Since the Mets shook up their staff earlier today, a flurry of other coaching changes have been announced by teams that didn’t make the playoffs. We’ve also gained some insight into the hunt to fill some of the sudden coaching vacancies. Here’s what we’ve learned so far…
Latest Updates
- The Rays intend to promote Triple-A pitching coach Kyle Snyder to the big league job, and also move third base coach Charlie Montoyo to bench coach, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times (Twitter link). Snyder spent parts of five seasons with the Royals and Red Sox from 2003-08, including tossing 54 1/3 relief innings for Boston during its World Series championship season in 2007. Snyder has been a pitching coach in the Rays organization since 2012 and he has been at Triple-A Durham since 2015. Montoyo has been part of Tampa’s organization since 1997, serving at a minor league manager at all levels before taking the third base coaching job in 2015. The Tigers and Mets have both reportedly shown interest in Montoyo as a managerial candidate, so his promotion to bench coach could presumably be short-lived if he is offered a managing job.
- Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey won’t return to his position next year, as he and the team have mutually decided to part ways, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports (via Twitter). One of the game’s longest-tenured pitching coaches, Hickey has been with the Rays since November 2006, overseeing the development of several notable Rays arms. Prior to coming to Tampa, Hickey served as the Astros’ pitching coach for two and a half season, plus over eight more years as a pitching coach in Houston’s minor league system.
Earlier Today
- Tom Foley will not return as the bench coach for the Rays in 2018, Mark Topkins of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The decision was mutual. Foley has been a coach for Tampa Bay since 2002; he’ll now reportedly take on a different role within the organization.
- Derek Lilliquist has been informed that he will not be the Cardinals’ pitching coach next year, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Twitter link). The search for his replacement is ongoing, but Goold adds in a separate tweet that Cardinals’ Triple-A pitching coach Bryan Eversgerd is a potential candidate. In yet a third tweet, Goold mentions that bullpe coach Blaise Ilsley also did not have his contract renewed, but that president of baseball ops John Mozeliak expects that all other coaches will return.
- Mariners bench coach Tim Bogar and first base coach Casey Candaele will not return in 2018, the team announced in a press release. In addition, bullpen coach Nasusel Cabrera will shift to another job within the organization that has yet to be determined. Third base coach Manny Acta will serve as the team’s new bench coach, while assistant coach Scott Brosius will replace Acta as third base coach. Special projects coach Chris Prieto, who was also responsible for replay in 2017, will replace Candaele as the first base coach for the Mariners. Edgar Martinez and Mel Stottlemyre will return as the team’s hitting and pitching coaches, respectively.
- After being let go from his position as the Royals’ pitching coach yesterday, Dave Eiland wants to “jump right back into it,” according to a tweet from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. With six seasons in Kansas City and another three years as the Yankees’ pitching coach under his belt, Eiland seems quite likely to find other opportunities elsewhere.
- In addition to the changes made earlier today, Mets GM Sandy Alderson has forecasted a “major changes” at Triple-A Las Vegas, James Wagner of the New York Times reports via Twitter. In another tweet, he quotes Alderson saying that hitting coach Kevin Long will be given “strong consideration” for the Amazins’ managerial opening.
- Brewers GM David Stearns announced in an end-of-season press conference that the team will retain its entire coaching staff for 2018.
Coaching changes – do they actually matter or is it just an illusion? Is it a sort of placebo effect for teams?
They do matter some. A different approach can change a career.
Kevin Long? Not another Collins disciple. Get ready for another 90 loss 2018.
Didn’t long come from the Yankees before the Mets? Wouldn’t count that as a disciple. Still don’t want him but wouldn’t consider him one of Collins guys
Sandy “strongly” considering klong.
NOTHING that sandy does is STRONG.
too little, too late for st louis
Too little too late for what? Their building for 2018 long offseason to get ready that hasn’t really even began. Is firing liliquist a good move? Probably. Would it made the difference in 2017? Probably not
Lilliquist gone…..Chris Carpenter was brought in late in the season to work with some pitchers……..Hmmmm?
Mozaliak said that Carpenter said he is not ready to get into coaching full time
As much as I like Chris Carpenter, wouldn’t want him to be the pitching coach anyway.
I would love for him to teach his cutter to all the young guys.
Eiland straight to Tampa. Florida raised and resident. Weird Rays relieve hickey directly after Eiland is canned. Sometimes you just need a new voice after 10 years. Great coach but can only stick to same formula for so long
“No man is an Eiland.”
Cards new pitching coach might be refreshing. Also having the catchers mitt nearer home plate rather than a foot off would be refreshing too to get them to swing at the ball rather than just giving away to a three two count would be great too!
You’re English teacher must be proud. Now, that’s a run on sentence.
If you’re going to be that guy, your grammar should be correct.
you’re right about that
Where exactly?
your, not you’re
No comma after now.
Lmao. even rereading I missed it.
Actually the comma works in how a meant to sasy it.
…..
Totally off topic but are we ever gonna find out why no one liked Copolella? I know he was shady but most teams are. It just seems like there is information missing.
Can someone explain what is the work of the bench coach? And of the 1st base coach ? The 3rd base coach is basically for the signs, no?
Thanks!
In addition to the obvious, The “base” coaches help coordinate and run field drills and practice drills… double plays, first base drills, defensive alignments and all that.
The bench coach helps with drills sometimes, but he’s mainly the direct assistant to the manager, making sure he’s aware of everything and helping tend to smaller issues the manager doesn’t have time for, like minor injuries.
Not to take much of your time, but, then, what’s the difference between the bench coach and assistant coach?
Define assistant coach, because they all have their designations. A bench coach a majority of the time is stuck to the managers hip. He’s like an offensive/defensive coordinator depending on how duties are delegated. The manager has the final say, but usually a new manager will have a bench coach who has a feel for the pen, etc. So essentially bench coaches have more responsibilities. The 1st base coach also deals with a lot of intricacies involved in the running game. They are there to pick tendencies from the pitcher/1st/C, remind runners back on picks, send guys 1 to 2nd, essentially relay info to base runners.
The hitting coach gets the coffee….the pitching coach gets the doughnuts…..the bench coach gets the sandwiches….and the bullpen coach wipes the manger’s butt…..the 1B and 3B coaches?….checks out the crowd for potential mates for the manager to spend the evening with…….
I like the moves StL made today. Far from finished but it seems the pitching staff hut a wall with Lilliquist. Not sure where they turn but hopefully they have what it takes to work with a young pitching staff.
Kyle Snyder’s photo still looks like a guy who went to prom with an ugly girl who he didn’t like but felt sorry for and the regret is just kicking in as the picture is taken. Then they photo shopped a hat in…