Andy Haines named hitting coach

[wallus]

Do we really want someone from a second place team?

[ThisIsMyCrew]

Do we really want someone from a second place team?

 

love it!

[monty57]

Good hire! (I think)

 

It is good to get everyone on the same page in terms of analytics. I'll be interested in seeing if Stearns brings in another high contact/high batting average hitter ala Cain/Yelich. The 3TO guys are good to have in a few spots in the lineup, but too many of them really kill rallies & comebacks etc, especially in the postseason.

 

If the Brewers are able to lock Stearns up long-term, I would imagine that over time our franchise would be filled with more "all around" players who make contact, get on base, and play good defense. Melvin liked guys with one "tool" that really stood out, and that's doesn't seem to be what Stearns likes. It will take a while to re-stock a system, but we're making our way through the process, trading away guys who don't fit and acquiring guys who do. I agree that Stearns will look to add more of these guys to the MLB roster this off-season, but who we acquire (draft, trade, etc) on the farm is important as well.

 

To the topic of the thread, I wonder how much influence the MLB hitting/pitching coaches have on how players are coached in the minors. I can't imagine that every minor league coach gets complete discretion to do whatever he wants with his players, especially the top prospects. It's important to get guys at the top who are aligned with the long-term strategy of the owner/GM so that the guys coming up from the farm will be the ones they want filling out the roster.

 

If Haines is an "analytics guy," it could mean good things for the future if he can coach his coaches in what the Brewers are looking for to get guys to advance through the system.

[KeithStone53151]

Not sure the hitting coach has anything to do with this, but would really like to see Brewer hitters show a little more patience at the plate after following a guy who just walked on 4 or 5 pitches.

While I agree, didn't Yelich hit better when being more aggressive earlier in the count?

 

Yes and it was on purpose. The theory is that pitchers are more likely to throw in the zone early in the count. Rather than wait for the pitcher's "out" pitch you attack early. It can be frustrating to see guys ground out on the first or second pitch but obviously can't quibble with Yelich's results.

 

And that's a sound theory...that Yelich did feast off of. You have to be selective and look for your pitch though, especially if a pitcher is struggling with command. You shouldn't be swinging at a breaking pitch in the dirt of a letter high fastball if the guy in front of you walked on 4 or 5 pitches.

 

Hitting coach is kinda whatever. I would think the Cubs players get the most blame for lack of results, followed by the hitting coach, with the assistant hitting coach getting little to no blame. If CC likes his philosophy and approach, fine sign him. It's probably good for hitters to get a fresh perspective every so often rather than stick with the same guy year after year.

[monty57]

Yes and it was on purpose. The theory is that pitchers are more likely to throw in the zone early in the count. Rather than wait for the pitcher's "out" pitch you attack early. It can be frustrating to see guys ground out on the first or second pitch but obviously can't quibble with Yelich's results.

 

And that's a sound theory...that Yelich did feast off of. You have to be selective and look for your pitch though, especially if a pitcher is struggling with command. You shouldn't be swinging at a breaking pitch in the dirt of a letter high fastball if the guy in front of you walked on 4 or 5 pitches.

 

Hitting coach is kinda whatever. I would think the Cubs players get the most blame for lack of results, followed by the hitting coach, with the assistant hitting coach getting little to no blame. If CC likes his philosophy and approach, fine sign him. It's probably good for hitters to get a fresh perspective every so often rather than stick with the same guy year after year.

 

I remember listening to a Ned Yost interview after the Royals won the World Series, and that was exactly what he preached. He said that in today's game, hitters are told to work the count. Pitchers know this, so they know they can throw strikes early with their secondary stuff to get ahead in the count, saving their best pitch for the strikeout when the hitter needs to protect. He felt that by being aggressive early, his hitters could swing at pitches that were easier to hit.