Rob Bradford @bradfo 2m2 minutes ago
Appears as though Red Sox have agreed to terms with Chili Davis to become hitting coach
Rob Bradford @bradfo 2m2 minutes ago
Appears as though Red Sox have agreed to terms with Chili Davis to become hitting coach
http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2014/10/19/source-red-sox-hire-chili-davis-to-become-hitting-coach/According to a major league source, the Red Sox have agreed to terms with Chili Davis to become their next hitting coach.
Davis, who worked as the hitting coach for the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox in 2011, has been the Oakland A’s hitting coach for the past three seasons.
canyoubelieveit said:
I hope we hire Chili Davis, just so we can get a reprise of one of my favorite signs I've ever seen someone hold up at a baseball game: "OUR CHILI GIVES US THE RUNS!"
Kevin Long might have been better but his philosophies might not have matched or his interest in going to Boston could have been limited.Al Zarilla said:Should be good. Don't know of a better guy.
I know Moss faded down the stretch (particularly post-Cespedes trade), but look at his overall production in Oakland. If Davis factored into that, I'm pretty excited to see what work he could do with some of our guys.Dick Pole Upside said:Why do we believe this is a good hire?
(Honestly asking)
He's had a good reputation, but the A's faded badly. How do we reconcile this?
(It may well be that Hitting Coaches are fungible, as long as it's a "new voice" aligned with the organizational desire of lots of pitches seen and high OBP.)
Dick Pole Upside said:Why do we believe this is a good hire?
(Honestly asking)
He's had a good reputation, but the A's faded badly. How do we reconcile this?
(It may well be that Hitting Coaches are fungible, as long as it's a "new voice" aligned with the organizational desire of lots of pitches seen and high OBP.)
It seems like that will be a yesManramsclan said:Many teams these days have a hitting coach as well as an assistant hitting coach, as you can read about here.
I wonder if the Red Sox will consider this. It seems that with a lot of young guys an extra set of eyes and ears would be a good idea. Not to mention the return on investment might be worth it for a team without budgetary issues.
http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2014/10/19/source-red-sox-hire-chili-davis-to-become-hitting-coach/UPDATED (9:13 p.m.): According to one source, with Davis on board, the Red Sox will conduct interviews for the position of assistant hitting coach starting this week, with the team wanting to get the input of Davis on making that hire to ensure a comfortable working relationship with whomever is chosen. Davis does have a prior history with Victor Rodriguez, who was the Red Sox’ assistant hitting coach in 2013 and 2014, after serving as hitting coordinator for several seasons prior to that — including 2011, when Rodriguez was the minor league hitting coordinator at a time when Davis was the hitting coach for Triple-A Pawtucket.
The current candidate pool (and whether it includes Rodriguez) for the assistant hitting coach position remains unknown, though it is believed that the Sox may talk with some of the individuals who were candidates for the position of hitting coach about the assistant position
Looking through the lens of recent acquisitions are we sure this is still the organization's foundational philosophy? I say this as 90% devil's advocate and 10% concerned skeptic.Dick Pole Upside said:as long as it's a "new voice" aligned with the organizational desire of lots of pitches seen and high OBP.)
Eh, Cespedes and Rusney are the only question marks, really. And that's more of a cultural Cuban thing -- the lack of OBP.koufax32 said:Looking through the lens of recent acquisitions are we sure this is still the organization's foundational philosophy? I say this as 90% devil's advocate and 10% concerned skeptic.
Cuban Yasiel Puig has a .382 OBP this year. Jose Abreu had 51 walks this season (.383 OBP). Yuni Escobar has an OK walk rate (8.1%), Yasmani Grandal has a lifetime .350 OBP, 58 BB in 377 ABs this year. In SSS, I thought Rusney didn't chase much for not having played for a year and a half.Curll said:Eh, Cespedes and Rusney are the only question marks, really. And that's more of a cultural Cuban thing -- the lack of OBP.
Good point. I would add to that an example we should all be familiar with, Mark Bellhorn. He struck out all the time but it was certainly not for lack of patience.Savin Hillbilly said:I wish we could stop conflating plate discipline, contact, and OBP. A high K rate does not mean that a player lacks plate discipline, nor that he will necessarily have a low OBP.
Leskanic's_Thread said:Excited for the inevitable spring training photo of Chili and Pedro laughing about 9/10/99.
MentalDisabldLst said:
Anyone who could put the ball in play on Pedro that day, nevermind do what Davis did, must know a goddamn lot about hitting.
It is more than only Cespedes and Rusney. There is WMB who has received chance after chance after chance as well as the AJ signing. There has been maybe not a change but certainly a shift in the organizational philosophy over the past several years.Curll said:Eh, Cespedes and Rusney are the only question marks, really. And that's more of a cultural Cuban thing -- the lack of OBP.
OBP is still the keystone to a good offense and the 2013 team had the highest OBP in the AL. Even with a wild OBP regression in 2014, they ranked 3rd in total BB.
Then the next overdone Fenway retirement ceremony could feature Michael Redd, Kevin Love, Chili Davis, and Julius Peppers in uniform.John Marzano Olympic Hero said:I wonder if the back of his away uniform will just read "Chili" like his one in San Francisco once did?
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/10/23/chili-davis-contract-with-red-sox-longer-than-john-farrell/ZbqFtSNDfyK6z7VD9PnBbM/story.html?event=event25When the Red Sox signed Chili Davis to be their hitting coach, they did so with a three-year deal. It was the only way Davis could be kept from signing with the Yankees.
Hee Sox Choi said:Is your Cuban cultural thing based on any kind of study or stat analysis you would like to reference?
The real beauty is that the data to show poor plate discipline by Cubans in the first link included Luis Tiant's 570 career PA, Mike Cueller's 716, and Diego Segui's 422.JohntheBaptist said:Wow, links to the BB-ref page of five baseball players. You just got served HSC.
Uh huh. He asked for data, I provided data. He cited the best Cuban players, I cited average Cuban players that better represent the whole.JohntheBaptist said:Wow, links to the BB-ref page of five baseball players. You just got served HSC.
Curll said:Uh huh. He asked for data, I provided data. He cited the best Cuban players, I cited average Cuban players that better represent the whole.
But, pissing contests aren't really my thing.
Well there ya go! They were batting ninth in the order. Amirite??HomeRunBaker said:The real beauty is that the data to show poor plate discipline by Cubans in the first link included Luis Tiant's 570 career PA, Mike Cueller's 716, and Diego Segui's 422.
Good job, Good effort.
HomeRunBaker said:The real beauty is that the data to show poor plate discipline by Cubans in the first link included Luis Tiant's 570 career PA, Mike Cueller's 716, and Diego Segui's 422.
Good job, Good effort.
soxhop411 said:3 year deal is what kept him from NYY
"When the Red Sox signed Chili Davis to be their hitting coach, they did so with a three-year deal. It was the only way Davis could be kept from signing with the Yankees."
http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2014/10/23/chili-davis-contract-with-red-sox-longer-than-john-farrell/ZbqFtSNDfyK6z7VD9PnBbM/story.html?event=event25
BCsMightyJoeYoung said:And there's that old "You can't Walk off the Island" thing .. Which was originally supposedly applied to Dominican players.
I missed that but that's hilarious. I know he's an idiot but I really rather like him. He seems like such an enthusiastic and genial guy. Which explains his presence in the booth .. They have Verducci (?) to be the brains of the outfit. Harold is the class clown.BroodsSexton said:Incidentally, did anyone else catch Harold Reynolds on last night's broadcast referring to Venezuela as an island?
Hmm .. I'm sure it's a semantics difference but Sox hitters have been the most disciplined in the league. Maybe he thinks they are just free swinging hackers?soxhop411 said:“@JMastrodonato: Davis says he hates striking out with a passion. Won't ask Red Sox's power hitters to try for contact, but does want disciplined approach.”
Sounds more like he was asked about his approach in general.BCsMightyJoeYoung said:Hmm .. I'm sure it's a semantics difference but Sox hitters have been the most disciplined in the league. Maybe he thinks they are just free swinging hackers?
The thing is highly disciplined hitters and high strikeout hitters are often one and the same. Striking out a lot is often the result when you take a lot of pitches.Darnell said:Sounds more like he was asked about his approach in general.
It's certainly the low end compared to the 3/$2.5m the Cubs gave their hitting coach a couple years ago. How did that work out for Theo?Rudy Pemberton said:The A's only pay their hitting coach $155k? Wow. Is that a normal salary for a coach, seems incredibly low.
MentalDisabldLst said:
"We understand that Brian Cashman must be embarrassed, frustrated and disappointed by his failure in this transaction," Cherington said. "Unlike the Red Sox, he chose not to go the extra mile for his fans in New York. It is understandable, but wrong that he would try to deflect the accountability for his mistakes onto others, and ignore the fact that he could easily afford the extra commitments to a hitting coach who doesn't even count towards the luxury-tax limit. It is time to get on with life and try to build a roster that isn't eligible for AARP."