Cubs dismiss hitting coach Joshua

ESPN reports: The Chicago Cubs announced after Sunday's game that the entire coaching staff will be back next year, except for hitting coach Von Joshua, who was relieved of his duties as a major-league coach.

over 2 years ago eths 41 comments 0 recs |

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boy i didnt see this coming

Geovany Soto is the new 2008 Derrek Lee

by jesus christos on Oct 4, 2009 5:26 PM CDT reply actions

That is very strange.

First we fire one hitting coach and bring up a guy very well respected by our minor league players then he is “reassigned”. I’m not getting it. I’m sure more will come out on this.

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Oct 4, 2009 5:34 PM CDT reply actions

We didn't improve

was the quote I read online. It goes on to say we were 14th in average and 15th in runs scored when he came on and ended 6th in both average and runs scored. Didn’t improve?

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Oct 4, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Clearing a space for Ryno maybe?

"Was you ever punched in the face five hundred times a night? It stings after a while." ~Rocky Balboa

by Goodie1969 on Oct 4, 2009 5:36 PM CDT reply actions

Seems to be the only logical explanation to me.

by kanderber on Oct 4, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe, although...

… the hitting coach is usually a convenient scapegoat. You wouldn’t want to put Ryno in that situation.

Maybe Sinatro moves to hitting coach and Sandberg to 1B?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 4, 2009 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions

What the heck does Matt Sinatro know about hitting?

Nothing, that’s what. He coaches the catchers and drives Lou to the restaurant.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Oct 4, 2009 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions

True.

But indeed, what does a hitting coach do?

There’s really only one hitting coach in the majors today who, I think, ha any significant impact: Rudy Jaramillo. The rest of ’em are just taking up space.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 4, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions

But he only has to man that position for a year.

Lou’s done after next season, and then you can make Ryno the Bench Coach to Trammell, or whoever they choose to replace Lou, as Manager.

He only has to have a moderate success as hitting coach to not become a scapegoat, and I’d wager the hitting will improve somewhat next year anyway. I actually think he might be a pretty good instructor as well. Not that this means they’ll do it, or even that I’m right, but it just seems logical.

"Was you ever punched in the face five hundred times a night? It stings after a while." ~Rocky Balboa

by Goodie1969 on Oct 4, 2009 8:59 PM CDT up reply actions

I was thinkin' the same thing last night.

What if the offense lays an egg early on? They can’t exactly fire Ryne Sandberg. (Well, they could but y’know…)

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Oct 5, 2009 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=326407

All other Cubs coaches are returning next season, GM Jim Hendry said. … Hendry said Ryne Sandberg likely will return to manage a second season at Double-A in 2010.

Geovany Soto is the new 2008 Derrek Lee

by jesus christos on Oct 4, 2009 9:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Interesting.

That’s probably because the organization likes Bobby Dickerson and they also like the work Sandberg does with prospects; usually the org’s best prospects are at Double-A.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 4, 2009 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions

FTFA

Hendry said he told Voshua when he was promoted that he would have job until the end of the season and that if things didn’t work out, he could go back to Triple-A.

I think Von has just gotten a new nickname

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Oct 4, 2009 5:53 PM CDT reply actions

"Hendry said all other coaches would be retained..."

maybe he just said that to help our coaches make good deals elsewhere. I wouldn’t mind seeing some new blood in the coaching staff. Young blood, starting with Ryno, some where on the staff wouldn’t hurt.

This team just looked listless at times. Fresh blood wouldn’t hurt.

"Truth hurts. Maybe not as much as jumping on a bicycle with the seat missing, but it hurts." - Leslie Nielson

by LAcarl519 on Oct 4, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

As the old saying goes...

…like throwing a deck chair off the Titanic

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 4, 2009 7:00 PM CDT reply actions

At least he can

come back to Iowa.

Recipe for Disaster;
C'mon Cubs, hurry up and blow this so I can relax.
by Bluekoolaide on July22, 2009 3:08 PM CDT

by sue369 on Oct 4, 2009 7:02 PM CDT reply actions

Ryno?!

That’d be a bold move.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Oct 4, 2009 9:06 PM CDT reply actions

This might actually be a tough hire

Anybody applying knows they’ll have a tough time being retained after next year. I assume there is someone in-house they are looking to move in. This staff is pretty old, and pretty stale.

by Nibbles on Oct 4, 2009 9:27 PM CDT reply actions

Hendry is a flippin' goof.

You fire TWO hitting coaches in one year? Gee, Jimbo – who does THAT reflect on?

And, if Joshua isn’t good enough, WHY ARE YOU KEEPING HIM IN THE ORGANIZATION?

Cripes.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 4, 2009 9:58 PM CDT reply actions

Precisely!!!!

Your hitting coachs are much more valuable during player development, than they are in the bigs when players are set in their ways.

Just another decision that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 4, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Well...

… maybe that’s exactly the point, that Joshua did better with minor leaguers than major leaguers.

In any case, I think the hitting coach has less influence than just about anyone on the staff.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 5, 2009 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions

It still looks ridiculous organizationally

If he wasn’t capable of working with the major leaguers, than why was he brought in?

The whole thing could have been avoided by not making a panic firing in the first place.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 5, 2009 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions

But that's what teams usually do with batting coaches.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 5, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions

And pitching coaches and managers

Yeah, I know. But in the same vein as organizational philosophy, wouldn’t stability go a long way?

It sends a message that, “Hey, guys – this is what we believe works. Either get on board, or we’ll find someone that will.”

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 5, 2009 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions

Stability?

You mean, like having seven years of Larry Rothschild as pitching coach?

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 5, 2009 2:22 PM CDT up reply actions

You have to ask yourself...

…why seven years of Larry as pitching coach?

I don’t think the answer is that he is one of the best, but it’s because he is Hendry’s “guy”.

A lot of folks have discussed Piniella’s tendancy to play favorites with players, but I don’t think there is any question, that of all the key Cub employees, Hendry takes this to new heights.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 5, 2009 3:31 PM CDT up reply actions

The Cubs pitching has been pretty darn good under

Rothschild/Piniella. Not sure what more you would want. If we were having this conversation after ’06, I could understand.

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Oct 5, 2009 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I was having...

…it then.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 5, 2009 6:07 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't know why you're suddenly on the anti-Rothschild bandwagon

But tell me – how much responsibility does the pitching have to bear for this season’s failure?

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 5, 2009 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, the bullpen does.

Starting pitching was generally solid.

Here’s the thing: I don’t think Larry has much impact at all. When the staff does poorly, I don’t think it’s his fault; the Cubs just have bad pitchers. When they do well, I’m not sure I’d give him any credit.

It’s as if the Cubs haven’t had a pitching coach at all for the last seven years.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Oct 6, 2009 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Where does it say he fired him?

Every indication in the article is that he has been removed from the temporary post to which he was appointed mid-Summer, and will return to his old job in Iowa. Your take that this makes Hendry a “goof” is embarrassingly simple minded. Joshua was valued by the team as a minor league hitting instructor. The fact that he was the best internal candidate to replace Perry on an interim basis, and was promoted for that reason, shouldn’t necessarily lead to the conclusion that you either keep him in that role permanently or kick him out of the organization. If they don’t want Joshua in that role long term, the sensible thing to do is return him to AAA and hire the best candidate from the market this winter.

by Orval Overall on Oct 5, 2009 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Not patronizing enough; please try again.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 5, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions

What, "goof" is a level of reasoning that places you above being patronized?

by Orval Overall on Oct 5, 2009 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Getting closer

Not a strong enough personal attack. You need more indignance, too.

You can do better; I’ve seen it. Frequently.

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 5, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I feel kinda sorry for Von Joshua

I really doubt that he can be blamed for the “sub-standard” season.

You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat. - Albert Einstein

by eths on Oct 5, 2009 2:04 AM CDT reply actions

Trammell as hitting coach

and Ryno as bench coach possibly??

2009 Cubs Record: 12-6 (11-6 home, 1-0 road)

by AndHart120 on Oct 5, 2009 8:31 AM CDT reply actions

How well do you think that would go over with Trammell?

“Hey, we’re changing your job from one that’s generally viewed as second in command to make room for the guy who’s jumping over you on the org chart.”

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Oct 5, 2009 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, plus I thought defense was Tram's speciality.

Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.

by daver on Oct 5, 2009 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions

I wouldn't oppose Ryno on the big league staff....

but I tend to doubt it will happen. For a guy of Ryno’s stature to be so open publicly about wanting Piniella’s job after he retires, and knowing the Chicago media, it just doesn’t seem like it can do any good. Every time the Cubs lost three in a row, the rumors and stories would start flying and with Ryno there every day, it just seems better to have him continue managing at AA or move him up to AAA in some capacity. For a team that had enough distractions this year, that’s a potential distraction next year that should be avoided at all costs.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Oct 5, 2009 12:20 PM CDT reply actions

managing at AAA has nothing to do with preparing you for managing a big league ball club.

your players are always one injury away from being called up to the big league at a moments notice and you run the AAA club “at the whim” of the big league club. If Ryno is going to learn about the ins & outs of big league managing, he needs to have a bench role on the big league team.

I think Ryno, Trammell and Lou can handle the press pressures every time there is a losing streak. And these added pressures of people calling for Lou’s head, will just prepare Ryno that much better for his next step. Lou has already said he is done after 2010, so why will this pressure Ryno or the players to force Lou out? I don’t see that being a big distraction. I think the distractions of Bradley were as big or bigger this year.

Time for the Cubs to do what is best to prepare Ryno for his future job and make the Cub team the best for not just 2010 but in the long-term. If that means making Ryno a coach on the big league team next year, do it. Leaving him to rot in the minors would be a waste. He has already done that gig for 3 years. Time for Ryno to get a taste of coaching in the majors.

"Truth hurts. Maybe not as much as jumping on a bicycle with the seat missing, but it hurts." - Leslie Nielson

by LAcarl519 on Oct 5, 2009 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions

That's true, I guess.

I like said, I certainly would not oppose hiring Ryno as hitting coach or bench coach. It could potentially get awkward, but I guess exposing him to the big leaguers on a daily basis could give him an idea what he’s in for, which would not be a bad thing.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Oct 5, 2009 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions