The Brewers announced today that they will be seeking two new coaches, as Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel was among those to report (Twitter link). Hitting coach Darnell Coles decided to leave the organization, while bullpen coach Lee Tunell and head athletic trainer Dan Wright will not be asked back.
Unsurprisingly, manager Craig Counsell will be back for his third full season in the dugout. He’ll be looking for a pair of new lieutenants for the 2019 season and will also be working with a new head trainer, as the club has decided to move on from Dan Wright.
Coles, a long-time major-leaguer, had served as hitting coach since the 2015 season. The 56-year-old had previously worked in the Milwaukee farm system before joining the Tigers as assistant hitting coach. Current Brewers hitting coach Jason Lane is said to be a possible candidate to take over for Coles but will also be allowed to pursue jobs with other clubs.
As for Tunnell, he’ll move on after a long run as the club’s bullpen coach. A former big league hurler, he had stepped into the position in the middle of the 2012 season and held onto the job when Counsell took over for Ron Roenicke.
Bullpen coach not coming back after having possibly the best bullpen ever in team history? That’s… interesting.
Speaks more to the level of arm talent in their bullpen rather than coaching.
I was surprised to see Tunnell go but I can’t help but wonder how much of the bullpen’s success is due to Derek Johnson’s philosophy and coaching (not to mention analytics) as opposed to being due to Tunnell’s influence. I wouldn’t be surpirsed if Marcus Hanel gets a promotion.
Could be the lack of success of some of the arms they brought it, like Albers. Hard to say
Surprising yes! Coaches get fired when players perform below expectations but, but when said players perform well it’s their talent alone and not the adjacent Coach?? SMH…
There must be some underlying reason to release the Brewers bullpen coach. At any rate, as a Cardinal fan who hasn’t seen the current president of baseball operations (John Mozeliak) and majority owner (Bill DeWitt) make any moves for impact players since there 2011 World Series under Tony LaRussa, to build not only playoff contender, but a contender for a National league championship. I tip my hat to the owners and the Brewers front office for going after and signing players such as Yelich and Cain!! For having a manager that has the guts to place and replace stale batting orders. Matt Carpenter bleeds Cardinals red!! However, he has no speed and does not hit for a high enough average to over ride all of his walks to be a lead off hitter such as Cain!!! I applaud the Brewers organization for not only spending the money it takes to contend for Championships immediately, but for the front office having the insight to build for also building for the future!!! I’m impressed with the Brewers. I wish the Cardinals Ownership would get past their arrogance and take note of the Brewers plans and moves which put themselves within one game of being in the World Series!!!!!
A very appreciated comment from a Cards fan!!
Doesn’t seem like that long ago Coles was a highly touted kid coming up for Seattle. Was shocked just looked him up and saw he was 56 now.
Eric Hinske….. next brewer hitting coach. Proven winner (2 time World Series winner as a player) and played FOR some of the best managers in BB…will be a manager in the near future!
He had a lot to do with Ohtani’s success. Struggled in spring training with the high leg kick and adjusted him to no leg kick before the season started.
Please hire Molitor as hitting coach.
Molitor would never come back as the hitting coach.
You want Molitor the former manager to be the hitting coach so the Baldelli the new manager with no experience who is replacing a legend to have his predecessor on the staff under him? Hhhmmm sounds like a nightmare scenario for Baldelli
Not that Molitor who was fired would actually come back as the hitting coach
You do realize the Twins and the Brewers are different teams, right?
Making room in the bullpen coaching staff for Stephen Vogt.
“Hitting coach Darnell Coles decided to leave the organization,”
“Current Brewers hitting coach Jason Lane is said to be a possible candidate to take over for Coles but will also be allowed to pursue jobs with other clubs.”
So the Brewers had 2 Full Hitting Coaches?
Or is Jason Lane the ASSISTANT Hitting Coach or the AAA Hitting Coach?
Lane was the assistant hitting coach.
I was going to say something to this effect.
Seriously,a writer wrote this article?
Blame the bullpen coach!
Get Molitor or Hinske as your hitting coach please then make Vogt or Krantz as bullpen catcher. I suppose suggesting Bosio or McClure as a bullpen pitching coach is too soon lol
Kratz can still play, but Vogt would make a good coach.
Bryan Price should be a pitching coach somewhere.
Over managing cost Brewers – Counsel will correct that – make some starting pitching changes – kid Hiura real deal make room for that stick and get younger at 3rd as well. Right there for another run.
He just finished his first full, healthy season of his career. Cant pencil him into the big league lineup just yet.
Also, he is a 2nd basemen.
Any other older Pirates fans out there having major late 80s flashbacks? Coles and Tunnell were teammates on the Pirates around 1987-88 as I recall.
Gotta admit it, looking from afar in Philly I thought the Brewers would fade late because when I looked at their starting pitchers, I gasped. But guys like Chacin and Miley pitched better than I ever imagined they could. Dunno. I would not expect similar results from either one in 2019. Gotta hope Barnes is everything as a starter that he showed in relief.
Finally, you guys have arguably the best bullpen in all of MLB and you fire your bullpen coach! Without that pen, the Brewers never make it to a Game 7 of the NLCS.
The role of the bullpen coach is minimal. It’s a guy that sits out there to answer the phone, get guys warming up, count their warmup pitches and communicate with the dugout on how that process is going. There’s not a whole lot of “coaching” going on. That’s what the pitching coach is for.
I think you’re on to something. I’m guessing a large part of his duties would be keeping track of warm-up pitches, scheduling between appearance throwing sessions (how many pitches, mix of fastballs, breaking balls etc.) essentially keeping everyone tuned up but available. If you’re a great baseball guy but a little disorganized, this may not be the job for you.
Wow… there’s a lot of uninformed opinions and ridiculous comments in this thread