https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/reds-rhp-undergoes-tommy-john-surgery-team-fires-three-hitting-coaches/ar-AA1rUW2R?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=ASTS&cvid=5e4b38a1c2f44a4981a3c32b7e92a16c&ei=16

Should have been done months ago. Please get someone who can coach these guys up.

(10-09-2024, 11:50 AM)bengalfan74 Wrote: https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/reds-rhp-undergoes-tommy-john-surgery-team-fires-three-hitting-coaches/ar-AA1rUW2R?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=ASTS&cvid=5e4b38a1c2f44a4981a3c32b7e92a16c&ei=16

Should have been done months ago. Please get someone who can coach these guys up.

I hope they let Francona have complete and total control over his coaches. Let him fire and hire without conditions.

(10-10-2024, 09:48 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: I hope they let Francona have complete and total control over his coaches. Let him fire and hire without conditions.

Yep 

The old saying "When you have two quarterbacks . . . you have no quarterbacks."

When you have three hitting coaches, there's too much thinking going on. I was raised in the Pete Rose approach to hitting the ball "See the ball . . . Hit the ball. I understand having someone there to help you with technique and stances/balancing . . . I'm pretty sure that three hitting coaches all had their own thoughts and views that were different from the others so I'm guessing that there was some conflicting ideas.

I've always felt that you make small adjustments and try them one at a time. Get to the point where it becomes natural and you don't think about it anymore then make another small adjustment.

For awhile, Elly would have a more balanced stance, with a slight lean towards the plate, and then he'd get back to his "trying to crush" mentality and get very off balanced. There was a game in Cincy where he had 2 HRs. One of them was a low inside fastball that he got the bat head in front and underneath the ball and hit a smooth line drive over the right field wall. He was balanced, he didn't try to get his body underneath because it was low. I was thinking "YES!!! That's how it's done!! Keep your body balanced and let the pitch provide the power!"

And later in the game, the Reds had a big lead in the bottom of the 8th, he was 3 for 3, he came to the plate and was way off balanced when he tried to hit his third homer and flared out to left field. Coaches should have sat him down and showed him . . . here's your balance on your first three at bats . . . he's your 4th.

The main reason I complain so much about him kicking his hips out and having his body at an angle is because he's moving his eye level while the pitch is being delivered. That's the crucial part about seeing the ball. Having your eye line the same so you can have a more accurate reading of the pitch.

Which brings me to another point that a hitting coach has probably never told him about his long swing. When the ball leaves the pitchers hand, you have less than a third of a second to put your bat in the right spot. Having a long swing and moving your eye level so much will lead to a lot of strikeouts. That's why I liked Hinds' swing so much . . . it's just that he wasn't kept in the lineup when he struggled and Elly was kept in the #2 hole almost everyday, even when he was struggling.

And to finish up, I'll use Sam LeCure's end of season analysis, "Not enough situational hitting, all across the board." I agree 100% Learn how to hit a ground ball to 2nd base and learn how to bunt. That's all coaching.

(10-12-2024, 05:41 PM)Forever Spinning Vinyl Wrote: The old saying "When you have two quarterbacks . . . you have no quarterbacks."

When you have three hitting coaches, there's too much thinking going on. I was raised in the Pete Rose approach to hitting the ball "See the ball . . . Hit the ball. I understand having someone there to help you with technique and stances/balancing . . . I'm pretty sure that three hitting coaches all had their own thoughts and views that were different from the others so I'm guessing that there was some conflicting ideas.

I've always felt that you make small adjustments and try them one at a time. Get to the point where it becomes natural and you don't think about it anymore then make another small adjustment.

For awhile, Elly would have a more balanced stance, with a slight lean towards the plate, and then he'd get back to his "trying to crush" mentality and get very off balanced. There was a game in Cincy where he had 2 HRs. One of them was a low inside fastball that he got the bat head in front and underneath the ball and hit a smooth line drive over the right field wall. He was balanced, he didn't try to get his body underneath because it was low. I was thinking "YES!!! That's how it's done!! Keep your body balanced and let the pitch provide the power!"

And later in the game, the Reds had a big lead in the bottom of the 8th, he was 3 for 3, he came to the plate and was way off balanced when he tried to hit his third homer and flared out to left field. Coaches should have sat him down and showed him . . . here's your balance on your first three at bats . . . he's your 4th.

The main reason I complain so much about him kicking his hips out and having his body at an angle is because he's moving his eye level while the pitch is being delivered. That's the crucial part about seeing the ball. Having your eye line the same so you can have a more accurate reading of the pitch.

Which brings me to another point that a hitting coach has probably never told him about his long swing. When the ball leaves the pitchers hand, you have less than a third of a second to put your bat in the right spot. Having a long swing and moving your eye level so much will lead to a lot of strikeouts. That's why I liked Hinds' swing so much . . . it's just that he wasn't kept in the lineup when he struggled and Elly was kept in the #2 hole almost everyday, even when he was struggling.

And to finish up, I'll use Sam LeCure's end of season analysis, "Not enough situational hitting, all across the board." I agree 100% Learn how to hit a ground ball to 2nd base and learn how to bunt. That's all coaching.

I'm right there with you.

I'm not sure I've ever seen a player in more dire need of good coaching than Elly? His stance, mechanics, everything has been all over the map all of last season. And as far as that goes most of the rest of the team needs it as well.

With almost no exceptions this team doesn't know or is just bad at the very basic fundamentals of the game.

Francona and Co. have their work cut out for them.

Seems to me Tito has the gift of being able to make players want to win for him and makes the game fun for them.  It's a game they've all played since they were all little boys. Too many managers turn the game into a freakin job. Nothing beats having fun when you're winning.  

(10-18-2024, 11:53 PM)grampahol Wrote: Seems to me Tito has the gift of being able to make players want to win for him and makes the game fun for them.  It's a game they've all played since they were all little boys. Too many managers turn the game into a freakin job. Nothing beats having fun when you're winning.  

Indeed

And that's what Bell did! Locked into a computer screen going by the numbers.

New hitting coach.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/new-reds-manager-terry-francona-hires-hitting-coach-chris-valaika-away-from-guardians/ar-AA1sRQz1?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=07f4a4a91e4c46a5a5ec8a3cab9b48ac&ei=21

Quote:CINCINNATI (AP) — New Reds manager Terry Francona has hired hitting coach Chris Valaika away from the Cleveland Guardians, Cincinnati announced Friday.

The 39-year-old Valaika has been Cleveland's hitting coach for three years, dating back to Francona's time running the team.

The former infielder played in the majors with Cincinnati (2010-11), Miami (2013) and the Chicago Cubs (2014), appearing in 99 games across four seasons.

The native of Santa Clarita, California, joined the coaching ranks in 2017. Valaika spent five seasons coaching in the Cubs organization before moving to Cleveland under Francona.

The 65-year-old Francona was hired as the Reds manager earlier this month after David Bell was fired with five games left in his sixth season.

(10-24-2024, 03:48 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: New hitting coach.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb/new-reds-manager-terry-francona-hires-hitting-coach-chris-valaika-away-from-guardians/ar-AA1sRQz1?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=07f4a4a91e4c46a5a5ec8a3cab9b48ac&ei=21

Great

Providing this guy can get these fellas tuned up. And they need a lot of tuning.

(10-24-2024, 04:36 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Great

Providing this guy can get these fellas tuned up. And they need a lot of tuning.

He might not be the cure for everything hitting, but at least Francona has confidence in him for the job.

(10-24-2024, 04:36 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: Great

Providing this guy can get these fellas tuned up. And they need a lot of tuning.

He's helped get CLE into a contender, so I have some confidence in him.
Plus, Valaika was a former Red himself, so he's familiar with the organization and city.

(10-24-2024, 08:31 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: He might not be the cure for everything hitting, but at least Francona has confidence in him for the job.

What I like about this hire is that the Guardians, in the 3 seasons that Valaika was their hitting coach, led the major leagues in lowest strikeout percentage at 22.0%.

The concern is that the Guardians had some of the lowest barrel rates in Valaika's time there as well.

The good news is the Reds hitters already excel at barrel rates and hard hit percentages. It's just the strikeouts that are killing them. So if Valaika can find a way to iron out those strikeouts without sacrificing our players' innate power potential, we should be an improved offense next year.

Glad they didn’t go the 2023 Craigslist ad route. Glad they let Tito have his guy. Hoping Chris works some of his magic on these guys, I’m tired of having a line up of sub .250 guys who can’t get em on, get em over, and get em in due to strikeouts and poor plate discipline. I hope they bring back the sac bunt, and I’d absolutely LOVE IT if EDLC could add bunting to his skill set to put more pressure on defenses. Make those panicked pitchers field their position. Let that squatted down catcher have to make panicked throws.