Barry Bonds, who learned this week that his contract as the Marlins’ hitting coach won’t be renewed for the 2017 season, issued a statement on his time with Miami on his personal web site yesterday. Said Bonds: “Working with the Marlins this past season has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my baseball career. I am grateful and humbled that Jeffrey Loria and the Marlins gave me the opportunity to be a part of their organization. Though my contract was only for one year, I enjoyed sharing my hitting knowledge and other aspects of the game with such a talented group of players. I am proud of the their development and accomplishments over the course of the season and hope they will be able to continue to build off their hard work as they head into next year. I look forward to what the future holds for me – but I do know that baseball is and always will be in my blood.”
A few more notes on some coaching situations throughout the league…
- The Orioles announced yesterday that pitching coach Dave Wallace has decided to retire from his role as a full-time Major League coach. Wallace could remain with the organization is a less-demanding role, writes MASNsports.com’s Roch Kubatko, possibly operating as a roving instructor. Bullpen coach Dom Chiti will get some consideration for the new coaching vacancy, per Kubatko, though he adds in a second piece that his expectation is that the Orioles will go outside the organization to replace Wallace, who had been the club’s pitching coach since 2013. Zach Britton took to Twitter to offer praise and appreciation for Wallace’s work in Baltimore: “Sad to see Dave Wallace go. Very grateful for all he has done for me and my family. Any success I’ve had is a credit to DW and Dom Chiti.”
- MLB.com’s Mark Bowman reports that the Braves will not exercise their option on pitching coach Roger McDowell’s contract. McDowell has spent the past 11 seasons as Atlanta’s pitching coach and drew praise from veteran arms and young pitchers alike, but the Braves determined that they’d prefer a new voice to help usher in their next wave of pitching prospects. Specifically, the team appeared to have some concerns stemming from inconsistencies in Mike Foltynewicz and struggles from Matt Wisler and Aaron Blair. With a slew of young pitching on the way, the Braves understandably want to have full confidence that their pitching coach can get through to younger talent. Bowman adds that Wallace was a mentor for McDowell, pointing out a possible link between McDowell and the Orioles’ newly created vacancy.
- Mets manager Terry Collins met with general manager Sandy Alderson to discuss a number of topics, including the 2017 coaching staff, at Citi Field yesterday, per Mike Puma of the New York Post (Twitter links). According to Puma, Collins left the meeting under the impression that his coaching staff will remain intact for the 2017 season.
Snicker manages, Buddy Black to be pitching coach??
Does make one think this huh? I thought about this too. However, i wonder if something like this would work of if there would be animosity on Blacks part if he doesn’t get the managerial position and/or Snitker would feel Black breathing down his neck if he got into a long losing streak and people started talking…
Stupid autocorrect
You’re not you when you’re hungry – grab a Snickers.
Washington/Mazzone 2016! Make the Bravos great again!
Haha love it.
I’m somewhat surprised by the McDowell decision However there have been rumblings for the last few seasons that although McDowell had seemingly positively influenced some veteran pitchers, more times than not he wasn’t the instructive mentor the Braves wanted for the younger pitchers. At this point I wouldn’t be surprised as well if the Braves might have already made the decision to hire Black as the future manager of the Braves.
I’m not, McDowell has been pretty terrible. I miss Leo :/
I wouldn’t mind seeing Bonds in Atlanta as a hitting coach.
Yes, I’m sure Henry Aaron, the patriarch for the Braves and still an employee for them, would want to hire Barry Bonds as the hitting coach…
Last I checked, my opinion in Braves’ matters didn’t count. If it did, they certainly wouldn’t have sucked for so long.
So, I’m allowed to say I wouldn’t mind seeing Bonds in Atlanta. Regardless of what Aaron thinks.
Not like my quote is being published on Braves.com
I am not sure McDowell’s dismissal is related to the Braves’ Manager vacancy. The timing is dead set with Dave Wallace’s retirement and frees up McDowell to pursue a job with Baltimore. The first thing that came to my mind was, “Did McDowell’s mentor phone him up and lay some groundwork for a move back to Baltimore?” Either way, McDowell will land on his feet and be working with another team by Spring. The flip side to the thinking was that it may be related to a managerial change for the Braves. I could see the club wanting to give a new manager input on at least one or more coaching position(s) within the organization during his first year.
I love he Bonds statement. Makes sure everyone knows it was a one year contract and therefore wasn’t fired. But we all know if he was really good at it, they would have extended him. Clearly they didn’t think so.
*the Bonds
Or maybe he was good at it, but clashes with Mattingly. Guess we all can speculate, right?
I think everyone clashes w/ Mattingly :/
I think everyone clashes with Bonds too.
You’re right it really is just me making a half educated guess, I could be wrong. Mattingly did publicly call him out for a “lack of commitment” during the season. I wonder if that was Mattingly doing something uncool or if that was a last resort after talking to him over and over. I don’t know Mattingly well enough to know if he does that a lot or not?
Everyone like WHO? Name one Marlin player or other coaches that had something to say. Oh, lemme guess, you’re bringing up stuff from years ago.
Sorry, I totally forgot that everything we came to know about Barry Bonds over the past three decades un-happened
I would like to see Bonds as the Halos hitting coach. The Angels could use some personality on this team.
And then Trout gets busted for PEDs (not saying he uses by any means) just look at Dee Gordon’s situation. Yes, it’s just speculation but when I think of Florida and Barry Bonds I think of PEDs.
Trout already Takes PED’s for his “Thyroid” condition
The McDowell situation all but assures the internal interviews for Snit and the others was courtesy. It’s pretty obvious the Braves are no longer looking internally for a manager now and it’s probably most definitely going to Bud Black now, which I’m good with. I’d say we will have a whole new coaching staff from the looks of it.
There is speculation that the Pitching Coach job could go to Marty Reed, internally, if Snitker gets the job (Dave O’Brien AJC). Hard to tell what is going on here… The organization may be looking to put its youth with some of their coaching staff for continuity and familiarity. After this year’s great showing across many minor league levels, the Braves likely do not lack for internal candidates that were able to help the youth movement succeed. It seems there may be plenty of coaching movement on all levels. Or they could be looking for outside help…
Houston’s minor Leagues system has been winning for the last couple of years, but they’ve canned most of their coaches/rovers.
baby bonds could go coach with McGuire they would make a good team
As much as I really hate the Cheater, the Phillies need somebody who can teach their Young hitters,so I give him a Shot !
some speculated that at least 70% of players in 80-90’s were using. chances are your favorite players are cheaters, too.
Baseball isn’t the only thing that was in bonds blood….
Bonds forgot to mention that HGH is also in his blood
Was never a fan of Black as a manger , but was a good pitching coach. never liked Washington in Texas either. I would with Snicker or Gardenhire.
Think Snitker did very well