be a guy who was going to help you make an out.
DGU - October 20, 2009
Agree...
…one patient hitter does not have that great an impact on the rest of your club. It could help, but other variables were in play for the Cub’s in 08.
MPH73 - October 20, 2009
IT'S HAPPENING????
dtpollitt - October 19, 2009
I think that you need to mix in some !s with the ?s
It find that it generates more excitement.
vonde6 - October 19, 2009
Oh, and for the record...
…I always forget that “coaches” are different than “managers” in baseball.
dtpollitt - October 19, 2009
how much $$
Was Gerald Perry getting paid?
cozmotaylor123 - October 19, 2009 via mobile
Yet another move telegraphing that Ryne Sandberg is the strong favorite to be named manager in 2011
I learned a long time ago that organizations who hire former players to serve as coach / manager all too often get burned in the exercise. The smart move is to always no matter what hire the best qualified for the job.
But by hiring Rudy Jaramillo and keeping Larry Rothschild the Cubs have already rounded out Ryno’s coaching staff in large measure. There is no veteran manager on the planet who would take the Cub job and be willing to accept the hitting coach and pitching coach handed him. And you can bet the ranch Hendry understands this.
I guess this is my odd way of saying the worst kept secret on the planet is that Ryno will be managing the Cubs soon enough. Oh how I hope he is up the challenge and it turns out to have a happy ending. It would be the bummer of a lifetime to see Ryno suck at managing the Cubs.
BLou - October 19, 2009
BLou nice to finally see one of your posts
I came on a few months ago and have heard a lot about you.
That you are too negative but were mostly correct.
I look foreword to hearing more of your stuff.
I think I must think somewhat like you because I have caught all kinds of crap here in your absence. Some of the posters can’t see the obvious or can’t handle a question. Its been kind of fun watching some of them squirm……
Most are good posters, like Al. But a few are pathetic…..
TJ11 - October 19, 2009
Dale, is that you? ;-)
ballhawk - October 20, 2009
...
daver - October 20, 2009
...
AndrewJStone - October 20, 2009
I think you have him confused for someone else
“Mostly correct” are the last words that should ever be used to describe BLou.
That sounds like a serious problem.
Wreckard - October 20, 2009
If the Cubs sign Jaramillo it will almost certainly be a multi-year deal but not Rothschild
I think he is year to year and if Sandberg or anyone else took over in 2011 they would not be obliged to keep him. Unless
someone of the caliber of Francona, Torre or Sciosa became available I really don’t want a “veteran” manager like the retreads interviewing for Houston, Nats etc. If not Ryno than one of the respected bench coaches would be a better option than Ned Yost & company.
Doggie Stalker - October 20, 2009
I agree about the caution on Ryno.
+1 to this, especially
There is some irony, however, in your recent posts:
I guess I could see these as not contradictory if you are arguing that Lou Piniella is now a gelded manager who won’t be setting the team’s strategy to win. That seems highly unlikely to me, but I could see someone building up to that argument.
DGU - October 20, 2009
Is Rudy Jaramillo the Spanish way to say...
… Mack Newton?
DrCrawdad - October 19, 2009
It might be
But hey, I don’t speak Spanish, only English. And I know the English way of saying “our hitting coach has only led our team to an above league average in OBP once in his seven years at the helm” is Greg Walker.
shoemile - October 20, 2009
Here is another thing that seperates the two.
DrCrawdad - October 20, 2009
separates, oops
DrCrawdad - October 20, 2009
don't you just hate it when spelling gets in the way of smarminess?
ballhawk - October 20, 2009
The voice experience.
DrCrawdad - October 20, 2009
Indeed
And I’m sure he thanks Don Cooper everyday for it. Can’t say a guy who led the team to a 95 ops+ that year is taking all that much credit.
shoemile - October 20, 2009
So this should be interesting going forward from 2010...
when Lou is supposed to retire and a new manager comes in. Guess that new manager won’t be able to pick his own hitting coach; just like Rothschild being held over as the pitching coach last time.
blackhawk24 - October 20, 2009
I haven't been around for a while...
but I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that what the Cubs REALLY need is a college of coaches for their hitting coach slot. I see no downside to this plan.
(If there was a sarcasm font, it would be in use here).
More seriously, if RJ helps then that’s great (though as others have said, I doubt we’ll ever be able to know). My first reaction is to worry a bit about our overpaying ways bleeding into contracts for people who aren’t even taking the field.
CubsWin!Oregon - October 20, 2009
I like the move
because so many former pupils have said good things about Jaramillo, and stay in contact with him after changing teams. Hendry has done some nice things, and I realize $800,000 is less than 1% of the Cubs annual payroll, but anytime things turn out badly Hendry dumps money on the problem. This can’t work forever.
slocs55 - October 20, 2009
Money as the cure all...
…has already failed.
Spending a lot of dough is really a double edged sword. It can help you hide blemishes in the short term, and also make you competitive in the short term. On the other hand, it can also put you in a bit of a quandry (unless the budget is endless – see Yankees), if the money is not spent on the right players.
After 09, the Cubs have moved muched closer to the quandry position, and winning anything in 2010 will require some good fortune.
MPH73 - October 20, 2009
This is all bluster.
Jim Hendry’s solution to 2B in 2009 was not money.
Jim Hendry’s solution to the utility role in 2009 was not money.
Jim Hendry’s solution to the rotation in 2009 was not money.
Jim Hendry’s solution to the bullpen in 2009 was not money.
As we look ahead to 2010, it looks like the team will be incorporating more talent, not less, from the farm.
To say that money is the cure all because the Cubs will be spending a fraction of a fraction of their overall income on a guy often considered the best hitting coach in the business, is basically to say, “Hey, I’m willing to go to any extreme to beat a dead horse attacking Jim Hendry.”
DGU - October 20, 2009
aaron miles feels left out
jesus christos - October 20, 2009
I was referring to Jeff Baker.
I view Aaron Miles as Jim Hendry’s solution to Fontenot’s platoon partner.
DGU - October 20, 2009
That's ok...
…we just disagree. 2009, or paying top dollar for a hitting coach have very little to do with where poor spending has occured (except Bradley and maybe Miles).
MPH73 - October 20, 2009
Few things
-See above, I said Jaramillo was less than 1% of their payroll, and I like the move.
-Jeff Baker wasn’t ever apart of the plan going into 2009
-good point by Jesus about Aaron Miles, he wasn’t exactly cheap
-going into 2009 was the first time Hendry ever tried to “balance” the moves he made financially…well that didn’t go too well.
slocs55 - October 23, 2009
Miles
Here’s hoping Jaramillo can make him 1/3 better of a hitter.
propheteer - October 20, 2009
That still would only get him to an OPS of about .600.
Al Yellon - October 20, 2009
its progress
jesus christos - October 20, 2009
baby steps
propheteer - October 20, 2009
aaron miles calls those "steps"
jesus christos - October 20, 2009
Was just watching
Sports Nite and Kaplan ( I know, it’s Kaplan) said his sources tell him this deal could happen tomorrow.
sue369 - October 20, 2009
I doubt they will announce it even it is done.
Unwritten rule is you do not announce pretty much anything during post season play unless it is an off day.
Doggie Stalker - October 20, 2009
Unless you're Scott Boras.
DGU - October 20, 2009
Doubt that stops Kaplan.
sue369 - October 20, 2009
I guess someone has to say this
But I read a USA Today article on Jaramillo a few years back and the main player the article focussed on Jaramillo developing/turning career around was Mark DeRosa.
Does this mean?….
Also Cards claim Freese is the leading candidate for 3B next year.
Just saying.
BucknerKongCardenal - October 20, 2009
Soriano + Jaramillo /= success
NYY wOBAs: .378, .371
TEX wOBAs: .345, .356
WAS wOBAs: .377
CHC wOBAs: .380, .374, .314
Andronicus - October 21, 2009
if rudy
signs a multi year deal then the next mgr gets him no matter what. remember rothschild lasted through 3 mgrs
NOMAR - October 24, 2009
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