Mark McGwire, hitting coach

[Vercingetorix]

Amusing:

The Return of MarkMcGwire - Lookout Landing

[TXVOL07]

Funny how Tony was dropping little lines like "He's still in great shape, He works out still, He's continued to work hard, bla bla bla." He might as well have said, "He's coming back and he's alllllll natural boys."

Its almost like he was trying to prove he wasnt on the juice. Just really strange.

[tclowers23]

McGwire will be a very successful hitting coach.

[Vercingetorix]

Originally Posted by tclowers23

McGwire will be a very successful hitting coach.

If I thought that hitting coaches matter at all, I'd predict that McGwire would be a flop. How does a physical giant who was at one extreme end of the bell curve as a hitter teach the other 99 percent of the guys anything useful? What does McGwire know that would be useful at all to, say, a slap-hitting shortstop? That link I posted, while funny, has it exactly right -- all McGwire did was look for one pitch and yank it down the line with more power than any hitter who probably ever lived. That doesn't seem like a skill which he's going to be able to teach anybody else. It's like hiring Shaquille O'Neal to run a fundamentals basketball camp for middle schoolers.

But since hitting coaches are almost meaningless, he'll be fine.

[tclowers23]

Originally Posted by Vercingetorix

If I thought that hitting coaches matter at all, I'd predict that McGwire would be a flop. How does a physical giant who was at one extreme end of the bell curve as a hitter teach the other 99 percent of the guys anything useful? What does McGwire know that would be useful at all to, say, a slap-hitting shortstop? That link I posted, while funny, has it exactly right -- all McGwire did was look for one pitch and yank it down the line with more power than any hitter who probably ever lived. That doesn't seem like a skill which he's going to be able to teach anybody else. It's like hiring Shaquille O'Neal to run a fundamentals basketball camp for middle schoolers.

But since hitting coaches are almost meaningless, he'll be fine.

Many successful coaches have never excelled at what they teach. It's common knowledge that your ability to coach the game has nothing to do with your ability to play the game.

The attached article speaks of some of the most successful hitting coaches in MLB (Rudy Jamarillo and Charlie Lau), and how they never had much success at the plate.

All else aside, is McGwire qualified to be hitting coach? | Round Two | STLtoday

[615 Vol]

"Alright boys, hold the needle in your left hand as you pull your pants down with your right hand."

[TennCock]

Originally Posted by 615 Vol

"Alright boys, hold the needle in your left hand as you pull your pants down with your right hand."

now that is funny as hell

didn't he have a huge hole in his swing? I don't see how this makes any sense...be like bringing bonds back in that role.

[7thgroupvolfan]

McGwire is steriods, he'll come out one day like Pete Rose and his gambling deal and say he's sorry. Its just so obvious the guy was on it.

[tclowers23]

Originally Posted by TennCock

didn't he have a huge hole in his swing? I don't see how this makes any sense...be like bringing bonds back in that role.

Originally Posted by 7thgroupvolfan

McGwire is steriods, he'll come out one day like Pete Rose and his gambling deal and say he's sorry. Its just so obvious the guy was on it.

These two points have nothing to do with his ability to coach. He's a student of the game, and the hardest worker La Russa has ever coached.

Did McGwire take PEDs? Yeah, I'd guess so. Was McGwire one of the greatest complete hitters of all time? Nope, not even close... but neither was Rudy Jamarillo, and he's been a very successful hitting coach (highest paid hitting coach in the league).

[Vercingetorix]

Originally Posted by tclowers23

Many successful coaches have never excelled at what they teach. It's common knowledge that your ability to coach the game has nothing to do with your ability to play the game.

The attached article speaks of some of the most successful hitting coaches in MLB (Rudy Jamarillo and Charlie Lau), and how they never had much success at the plate.

All else aside, is McGwire qualified to be hitting coach? | Round Two | STLtoday

I think it would be a lot easier to be a coach who never excelled at all in what you're trying to teach than to have been someone who was enormously successful by having an off-the-charts, basically unteachable skill. Gretzky was the smartest hockey player I've ever seen, but he was a crappy coach. Magic Johnson was a crummy basketball coach. Ted Williams was a crummy manager because he was so impatient with how relatively awful ordinary players were. Very, very few stars retire and then turn around to be successful coaches in their sport.

I mean, if you're Tony Gwynn, how do teach people to do what you did? "What's so hard about it? Just see the ball and serve it into right field. No problem."

[tclowers23]

Originally Posted by Vercingetorix

I think it would be a lot easier to be a coach who never excelled at all in what you're trying to teach than to have been someone who was enormously successful by having an off-the-charts, basically unteachable skill. Gretzky was the smartest hockey player I've ever seen, but he was a crappy coach. Magic Johnson was a crummy basketball coach. Ted Williams was a crummy manager because he was so impatient with how relatively awful ordinary players were. Very, very few stars retire and then turn around to be successful coaches in their sport.

I mean, if you're Tony Gwynn, how do teach people to do what you did? "What's so hard about it? Just see the ball and serve it into right field. No problem."

I can understand this argument. However, the precedent isn't strong enough to show this is an insurmountable task for McGwire. At the very least, it should be interesting to see how it all plays out...

[7thgroupvolfan]

Originally Posted by Vercingetorix

I think it would be a lot easier to be a coach who never excelled at all in what you're trying to teach than to have been someone who was enormously successful by having an off-the-charts, basically unteachable skill. Gretzky was the smartest hockey player I've ever seen, but he was a crappy coach. Magic Johnson was a crummy basketball coach. Ted Williams was a crummy manager because he was so impatient with how relatively awful ordinary players were. Very, very few stars retire and then turn around to be successful coaches in their sport.

I mean, if you're Tony Gwynn, how do teach people to do what you did? "What's so hard about it? Just see the ball and serve it into right field. No problem."

I totally agree with this....Gretzky looked pissed his entire head coaching career.

[VOLnVEGAS]

It is just sad how he ended up. He was a solid player, like Bonds, who were already great hitters but wanted more and more. LaRussa aint makin this move just for the hell of it though.

Just dont know why guys with all the money want to leave the house/golfcourse/bar/vacation/kids PTA meetings/ to get back on the grueling MLB schedule as coaches. Seems like the last place you want to be. Maybe he wants everyone to love him again. EGO