Loading ...This weekend, we had a post on Homer Bailey. He credits the return of his outstanding velocity to a workout with the pitching coach at the University of Texas (Bailey visited him on the advice of his agent, not the Reds). Within three pitches, Bailey’s velocity was back.
The problem was one-hundred percent mechanics, Bailey says.
Many of you had the same reaction: why are the Reds paying pitching coaches if they couldn’t detect this flaw? Isn’t this Dick Pole’s job? Then why isn’t he doing his job?
Also, remember earlier this summer when Bailey started pitching awesome at Louisville, and everyone (Bailey included) credited the improvement to a splitter taught to him by fellow pitcher Justin Lehr. Not only didn’t the Reds pitching coaches teach Bailey the splitter, the Reds expressly forbid Bailey to throw it.
Then, of course, we have the continuing saga of Mario Soto, who is brought in regularly to teach Edinson Volquez and Johnny Cueto.
You tell me: should every pitching coach who has worked with Bailey over the last two years be fired immediately? Wouldn’t the Reds be better off with this college coach, or Soto, as pitching coach in 2010?
I have been in favor of Soto being the pitching coach for awhile. He’s been used as the changeup specialist. I’d rather him be on full time. Why hasn’t Soto worked with Bailey on his change?
I had same reaction (and have all season) as reported in paragraph 3.
To answer the questions posed in the last paragraph, it would be “He!! yes”, and “anybody would be better, maybe even Justin Lehr!”
There isn’t a single thing that’s wrong with this organization that can’t be attributed to the lack of progressive thought when it comes to instruction, game management, the draft, and moving players to different positions.
They’re always late to the party on every account. I hate the fact that the loyal readers of this site can identify a situation weeks ahead of management.
hire the college coach and make queto and volquez learn english so they can understand him.
Not so much in favor of the “learn english” comment. Anyway, I’ve always wondered about the longevity of Dick Pole. Upon what evidence in the last decade has he any superior work that keeps in him in regime after regime? It defies the odds that after so many managers he continues on. I see in the newest thread that Duncan may be available. All for that.
Justin Lehr, is VERY knowledgeable in ALL aspects of baseball; not only pitching. He was all league catcher at UCSanta Barbara in tough big west league. Has been a winner all of his career, including winter ball, Mexico etc. I would like to see him, now that he finally got a shot to show his wares in MLB, become a full time coach with Reds AFTER his playing days are up. He has alot of passion to go with his knowledge. He could teach ALL of the Reds players a thing or two, and Reds would improve alot. Coaching IS very important; especially to the younger guys.
Mike
In agreement about the English comment, Matt. Plus, the coach is from Texas. He may already be conversant in Spanish.
To the purpose of the post: Conspiracy theory: Could it be that by giving credit to coaches and players outside your program for your development sends the word passive-aggressively that the current powers are not performing adequately? If this is the case, then you may see some credit given to other coaches by some of Bailey’s esteemed colleagues soon.
Does this mean that Bailey is still more of a thrower than a pitcher? I’m not saying that is good or bad. At his age, he can be a thrower.
For years, it seems the Reds direction for Bailey in the minors has been to throw his other pitches. If he’s had a good games, it was sometimes portrayed negatively by the organization because he did it too much with his fastball.
This has been going on since before Pole arrived.
Volquez already speaks English fluently.
But Bailey’s travails this season certainly don’t do much to recommend Pole coming back next year. I doubt Soto, UT’s pitching coach or Justin Lehr are the answer (and no chance does Dave Duncan leave St. Louis), but something obviously isn’t working with our current guy. Seems like all the pitchers have taken little jabs at him through the media.
Give me a break. Who knows exactly why Bailey is pitching better. It probably is a combination of a number of things. If the splitter was the answer, why isn’t he throwing it? This latest tweak from the UT pitching coach may or may not have been an answer. It could be the power of positive suggestion or something else. Bailey himself said it was so subtle that he didn’t even know what is was. What we do know is that Bailey has been pitching better lately. I think it was almost inevitable as he matures and learns more how to pitch hitters and I have been saying so consistently. Young pitchers are usually inconsistent. They get better as they get more consistent. If they can get more consistent. Bailey seems headed in that direction. Has Pole been no part of that? How do you really know? Bailey probably will still have some ups and downs. It was just a few short months ago that people on this blog were calling for the Reds to get rid of Bailey. Now they want to get rid of Pole.
I don’t know if Dick Pole is a good pitching coach or not. But this kind of evidence is not really compelling. I do know that Volquez was very good last year after a long period with other pitching coaches of being ineffective. Was that Pole’s doing. Maybe. But again it is only one piece of evidence.
I do know that I don’t trust Dusty or Jocketty to know whether Pole is doing a good job or not. And the way Dusty handles pitches does not help.
“When the end of the world comes, I want to be in Cincinnati because it’s always twenty years behind the times.” -Mark Twain
My guess is that Mr. C and WJ have chalked this season’s failures up to injuries. With Dusty coming back, any coach that is not back next year will be because Dusty doesn’t want him back. It will be left up to Dusty to determine if a coach is doing a good job or not…Ugh!
RedBlooded – You touch on something here that is of particular interest. Is Bailey’s problem mental? He got a new pitch that he throws on occassion and owns AAA. He goes to UT and “re-learns” velocity? He has dominated his last two starts. Is he learning to become a better pitcher or does he think he is a better pitcher after and so he pitches better?
I think time has run out on the Homer Bailey experiment. He will never be a good pitcher.
Trade him for Jermaine Dye while he still has value! :p
Every pitcher’s issue is mental. I don’t think Homer’s is any more mental or less mental than the average pitcher. The fact is you get to watch more of the learning curve with a high school draftee. Homer is getting better and better. If you don’t like watching the process, just don’t watch. You need patience with young pitchers. You lose patience with promising young pitchers at your peril. I’m glad to see that you have stayed consistent, Steve. You can slam Homer even when he is going well. I admire that.
regarding the paragraph about firing all the pitching coaches, i would say not the ones in the minors. I can imagine they were following orders from high above about Homer, on what he can throw and how he throws it. So thats on the organization and whoever advises on the pitching. Regarding Dick Pole, not sure about him and his influence, did he help Masset/Burton emerge the last 2 years? yet on the other hand, Soto seems to be the contact for Edison/Cueto. As mentioned earlier, you dont read too many quotes from the Reds staff about Pole helping them get out of a rough stretch.
Redblooded…I hope you were being sarcastic in comment 16…for I was sarcastic in comment 14.
It would be hard to find a bigger Homer supporter on this blog than me…I’ve been slamming how Reds management has been handling him all year…
ANYBODY would be better than Dick Pole. Give me Ted Power, Mario Soto, UT’s coach, Lehr, Chad Dotson, Steve Price, Tom Browning, literally Anybody but Pole.
What was it that Jim Bouton wrote that Gary Bell used to always tell the Seattle Pilots pitchers in “Ball Four?”
I remember the manager always suggested they go “pound some Budweiser” after the game.
what was the Bell quote?
I found it…
“smoke’em inside”
Sorry, Steve, I did miss that you were being sarcastic. Sorry about that. I’m glad you clued me in. Pretty cute actually. I was really worried there for a moment that there was somebody who still wants to slam Bailey when he’s up. Yes, my comment above about admiring that was meant to be sarcastic.