So-to-be Ex-Mets Hitting Coach Howard Johnson?
It took the Yankees 3 days after they lost to the Rangers to fire their Pitching Coach. Dave Eiland is out of a job and according to Brian Cashmen, it was not due to the performances of the Yankee Pitching Staff during the playoffs. He is not the scape goat. Whether he is or not, this decisive move shows that the Yankees are already making improvements and changes.
So here’s my question, I think Howard Johnson is a partial scapegoat for the Mets’ offense this year. GM or no GM, why is he still around? I know the Wilpons have a soft spot for Met alumni but is there a reason why HoJo is still collecting a check?
Please, please don’t tell me that if Wally Backman becomes the manager that HoJo stays.
Please.
21 comments
rustyjr
10/26/2010-9:05am at 9:05 am (UTC -4)
He will more than likely be reassigned within the organization Eiland has no previous ties to the Yankees org as a beloved player
metsfan4decades
10/26/2010-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
If statements made at the Wilpons press conference are to be believed, HoJo is going to be collecting a Met pay check whether or not he continues to be hitting coach.
I don’t think you can compare the Mets with the Yankees right now. Yankees didn’t fire their GM and they’re extending their managers contract.
I expected the Wilpons to either fire all the coaches at the end of the season or just Jerry, as they did. I’d have to assume the new GM and manager will then decide who stays/goes from the coaching staff.
That being said, IMO HoJo cannot be the hitting coach going forward.
stickguy
10/26/2010-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
Hojo, the guy that if he could have gotten a bunt down, then Buckner would not be remembered by anyone?
I agree with Rusty on this. Wilpons seem to love him, so they will find something for him to do. Maybe roving goodwill embassador? But hard to see him back on the coaching staff, especially if the new manager gets to pick coaches!
Ceetar
10/26/2010-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
No one’s back on the coaching staff. But the manager and GM will pick those, so they’re not explicitely ‘out’ yet. The Wilpons aren’t picking the coaches, therefore there is no one around to actually “fire” them.
stickguy
10/26/2010-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
I think coaches contracts usually run until 11/1, right? Plus they are only 1 year at a time.
So basically you can do nothing, and come Nov. 1st, they just don’t work for you anymore.
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-9:38am at 9:38 am (UTC -4)
Is that a 1990 Topps card or an 1989? I hated that style. Granted it was better than the 1987 wood veneer look…
TRS86
10/26/2010-9:52am at 9:52 am (UTC -4)
There is a chance that if Wally is hired then Hojo is on the coaching staff. I have no idea how friendly their relationship is but it’s entirely possible. Hopefully it will not be as hitting coach.
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-10:05am at 10:05 am (UTC -4)
Stick him at 1st base. Even Razor Shines couldn’t hurt the team standing there, yelling “BACK!!!” occasionally and holding the teams batting gloves and protective armor.
fongy2
10/26/2010-10:52am at 10:52 am (UTC -4)
Agreed!…Plus Hojo was a good baserunner and stealer.
fongy2
10/26/2010-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
Rudy Jaramillo, Rudy Jaramillo, Rudy Jaramillo, Rudy Jaramillo,
Rudy Jaramillo, Rudy Jaramillo, Rudy Jaramillo, Rudy Jaramillo,
Rudy Jaramillo……Thats all we’ve heard….For years now…….
The best hitting coach in baseball…..By far!!!……..
How oh, how could Texas live w/o him???…..And to be replaced
by that failed player/coach/manager Clint Hurdle……..
Yeah…..Ask The Rangers AND The Cubbies how THAT worked out
for them!….Hitting Coaches make almost no diff with veteran MLB
players.
TRS86
10/26/2010-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
I will not say that they make NO difference but I am sure that the older the player the less difference they make.
fongy2
10/26/2010-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
I said “Almost no difference”.
Ceetar
10/26/2010-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
and yet teams continually employ them. odd.
TRS86
10/26/2010-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
I think it’s possible that the hitting coach’s main role besides working with the young players is scouting the other team and coming up with a plan of attack. I am not sure how much effect they have on a guy like Jason Bay’s mechanics, although I am sure another eye can sometimes help, as much as they do getting them mentally prepared for the game.
fongy2
10/26/2010-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
Hire Milt Thompson…..He’s got to know The Phillie hitters.
Ceetar
10/26/2010-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
Scouting is a huge deal though. That plan of attack is the whole game, swinging at first pitches, or not. etc. The scouts do all the work but it’s the hitting coaches job to read the scouting report and translate it to a game plan for the hitters. Veterans or not, if a pitcher’s a nibbler and it makes sense to work counts, if the coach doesn’t direct the game plan, Reyes and Castillo may take 6 pitches each but then Beltran may choose to be aggressive and swing first pitch, negating the philosophy.
It’s not something that’s easily quantifiable, but I’m sure it helps.
that ‘fresh’ eye is important too. other coaches/managers have other things to worry about, but a hitting coach can focus on the hitting. Say pitchers start throwing inside on 1-0 to Wright. It’s the coaches job to notice that trend and alert David to it. Obviously it’s David’s job as well, but the coach can focus on things like that beacuse he’s not actually in the box trying to hit it.
njstuckintx
10/26/2010-10:55am at 10:55 am (UTC -4)
As sleep deprived as I am, my mind has been wandering. I put the correlation of Hojo to the Met’s Museum. You think that it’s an overcompensation thing by making sure that there is a tie to olden days of Glory by keeping a Hojo on the team? I’m sure that’s what gives Backman an inside track.
I would just hope that Sandy (GM to be) would be able to look with untinted glasses and put the right people in the right places, regardless of former team affiliation.
GravediggerHebner
10/26/2010-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
He’s still around because right now the team is a headless horseman and I wouldn’t expect them to officially retain or release anyone unless, as is the case with Takahashi and I think maybe Reyes, they are forced to by contract language.
fongy2
10/26/2010-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
Also, unlike say Ollie Hojo has been a good soldier….See: The Rickey hiring, his mentoring of Wright and solid yrs of service
as a player when he was moved from 3B to SS to CF back to SS
then 3B etc….AND his yrs as a Coach and Mgr in the minors.
wannybackstra
10/26/2010-11:43am at 11:43 am (UTC -4)
Who does Gonzo propose should be the one to make the decision on Hojo?
TRS86
10/26/2010-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
Same one that made the decision on Omar and Jerry?