Ask the Goggles: Volume 5
Chris, many fans seem to think that part of the Reds problem is the coaching staff;with the exception of Billy Hatcher, if i remember right when Dusty took over he kept the same staff that was here except for bench coach and bull pen coach saying the club needed stability.
Now a year later do you think Dusty will bring in his own guys?
Personally i think he will move Pole to bench coach, Spier to 3rd base and keep Hatcher where he is. That way he gets a new hitting coach and pitching coach of his choosing and still keep most of the staff there (for stability).
- Bob P., Westbrook (CT)/span>
First of all, Bob, shame on you for assuming/expecting Dusty Baker will be back next season. Don’t you know that the only thing we Reds fans have to look forward to right now is the possibility of Baker being fired after this season?
I know, Baker isn’t going to get fired before next season, but wouldn’t it be nice if he was?
(Let’s just bask in that happy-place for a moment)
Okay, so assuming that Baker doesn’t get fired and is replaced by Tony LaRussa (a scenario I support 100%, by the way), then I think the Reds’ coaching staff needs a serious overhaul.
Starting with the pitching coach.
As much as I love having a guy named Dick Pole on the coaching staff, it’s time for him to go. Who else should take the blame for the near complete failure of a pitching staff that was touted as one of the best young staffs in baseball?
As luck would have it, the Cardinals’ pitching coach, Dave Duncan, apparently wants out of St. Louis after this season. I’ll take him. Those same rumors suggest that if Duncan leaves so will LaRussa. I’ll take him, too.
But I digress.
The next guy to go is the hitting coach, Brook Jacoby. Do I really need to explain why he needs to go?
No matter what happens, Billy Hatcher needs to be included in the coaching staff in some way. Why? Because he’s Billy Hatcher! Seeing that guy out there every night reminds me of the 1990 World Series team, and these days, that’s all we have to keep us going.
Ok Chris … here’s one for you. There are some players who are so competitive that they have a bit of nastiness to them. For instance, Bob Gibson, Ty Cobb, Don Drysdale, and Pete Rose. Who in your playing days (teammate and opponents) fits that description?
- afrankangle
You do know that I’m not really — nor have I ever claimed to be — Chris Sabo, right?
I’ll answer to “Chris” in the comments because my screen name is Chris Sabo’s Goggles, but when you start asking about my “playing days” — well, you’ve lost me.
Speaking of Chris Sabo, don’t forget to vote for him on the Cincinnati Reds’ Hall of Fame ballot. Today is the last day of voting. You can vote up to 25 times, so it’s just like voting for President in Chicago.
AH… twould be a dream come true,if Duncan&LaRussa came here,I don’t think Bob C. has that much pull with them or willingness to fork out that much money.could you picture Janish or Hannigan batting 9th?What do you think would happen when Tony goes to Walt and says “i need a right hand bat for left field” and Walt says “sorry Tony Bob says “we’re not going to lose anymore with what we got!” or something that sticks to the wall”. what will probably happen is Dusty will re-hire Chambliss and Hume.
WOW! I was sure you were Chris Sabo, your photo is the spittin image… had me fooled.
You know Rick Sweet just won his second consecutive minor league manager of the year award for the Louisvulle Bats. To me that just demands a promotion. Goodbye Baker, hello Sweet. And bring Ted Power with ya, thank you very much. And isn’t Sabo managing our A team? That would mean a promotion for him as well. Sometimes all that keeps me interested is just envisioning that someday in the future Chris Sabo will be managing the Cincinnati Reds. Do you think Sabo would have sat back and watched Taveras go 0-for-79 in the leadoff spot? I think he would have kicked Willie’s ass that’s what I think.