What we can expect from Von Joshua's hitting style.

5 months ago mrcubsfan 25 comments 0 recs |

Comments

Here are some more links that may interest you

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090614/SPORTS1402/906150309

and another on Joshua and Soto
http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/category/sports/iowacubs/#5675.

Looks like we may not be as patient and I read this as Soriano should be expected to swing earlier in the count instead of waiting until we see inside pitches and sliders low and away with strikeouts.

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 Jun 15, 2009 10:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I read it as being a mixed bag of patience and aggressiveness...

“Use your instincts” being the key phrase.

Naturally aggressive hitters like Soriano will be encouraged to attack pitches earlier in the count. Naturally patient hitters like Soto, Fukudome, and Lee will be encouraged to remain patient and identify their pitch.

by SouthernCub on Jun 15, 2009 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If, indeed anybody actually pays attention.

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jun 15, 2009 12:24 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Say again?

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on Jun 15, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

With rare exceptions, a hitting coach's philosophy is irrelevant.

It’s not as though hitting coaches stand over guys with whips in their hands and force them to swing the bat the way they (the coaches) want them to. At the big league level, the best thing a coach brings is the ability to coo sweet nothings into players’ ears – tell them how terrific they are and how they have the ability to tear up the league.

There are several reasons a coach gets fired mid-season: 1) to make a point to the players that anybody’s job can be in jeopardy; 2) to make a point to the manager that his job can be in jeopardy; 3) because the coach is such an a-hole that someone’s likely to strangle him; and 4) the team needs a change in philosophy. As I said, number four is the least likely.

Also, no matter how much the players love a coach, his firing rarely means anything. Case in point: pitching coach Oscar Acosta. Kerry Wood almost led a rebellion when Acosta was let go after the 2001 season. I have no idea if Acosta was a good or bad pitching coach – all I know is the Cubs pitching staff started to get good only after he was gone.

Joe, you coulda made us proud!

by copingwiththecubs on Jun 15, 2009 1:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The late Oscar Acosta battled alcoholism and allowed his mouth to get him in trouble

To include racially insensitive remarks concerning Don Baylor that Baylor eventually got wind of.

You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little messed up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?

by BLou on Jun 15, 2009 7:04 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A hitting coach is there to offer advise and tips

Little else. Charlie Lau and Walt Hriniak were exceptions to the general rule.

Hitting coaches at the major league level don’t do extreme makeover of swings, etc. Especially during the season. Von Joshau has been a hero one day and a goat the next in his career too. I’m not sure why Gerald Perry was thrown to the curb, but expecting Von Joshau to have magical transformational powers over the Cub hitters is very naive and silly.

by BLou on Jun 15, 2009 7:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No one's expecting that, least of all Jim Hendry.

This was a move made to send a message that no one is safe, and to “do something”. It’s symbolism more than anything else.

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

by Al on Jun 16, 2009 3:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Totally agree.

I feel bad for Perry, but I have to believe most coaches know they may lose their jobs if the team struggles. Comes with the benefits package (call it a “anti-benefit”). I’m not expecting Von Josua to work miracles, though if he could be extra-proactive with Kosuke, I’d really, really appreciate it.

Unfortunately, per this article in today’s Trib, Von is just as mystified by Dome’s struggles as the rest of us. All I can say is, “Mr. Joshua, if you need to get medieval on Kosuke’s ass, your secret is safe with me.”

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on Jun 16, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1 for using a Bob Newhart line

At least, that’s where I heard that first

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 Jun 16, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

At the risk of giving myself away...

…which line is that?

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on Jun 16, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

There was an episode of "Newhart"

Where Dick Loudon talked about going medieval on someone’s ass.

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 Jun 16, 2009 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

I was referencing “Pulp Fiction.” Does this mean Quentin Tarantino ripped off Bob Newhart?!

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on Jun 16, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think it does

Pulp Fiction – 1994

Newhart – 1982 thru 1990

I say we give the props to Bob. You know what his favorite baseball team is, right?

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 Jun 16, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, that is remarkable.

I never would’ve made that connection – the things you learn on BCB. Is Bob a Cubs fan?

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on Jun 16, 2009 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He is indeed a Cubs fan

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 Jun 16, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wow, somehow I didn't know that.

You’ve taught me two things today. Hail the Mambochicken Collective!

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on Jun 16, 2009 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a move to try and fix the young guys.

The veterens have been around long enough to fix their own problems. Von Joshua was the minor league hitting coach for Soto, Fontenot, Theriot and Hoff. Hendry figures he can fix those guys and hope the veterens come around, like Lee seems to be.

by Rick B on Jun 16, 2009 7:31 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Let's see.

Since May 19, Fontenot: .317/.389/.460
Since May 25, Theriot: .329/.377/.429
Since May 12, Soto: .275/.366/.438

Who needs fixing again?

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

by Al on Jun 16, 2009 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Al, throwing out the stats!

You are leaning over into the dark side! LOL

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Jun 16, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

In this era, wouldn't a hitting coach's job be more involved?

Or perhaps that should be shouldn’t the job be more involved? With all of the data available it seems as though the pre-series meetings should be more advanced than in the old days when the hitting coach was more of a “swing coach”. Even that side of the job seems like it should be more advanced, with all of the video and computer-aided technology.

If a team is employing the old-time style of hitting coach (manager’s buddy, ex-manager who needs a job, or tobacco spittin’, eye-ballin’ swing coach) it seems like it’s doing the team a disservice

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

by davidalanu on Jun 16, 2009 1:49 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The problem is...

… I don’t think modern major leaguers are going to listen to either kind of hitting coach. It’s almost a superfluous job.

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

by Al on Jun 16, 2009 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

Major league coaches aren’t paid much money for their efforts. In fact most make in the range of $50,000 to $75,000 plus per diem. Which is chump change to say the least. Most coaches are hired because of friendship with the manager and/or long connection to the organization. Hitting coaches are in place to provide counsel and advise to those hitters seeking it. They aren’t in place to teach roster members how to hit major league pitching. The presumption is that anybody on a major league roster meets that requirement. Therefore expecting a hitting coach to have transformational change on a roster is silly.

by BLou on Jun 16, 2009 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll stand by my post. These young guys need to be consistent.

They have a comfort zone with Von Joshua. Excelleny job of "cherry picking "stats Al. The 4 games before May 25th, Theriot was 1 for 17. Besides, Theriot would be fine if he didn’t listen to Lou about pulling the ball.

by Rick B on Jun 16, 2009 3:31 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lou wanted Theriot to drive the ball, not pull it.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on Jun 16, 2009 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs