2016 Coaching Thread

[Mass Haas]

Here is the full coaching roster just announced by the organization (read the link for the summary, screen shot below).

 

Oh, and welcome to coaching, Hainley Statia!

 

[Mass Haas]

Shuckers' new manager expects another talented squad in '16

[reillymcshane]

Does anyone know what kind of salary minor league coaches receive? Just curious.

 

Thanks.

[Mass Haas]

In case you missed it on the Major League Forum --

 

AUDIO Podcast via InsidePitchPodcast.com: Guest Derek Johnson discusses the mental aspects of pitching & being a pitching coach at the college & Major League levels

 

This lengthy interview with the Brewers' new pitching coach was recorded just this week. It focuses on philosophies both at the youth and pro levels, but naturally doesn't include insights on specific Brewer pitchers Johnson will only be meeting face-to-face for the first time at spring training.

 

I was on the road quite a bit today, which allowed me to really listen in a focused manner on the one hour, 12 minute podcast. If you're daunted by the length a bit, you may want to begin at the 20:00 minute mark (approximately), because at that point the discussion turns to philosophies and activities more specific to minor league and major league baseball, rather than youth leagues and young amateurs. But do try and give it a full listen if you can.

 

Johnson manages to make PFP's (pitcher fielding practices), bullpen sessions, catcher/pitcher dugout conversations, mound discussions during coaching visits, and much more, interesting and relatable to his upcoming important role with the Crew.

 

One of the most interesting parts was listening about his duties as Cubs' minor league pitching coordinator, and how long it may take to get all the affiliate pitching coaches on the same page, and how an organization goes about making that consistency happen.

 

Johnson ("DJ" as his interviewing friend refers to him) speaks very well, no pauses or "umm's". It's not a laugh-fest, it's mostly all business and may seem dry at times, and one can sense why he must have come across so well with the Brewers, whether based on his work experience or ability to communicate.

 

Oh, and he grew up as and has always been a Cubs fan...

[And That]

Thanks for that - extremely interesting. Sure seems like an improvement over a guy most well known for smoking cigars.

 

"I'd rather (an 18 year old) own 2 pitches, as opposed to rent 3 or 4."

[Mass Haas]

VIDEO: Nestor Corredor (Helena) in the 2nd portion of this report

[Mass Haas]

Frosty Microbrews: Roving Instructors Provide Experience, Insight

By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

[Mass Haas]

Frosty Microbrews: Striking Out Cancer

By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers

 

http://www.milb.com/assets/images/2/6/8/194014268/cuts/8_6_FrostyMicroBrews_i8zcekm7_i08vnacg.jpg

 

Al LeBoeuf is the Hitting Coach of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and a cancer survivor. That brings a smile to the face of Chuckie Caufield, who played under LeBoeuf in the Brewers system and now coaches with him.

[Mass Haas]

Rattlers manager Erickson draws praise

Mike Sherry, Appleton Post-Crescent

 

GRAND CHUTE - A strong vote of confidence from the boss is never a bad thing, and Matt Erickson got a big one Saturday.

 

David Stearns was at Fox Cities Stadium to check in with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers — a Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers — and the first-year general manager of the Brewers sang the praises of the work Erickson is doing as the manager of the Timber Rattlers.

 

“I’ve heard all positive things,” Stearns said. “First of all, he’s a great teacher, which is what we’re looking for first and foremost from our minor league field staff. He’s a good leader. He’s a good communicator. And he relates well to the players. Everything I’ve heard about Matty has been positive. My interactions with him have been positive and I think we’re very fortunate to have him managing in our organization.”

 

The 41-year-old Erickson, an Appleton West graduate who is in his sixth season as manager of the Timber Rattlers, is the longest-tenured manager in Appleton Professional Baseball history. He joined the Timber Rattlers as the hitting coach in 2009 and became the manager in 2011.

 

Stearns said he had never met Erickson prior to joining the Milwaukee organization. They met for the first time during the offseason, but by then Stearns had already heard good things about Erickson.

 

“I did not know about him prior to taking the job,” Stearns said. “When you take a job like this, you’re drinking through a fire hose a little bit and you’re trying to learn as much as you can as quickly as you can about all of your staff, whether it’s scouts or coaches or people in the front office, but early on Matt’s name was brought to my attention as a guy who is really contributing positively to the organization and someone who has a strong future in the game.”

 

Erickson’s status with the Brewers may have been uncertain after last season, when the 30-year-old Stearns was hired to replace longtime Brewers general manager Doug Melvin on Sept. 21. Stearns didn’t retain five of Milwaukee’s seven coaches, replaced assistant general manager Gord Ash with Matt Arnold and hired Tom Flanagan to take over as farm director in place of Reid Nichols.

 

With all of the changes, job security may never have been more tenuous. While there are never any guarantees, it appears Erickson has made a positive first impression with Stearns and has a bright future in the organization.

 

“I think Matt’s got a very high ceiling,” Stearns said. “Where exactly he is next year, I don’t know. A lot of times where you are on the organizational ladder from a level standpoint doesn’t always correspond to where your ceiling might be.

 

“We take our lower levels very seriously here. We think the foundation of everything we’re doing throughout the organization is our coaching and our evaluation and our teaching at the lower levels, and Matt is playing an important part of that right now.”