Red Sox Offseason News and Notes

joe dokes

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And I just bought his jersey
With a little tape and gumption, you'll be all set when John Burkett starts the 4th game of the the 2020 season.


But seriously......while I think hitting coaches generally get too much blame and too much credit, I wonder what the team's actual thinking is here.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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With a little tape and gumption, you'll be all set when John Burkett starts the 4th game of the the 2020 season.


But seriously......while I think hitting coaches generally get too much blame and too much credit, I wonder what the team's actual thinking is here.
Are we sure it's solely the team's thinking? He's an assistant hitting coach. Maybe it was a mutual parting of the ways so he can pursue bigger roles. More than a couple teams let their hitting coaches go in the last couple days, so it's not like there aren't openings.

I would think if there's an issue with the offense that the front office wants to address, Hyers probably would have been let go too.
 

joe dokes

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Are we sure it's solely the team's thinking? He's an assistant hitting coach. Maybe it was a mutual parting of the ways so he can pursue bigger roles. More than a couple teams let their hitting coaches go in the last couple days, so it's not like there aren't openings.

I would think if there's an issue with the offense that the front office wants to address, Hyers probably would have been let go too.
Bad word choice on my part. Mutual parting probably covers it even though its not strategic.
 

Granite Sox

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The (optimist's) explanation from Speier is that Barkett's recent coaching background has been as a Triple A manager, thus his strengths in communication suggest more of an on-field/bench coach role. Letting him explore. Replacement expected to be more analytically oriented, with Hyers remaining as primary Hitting Coach.
 

The Gray Eagle

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Speier directly says "According to multiple industry sources, the Red Sox informed Andy Barkett he is being let go after two years as assistant hitting coach."

If true, then that's not a mutual parting.

From the same article:
"The bilingual Barkett worked closely with Rafael Devers in 2018 and 2019 as the young third baseman learned to develop a pregame routine and how to use technology and data to game-plan. Barkett also got frequent morning entreaties from Mookie Betts to do early work in the batting cage."
 

Green Monster

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Doesn't the stated success of working with Devers to "develop a pregame routine and how to use technology and data to game-plan" conflict with the expected replacement "expected to be more analytically oriented"
 

lexrageorge

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Doesn't the stated success of working with Devers to "develop a pregame routine and how to use technology and data to game-plan" conflict with the expected replacement "expected to be more analytically oriented"
Not necessarily. Just because he had success with Devers doesn't mean that Barkett and the team see eye-to-eye going forward in terms of analytics, etc. There could be many reasons for the firing, and the team is not under any obligation to provide details. Nor should they. I'm certain there there is a substantial pool of well qualified individuals more than willing to work as assistant hitting coach for the Red Sox.
 

Green Monster

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Thats fine.....not suggesting it is a good or bad move. Just seemed odd to me to site his success working with Devers to become more analytical and follow that up with the replacement should be more analytical.....I am probably just taking things out of context
 

Plympton91

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Not necessarily. Just because he had success with Devers doesn't mean that Barkett and the team see eye-to-eye going forward in terms of analytics, etc. There could be many reasons for the firing, and the team is not under any obligation to provide details. Nor should they. I'm certain there there is a substantial pool of well qualified individuals more than willing to work as assistant hitting coach for the Red Sox.
Exactly. This is likely a cost saving move.
 

Harry Hooper

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Browne on Red:

The Sox must tender offers to all arbitration-eligible players by Dec. 2. ... The one possible stunner on the non-tender front would be Jackie Bradley Jr., who should make about $10 million this season through the arbitration process. Bradley remains an enigma on offense but a gem on defense. If the Sox need to get his salary off the books, it seems more likely they would trade him than non-tender him. Righty Heath Hembree, who missed a big chunk of time with right elbow issues, could also be non-tendered.

In addition to non-tendering an arbitration-eligible player, I believe clubs still have the option of walking away from a player after the arbitration award is made and before ST ends. From MLB.com:

Players on arbitration contracts who are cut on or before the 16th day of Spring Training are owed 30 days' termination pay (based on the prorated version of his agreed-upon arbitration salary). A player cut between the 16th day and the end of Spring Training is owed 45 days' termination pay (based on the prorated version of his agreed-upon arbitration salary). The arbitration salary becomes guaranteed if the player is on the 25-man roster when the season begins.
 

Imbricus

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Yeah that site is totally bonkers, unless those are salaries from 1956. The average Red Sox coach makes $39,675? A manager at McDonald's makes more than that. I would think a coach's salary is low six figures.
 

DJnVa

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Yeah that site is totally bonkers, unless those are salaries from 1956. The average Red Sox coach makes $39,675? A manager at McDonald's makes more than that. I would think a coach's salary is low six figures.
Yeah, if only the internet had other sources.

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/sunday-notes-coaching-salaries-on-the-farm-bullpen-scatalogy-cards-step-more/
Hitting and pitching coaches are paid anywhere from $150,000 to $350,000, with a select few earning far more. Bench coaches earn between $150,000-$250,000. Third base coaches are around $130,000-$140,000. First base coaches are in the $100,000-$110,000 range. Bullpen coaches bring home roughly $90,000.
 

OCD SS

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The only cost saving moves that matter are the ones that take money off the CBT calculations.

Moves with coaches, managers, and front office personnel that are going to be made to better the team in the eyes of ownership (however valid their thinking may be), not because it saves the team a few extra bucks.
 

Van Everyman

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Or reassignment anyway. The Bannister move seems like a pretty big fall from grace. Weren't people praising his work from the heavens last year?
 

Dewey'sCannon

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I hope they consider Varitek for pitching coach.

Coincidently, Jen McCaffrey has a story/interview with Jason on the Athletic site, speculating on when he may become a manager. It notes that he had become much more involved as a catching coordinator over the last two years, and also working with his friend Dana LeVangie. It sounds like he may at least be open to a more active, daily role. Since working with the pitchers was supposedly his strong suit as a catcher, would seem like a good fit as Pitching Coach. And while most pitching coaches are former pitchers, Dave Duncan, who maybe has the reputation as best pitching coach ever, was a former catcher.
 

JimD

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The assistant pitching coach has that kind of sway in the front office?
No, but the Vice President, Pitching Development (his other title) might. And various articles in the wake of last year's success pointed to him being a highly regarded member of the management team beyond his coaching duties.
 

Max Power

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Is Cora suddenly on an island, already? A year after the best season in franchise history?
It could be the opposite. It seems like Carlos Febles was the only one of his own guys that he brought in. Maybe he's getting more say over the entire coaching staff.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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No, but the Vice President, Pitching Development (his other title) might. And various articles in the wake of last year's success pointed to him being a highly regarded member of the management team beyond his coaching duties.
He wasn't relieved of his duties as Vice President, Pitching Development though. If he had sway on those contracts, and is being "punished" for that, wouldn't he lose the title/responsibilities that gave him that sway?
 

Van Everyman

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Yeah I could be misreading that actually. It looks more like they want him focusing on the development stuff instead of working with pitchers on the roster. They may also want to give whoever the new guy is his own assistant.
Yup. Amazing how the perception changes when most of the pitching staff stunk out loud this year.
Not to veer this too off topic, but as we dive into this offseason I can’t help but wonder why, of the four years they’ve won titles, every year following a title has been a slog. Certainly injuries are a big part – but other than ‘04 (when not a single starter missed a start IIRC), they’ve had their share of injuries in every title season.
 

johnnywayback

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Bannister is still widely regarded as one of the best pitching analytics and development guys in the industry -- my guess is that, per @Van Everyman, they want him focused on that. Or perhaps the approach of bringing what Bannister does well directly into the clubhouse was less successful than they'd imagined -- lots of teams struggle with how to marry the analytics and coaching functions.

Either way, I don't think it's a punishment or a "fall from grace," and I'm really glad they're keeping him around.
 

budcrew08

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I hope they consider Varitek for pitching coach.

Coincidently, Jen McCaffrey has a story/interview with Jason on the Athletic site, speculating on when he may become a manager. It notes that he had become much more involved as a catching coordinator over the last two years, and also working with his friend Dana LeVangie. It sounds like he may at least be open to a more active, daily role. Since working with the pitchers was supposedly his strong suit as a catcher, would seem like a good fit as Pitching Coach. And while most pitching coaches are former pitchers, Dave Duncan, who maybe has the reputation as best pitching coach ever, was a former catcher.
https://theathletic.com/1258725/2019/10/08/jason-varitek-looks-like-manager-material-so-when-might-he-take-a-leap-into-that-chair/
 

stepson_and_toe

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Is Cora suddenly on an island, already? A year after the best season in franchise history?
Really? The 1912 Red Sox had a .691 winning percentage, winning three fewer games than the 2018 version but also having seven fewer losses on the way to winning the World Series. They only scored 77 fewer runs in their 154 games while allowing 103 fewer runs. And it only took that club 27 position players and 11 pitchers as opposed to 44 and 23 for last year's club...with a lot less game time.
 

sean1562

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alright, the second best team in Red Sox history and the best team in over 100 years? does that work? I hope Cora sticks around for awhile. He seems like a competent guy. Hopefully he is a big part of the decision making process when it comes to hiring new coaches for this team.
 

Why Not Grebeck?

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I don't know how good Curt is at just sticking to baseball - maybe he's all business on the field - but if I were a non-white Red Sox pitcher I'd have a hard time developing a strong bond with him after some of the things he's said.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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I know Schilling had his notebook for scouting opposing players, but how analytically inclined is he? Seems like if the issue with Levangie was a disconnect regarding the blending of scouting and analytics, I'm not sure that Schilling is necessarily the right answer. Forget the whole political angle, would Schilling be up to the job they're looking to fill anyway?
 

joe dokes

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I know Schilling had his notebook for scouting opposing players, but how analytically inclined is he? Seems like if the issue with Levangie was a disconnect regarding the blending of scouting and analytics, I'm not sure that Schilling is necessarily the right answer. Forget the whole political angle, would Schilling be up to the job they're looking to fill anyway?
I'm risking being 126% wrong because I haven't looked, but it seems pretty rare for a major league pitching coach to have never had a job coaching anything anywhere before getting hired as a major league pitching coach.