Cubs Make 2011 Coaching Staff Official

As posted here on Monday, the Cubs officially named Pat Listach as bench coach to assist manager Mike Quade.

Five other members of the staff that worked under Quade for the final 37 games of the 2010 season will return: 1B coach Bob Dernier, 3B coach Ivan DeJesus, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo and bullpen coach Lester Strode.

The position of "special assistant" to the manager, a coach who helps out for pre and postgame work but doesn't stay in uniform during the game, which was held by Matt Sinatro for 2010 (and DeJesus before that), will be filled by Dave Keller, who has spent the last seven years as the organization’s minor league hitting instructor (2004-10). Prior to his stint with the Cubs, he was a major league staff assistant for Cleveland from 2001-03, also serving as an assistant to hitting coach Eddie Murray.

Many teams hire coaches in the "special assistant" role who have an expertise in a certain area. Since Keller's main expertise is hitting, we can assume that he'll serve as an assistant to Jaramillo and help out hitters. If he could help them learn how to bunt and get better at situational hitting, that'd be a big help.