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Tom McCraw

Edgy DC Jul 26 2010 08:37 AM

The more I think about it, the more I think the most likely to be absent tomorrow is Howard Johnson. Thinking about the most likely replacements, I recalled Tom McCraw had been back in the system (at least he was earlier in the year) as a minor league instructor, and perhaps he was the most likely replacement. What do you remember about McCraw? Is he too old to return to a big league dugout? Would you appreciate such a replacement (for itself, even though it may well not be enough)? Downside: Tom coached some poo-poo Mets teams from 1992 to 1996. Upside: But that meant bringing Jeff Kent, Todd Hundley, Butch Huskey, Edgardo Alfonzo... Downside: Don't give me Huskey. And Hundley was on drugs. DRUGS! Upside: Never had three players broken through for surprise batting seasons, like Lance Johnson, Bernard Gilkey, and Todd Hundley in 1996. Downside: I told you about Hundley. Are you really suggesting returning to a Dallas Green coach has a chance to be a progressive move?? Upside: No, I'm just looking at who may be available right now. That naturally leads a guy to focus on somebody within the system who has major leauge experience. How about Jose Vizcaino? He was really coming along. Downnside: How about Carl Everett?

MFS62 Jul 26 2010 09:00 AM Re: Tom McCraw

No, age should not be a factor. The Mets employed Al Jackson as a minor league pitching instructor well into his 60s. A hitting coach should be like a business consultant. The job is to: Identify the problem determine the root cause of the problem identify a few possible solutions to the problem select the one most proper for the situation (it may be something minor) communicate it clearly work with the client to implement it. Hitting coaches aren't always teachers of a particular approach (although Charlie Lau had some success doing this). Hitting coaches aren't always the best hitters. If someone asked Ted Williams how to become a better hitter, I'd bet he would have said "read my fucking book". But I doubt he would have had the patience to work with anyone beyond that. Now we get to Howard Johnson. The players say he is "working hard". I've heard he spends a lot of time viewing films, going over them to determine the problems, and identifying what might be wrong in a hitter's swing. So the question comes down to is he identifying the correct solution and is he communicating it properly. Finally, are the hitters listening, or are they comfortable with what he is suggesting? My vote is for the communicator who can make the hitters comfortable. And age should not be a factor. Later

John Cougar Lunchbucket Jul 26 2010 09:13 AM Re: Tom McCraw

My sense has always been that Hojo is more or less a well-meaning guy but hardly the Rick Peterson of hitting. He's there for his service in getting Wright up and because its good for the Mets to employ as many 86ers as possible. Word is their minor league hitting guy, Lamar Johnson, would be the guy to replace Hojo when he's whacked. That's nice since they wouldn't have to change nameplates in the locker room or stitch new unis.

TransMonk Jul 26 2010 09:27 AM Re: Tom McCraw

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: That's nice since they wouldn't have to change nameplates in the locker room or stitch new unis. That made me smile.

Edgy DC Jul 26 2010 09:46 AM Re: Tom McCraw

I went and checked, and McCraw has about as positive a set of memories in the UMDBas one can hope for. I just want some focus on patience. Looking back at the Valentine era, even wehen folks weren'thitting, guys like Alfonzo and Olerud were getting on base for 45-55 games in a row, and Piazza and Ventura were getting RBI opportunities every time up.