The Angels have announced the coaching staff that will serve alongside new skipper Brad Ausmus. We had previously covered the hiring of Ausmus as well as pitching coach Doug White, hitting coach Jeremy Reed, and assistant hitting coach Shawn Wooten.
A variety of notable names will be rounding out the unit — in a manner that lines up nicely with the coaches’ prior experience. Long-time MLB infielder Mike Gallego will, unsurprisingly, work with the infielders. He’ll also coach third base. Similarly, long-time backstop Jose Molina will work with the Halos’ catchers.
Gallego had been director of baseball development for the Halos, while Molina was working as the minor-league catching coordinator with the organization. Obviously, both impressed the organization, as they’ll now step back into a uniform at the MLB level.
Jesus Feliciano, who only briefly cracked the bigs as a player, will make his way back to the majors as well. He’s set to work with the outfielders, a position he long played in the minors, while serving opposite Gallego as the team’s first base coach. Feliciano had worked previously in the Cubs system.
In other staff moves, former MLB slugger Paul Sorrento will form a trio with Reed and Wooten to work with the organization’s hitters. He had been assistant hitting coach but will now work as “hitting instructor.” Recently retired reliever Andrew Bailey had been replay coordinator but is moving into a role as bullpen coach.
Whither Alfredo Griffin?
Anyone know where Alfredo G. went?
They’re going to suck again, Ausmus is garbage.
Two more seasons to go of wasting Trout’s career before he is finally FREE!!!
Can’t agree more
I’ve always loved Jose Molina and his knowledge of the game. Great hire by the Angels
Agreed. I’d love to have him back with the Yankees. Babe Ruth hit the Stadium’s first HR and Jose hit the last…
They have that in common as well as Babe also demolished the first clubhouse spread and Molina the last…
True dat
Does anyone have ask the question of why most of the hitting coaches in MLB where regular to mediocre hitters during their careers?
My guess is pretty good hitters made a lot of money in their careers and have no interest in being just hitting coaches, most of them retire and enjoy their earnings. Also being a good hitter does not make you a good instructor, this is why the smartest people do not always become teachers.
Just because you yourself do not possess a skill, doesn’t mean you can’t understand it, teach it, and expand on it.
Naw. A lot of the OK players that had long careers basically took marginal skills and worked to be slightly above average. You’ll always end up finding that stars tend to rely much more heavily on natural talent and that fringe talent need to squeeze every ounce.
It’s a good lesson for hiring.
Those who can’t play become coaches.
For those of you who can’t do, teach.
For those of you that can’t reach, teach gym.
There’s an old saying that fits perfectly here. “Those that can do, those that can’t, teach.”
There are a few notable names that are decent fittings instructors either currently or recently. Edgar Martinez, Chili Davis, and Mark McGwire come to mind. Pretty sure Bonds was an ok instructor as well (I did here several Marlins fans state the opposite though.” I would agree with the first commenter though when he said that it probably had something to do with the money players have made. Most notable hitters have retired the last decade+ with over $100m in career earnings. With most instructors only making a little over $100k a year it probably isn’t worth it for them to endure the schedule that goes with a modern day team.
It is quite a bit more prevalent when it comes to pitching coaches. A few years ago Mike Maddux was thought of as one of the best in the game. I have always wondered how good a pitching staff would be with Greg Maddux teaching them. You would think even someone like Sonny Gray, who has stated that they are one of the best in the game today, would have some humility and take instruction from Greg Maddux. Sadly, a question that will probably never get answered.
Sorry about the long post. I try my best to keep them short these days but sometimes they just ramble on.
I give you Charlie Lau.
Being good at a skill does not make you good at teaching that skill. Teaching is a skill unto its own. I would argue that most ballplayers would make terrible coaches until they learn the skills to teach. It takes more than content knowledge to coach alpha males at their peak ability.
Andrew Bailey is already a coach?
sad!
he earned a little more than $10 mil in his 6 year ml career. not bad!
This is a 90s wet dream
Get out those Beckett books!
I remember trading a Michael Jordan Fleer rookie card for Ricky Henderson and Don Mattingly rookie cards. I skipped home with glee thinking of how I completely fleeced the kid. I looked on EBay a few minutes ago out of curiosity and yeah I should probably slap myself daily for that trade.
That’s one very intriguing coaching staff. Who knows if it’ll be successful or not, but I’m fascinated.
NO DoNo Evil?
have to see the results but not very confidence inspiring. will eppler be the the bad guy trading trout?
Hiring Molina is a great idea. Fundamentally sound and a positive influence – solid choice.
Agree
Poor Jesus Feliciano’s only MLB experience came on the 2010 Mets… I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy. The Mets had both him and Mike Hessman that year, so I guess that season was kind of a AAAA family reunion.
Bummer! As an A’s fan, would’ve loved to see Alfredo and Gallego on the field together again
Both hitting coaches, Sorrento and Reed, are former Mariners. Good luck with that, Angels.
Gonna miss Alfredo stone face and hands in pockets at first base and dino sending everyone and their mothers 1st-3rd. New era I guess