The Mets are expected to reach a deal with Chili Davis to make him the club’s next hitting coach, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post (via Twitter). He’ll replace Pat Roessler, who was dismissed after the 2018 campaign.
Davis, 58, turned in a highly productive 19-year MLB career in which he only failed to produce at a league-average or better rate over the course of a given season. Since, he has turned to teaching the craft to others. After stints at the lower levels of the Dodgers and Red Sox organizations, Davis became the A’s hitting coach in advance of the 2012 campaign.
Since taking the gig in Oakland, Davis has been a mainstay in the major-league coaching ranks. He has held the same position with the Red Sox and Cubs, though he lasted only a single season with the Chicago organization. Mets skipper Mickey Callaway now has a substantially revamped coaching staff to work with, led by just-added bench coach Jim Riggleman.
Leemitt
I’m a little confused by the sentence, “…he only failed to produce at a league-average or better rate over the course of a given season..”
ChiSox_Fan
Me too?!
bucketbrew35
Chili had an OPS plus of 100 over greater (100 is league average) in every season except one (1983) and his 8 game cup of coffee in 1981. But yes the sentence is confusing.
grecoisu
Do’ers aren’t always the greatest teachers.
frankthetank1985
He meant never not only. He had zero or above war in every full season he played. Kinda impressive actually.
EndinStealth
I think they forgo to include a number.
resident
Fancy way of saying he sucked only once
realgone2
I think he meant to say “only once”
Daver520
Jeff Todd is a VERY good writer but his grammar/editing needs some tweaking
Chriss
Watch the Mets outhit the Cubs this year…
mistry gm
Seriously?
xabial
Should have kept Kevin Long…
Hope he becomes a manager one day.
DTI812
Thank you Mrs Long
Jimmy S
Lmaooo
pinkerton
he’s going to bring in Con Carne as his assistant.
deweybelongsinthehall
You deserve to be banned for today for that…
pinkerton
that’s fair.
3rdStrikeLooking
Take xabial with you to ban town.
pinkerton
nah, xabial is cool. dude loves his baseball.
deweybelongsinthehall
Agreed.
impapad57
Hey, how about an MLBTR poll who likes Xabial and who doesn’t?
Not sure why so many people pick on the guy. He knows his baseball.
dray16
YUCK
SonnySteele
Too bad he didn’t get a job in Cincinnati, where he could be a spokesman for Skyline Chili. 😉
Patrick Sands
What is that first sentence of the 2nd paragraph??
Monkey’s Uncle
His critics will no doubt give this hiring a Chili reception.
gomerhodge71
Mets are being really serious this off-season. And I like this move. Chili’s a good guy and a good coach.
mikeyank55
He did a really good job in Chicago last year. Especially the last week or so. He has great potential to add some drama for the back page of the NY Post
DTI812
Welcome aboard Chili and good luck.
imgman09
Don’t like the Mets but That’s a good hire!
Ry.the.Stunner
It is?
mistry gm
He killed Boston’s offence, they fired him. The Cubs hired him and he killed their offence and they fired him too. WHY would the Mets want him?
swinging wood
Because they have a player agent running the team.
mikeyank55
Wagon Wheel was able to get Chili with a low ball offer. He was desperate to get a job, and Mutt and Jeff never turn away a steal.
petrie000
Name recognition, probably
Only even slightly justifiable reason why he’d get another job so fast after how badly the Cubs offense collapsed on his watch.
Martin Sicairos
Cubs were fine up to July; Then veteran egos took over; Hitting coaches cant force any hitters to work on hitting before their games; Veterans and young overpaid youngsters think they know it all and can figure it out themselves. (Analytics, Videos) Coaches will only help when payers ask. They tried blaming Chili for their lack of hitting specially that one wild card game against the Brewers; But the G.M and manager defended Davis; but since you cant blame or let go any hitter, the coach has to go. The Mets made a great choice. He was a good switch hitter with three rings.
Martin Sicairos
Red Sox offense was fine; When Cora took over he wanted all new coaches. Help develop young hitters in three years at Oakland, made the playoffs and was one game away form going to the World Series. Not an easy job anymore; Lots of $ high paid egos, Analytics, angle hitting, Cant force any of the hitters to get extra batting practice or talk hitting; They all have their tablets with video of their everyday games; they think they can figure out themselves. Old school hitting instructions are a thing of the past.