Author Topic: Hitting coach plan b? (Read 3309 times)

blue911 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 27, 2008, 08:59:37 pm »

Quote

Rick Eckstein arrived at Nationals Park on Wednesday to become an extra hitting coach

Doesn't that imply that the Nats already have a hitting coach?

ronnynat · « **Reply #26 on:** August 27, 2008, 09:00:24 pm »

Quote from: spidernat on August 27, 2008, 08:58:22 pm

The writing is on the wall for Lenny Harris.

And it says "Piss off!"

sportsfan882 · « **Reply #27 on:** August 27, 2008, 09:02:13 pm »

Definitely great news. Lenny's days in D.C. are numbered.

spidernat · « **Reply #28 on:** August 27, 2008, 09:04:24 pm »

It would be hilarious to see the reaction here if they, by mere coincidence, suddenly started hitting.

kimnat · « **Reply #29 on:** August 27, 2008, 09:07:34 pm »

Well from the 4 runs we have so far (and 8 hits), maybe it's helping.

PANatsFan · « **Reply #30 on:** August 27, 2008, 11:05:00 pm »

Quote from: spidernat on August 27, 2008, 09:04:24 pm

It would be hilarious to see the reaction here if they, by mere coincidence, suddenly started hitting.

Happened last time we changed hitting coaches, look how that turned out.

UMDNats · « **Reply #31 on:** August 28, 2008, 12:14:49 am »

Quote from: kimnat on August 25, 2008, 10:36:33 pm

That's another reason I know it ain't gonna happen.

Pat Corrales was a major league manager...and he's now a bench coach. Just sayin'.

kimnat · « **Reply #32 on:** August 28, 2008, 08:54:19 am »

Quote from: UMDNats on August 28, 2008, 12:14:49 am

Pat Corrales was a major league manager...and he's now a bench coach. Just sayin'.

Yeah, but I get the feeling Knight doesn't WANT to be an MLB employee of any type. I don't think he wants to be on the road.

hammondsnats · « **Reply #33 on:** August 28, 2008, 11:02:37 am »

Let me tell you, Rick is very well respected among players and his peers. The fact Davey Johnson tabbed him says something about him.

Despite the lack of talent - hitting wise - with our AAA club, Eckstein has done a very good job helping them with their swings. Langerhans swing shortened up, Bernadina is hitting better than he ever did in AA and as alluded to, Eckstein helped give Casto new life (although it didn't show much in the bigs).

It's no secret we need a fresh breath of air, first move to be made, getting a new hitting coach.

PS...man oh man btw I love Davey Johnson ... for a while there I wanted him as our manager, but I'm cool with Manny.

Nat of the Living Dead · « **Reply #34 on:** August 31, 2008, 11:25:21 am »

Correct me if I am wrong, but haven't we gone a five game tear since Rick Eckstein joined us? Coincidence? Fate? Act of God?

Discuss.

The Chief · « **Reply #35 on:** August 31, 2008, 11:27:14 am »

A similar thing happened last year after Lenny Harris took over and everyone sang his praises too. I'm not so quick to jump on that wagon again.

I think zero-pressure could be a factor. Most of the guys in the current lineup are already all but guaranteed jobs next year, and we aren't playing for anything but "fun" at this point in the season.

ronnynat · « **Reply #36 on:** August 31, 2008, 11:27:26 am »

Quote from: Nat of the LivingDead on August 31, 2008, 11:25:21 am

Correct me if I am wrong, but haven't we gone a five game tear since Rick Eckstein joined us? Coincidence? Fate? Act of God?

Discuss.

Still too early to know for sure. Right now, I think it's just a coincidence. I REALLY hope I'm wrong, though.

UMDNats · « **Reply #37 on:** August 31, 2008, 12:20:14 pm »

Quote from: kimnat on August 28, 2008, 08:54:19 am

Yeah, but I get the feeling Knight doesn't WANT to be an MLB employee of any type. I don't think he wants to be on the road.

Understandable, obviously. I really like Ray Knight and I doubt he'd want to be a hitting coach, but he might be a good one. At the very least he's a good analyst.

JMUalumni · « **Reply #38 on:** August 31, 2008, 12:22:22 pm »

The winning streak is definitely putting some fire into the argument, but I would have to agree that it is still too early to tell. I personally am from the school of thought that thinks the coaches have only a limited impact, but I do believe that Eckstein may have had at least a little impact since arriving in Washington. He has been working with younger guys in the minors and on Team USA for the bulk of his career and on the Nationals that is what we have... a bunch of young guys. Maybe he is a better motivator or has been able to help some of the younger guys fix some of the kinks in their swings. Who knows, but either way I don't see how it is possible to gauge how much he has brought to the table.

spidernat · « **Reply #39 on:** August 31, 2008, 12:39:48 pm »

We could always hire a new hitting coach every month to ensure sustained success.

PANatsFan · « **Reply #40 on:** August 31, 2008, 12:41:00 pm »

What about platooning Hernandez and Bonifacio? Has any team in history platooned light-hitting 2B? This seems a road to disaster.

JMUalumni · « **Reply #41 on:** August 31, 2008, 12:46:00 pm »

I believe it was Blue that pointed out Bonifacio's struggles against lefties, there was an article on Nats.com today. I was surprised that both players have been doing so well in the platoon situation and I could imagine that they will continue down this road next season if Bonifacio fails to improve (against lefties).

Quote

WASHINGTON -- Nationals second baseman Emilio Bonifacio finds himself in a platoon situation with Anderson Hernandez, because Bonifacio is having serious problems hitting left-handed pitching.
Entering Sunday action against the Braves, the switch-hitting Bonifacio has a .156 batting average against southpaws, compared to a .276 average against righties.

"He is making some adjustments mechanically," manager Manny Acta said. "He is stepping in the bucket from the right side, which takes away the outer half of the plate. He has a lot of extra body movement. You can tell how many pitches he sees from the left side. He doesn't see as many from the right side."

The company line has been that Bonifacio will be the everyday second baseman next year, but Hernandez is making case that he should be the guy at the position. Entering Sunday's action, he is 12-for-26 (.462) since joining the Nationals more than a week ago.

On Saturday against the Braves, Hernandez went 3-for-5 and scored the game-winning run in the 10th inning. The performance does not surprise Acta, who watched Hernandez play with the Mets back in 2005 and '06 and in the Dominican Winter League.

"I have seen that before," Acta said. "This guy can play. It was a good acquisition made by [general manager] Jim [Bowden]. This guy is a good player. I've seen him enough with the Mets and winter ball. He's very valuable, because he can play anywhere in the infield. He knows how to play the game. He will get some good at-bats."

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080830&content_id=3391611&vkey=news_was&fext=.jsp&c_id=was