Gerald Perry to Be Cubs Hitting Coach

[goonys evil twin]

Looks like the great Paul Sullivan gets scooped again by an out of town paper.

If this is true, that will be the second time in a couple of weeks. They should just fire him now, if it is true.

 

Its somewhat acceptable since it is the SF paper, and he's coming from Oakland. The source is likely local.

 

Either way I hope its true.

 

I don't really understand the point in getting in a huff about guys getting scooped on coaching moves. If Sullivan claimed somebody else got the job, and was wrong, that's one issue. But not being the first to report it? Who cares?

[oldcubsfan]

I'm not in any huff about it. It just continues to show how few contacts he has in the organization. Kind of puts a question mark on his stories without sources, such as his trade rumors and free agent targets.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'm not in any huff about it. It just continues to show how few contacts he has in the organization. Kind of puts a question mark on his stories without sources, such as his trade rumors and free agent targets.

 

Those question marks have been there for years -- getting "scooped" here doesn't really do anything more.

[UK1679666180]

I'm not in any huff about it. It just continues to show how few contacts he has in the organization. Kind of puts a question mark on his stories without sources, such as his trade rumors and free agent targets.

 

You can put question marks on every trade rumor and FA target written by anyone, most of the time they'll be wrong.

[Chocolate Milk]

I'm I overreacting to this by hoping that such considerations (OBP, Strike Zone Discipline) will branch over to player acquisitions? Perhaps this is why we haven't heard much on the Pierre front? Is management finally figuring things out?

[RichHillIsABeast]

I'm I overreacting to this by hoping that such considerations (OBP, Strike Zone Discipline) will branch over to player acquisitions? Perhaps this is why we haven't heard much on the Pierre front? Is management finally figuring things out?

 

Even Muskat slammed Pierre the other day, citing his .330 OBP. Miles has said the light is slowly going on over there, but if Muskat is using OBP, rest assured that it came from Hendry or someone higher up that spoonfed her baseball knowledge.

[Andy]

Things are changing quickly with this team, and I'm loving it.

[RyCubsFan]

Good news!

[WrigleyField 22]

I'm I overreacting to this by hoping that such considerations (OBP, Strike Zone Discipline) will branch over to player acquisitions? Perhaps this is why we haven't heard much on the Pierre front? Is management finally figuring things out?

 

Even Muskat slammed Pierre the other day, citing his .330 OBP. Miles has said the light is slowly going on over there, but if Muskat is using OBP, rest assured that it came from Hendry or someone higher up that spoonfed her baseball knowledge.

 

:shock:

 

I don't believe it.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Sounds great. Swinging at pitches in the zone also means swinging at pitches that can be hit hard. Not only could this help with OBP but it could also help with SLG.

 

But it might increase strikeouts, which is the worst possible thing in the world. It would totally offset any increase in OPS, or runs scored for that matter.

 

How would it increase strikeouts? You're much less likely to K on pitches in the zone than you are out of the zone, well, unless you're a freak like Vlad Guerrero.

 

Being more selective and swinging at pitches in the zone means you take more strikes, which means you end up with two strikes more often, which leads to more K's.

[Rob]

I'm I overreacting to this by hoping that such considerations (OBP, Strike Zone Discipline) will branch over to player acquisitions? Perhaps this is why we haven't heard much on the Pierre front? Is management finally figuring things out?

 

I'm still not convinced.

 

Don't get me wrong, i am still very happy about this hiring, but something about it stinks to me.

 

I guess I just expect this to be it. I think this is Hendry's way of addressing the problem... just to slap a band-aid on a severed limb. I have the strangest feeling Hendry thinks that Perry can fix the problem in one year, and not realizing that plate discipline is every bit as much part of the player as it is a coaching staff.

 

Izturis isn't going to turn into Jack Cust all of a sudden.

 

Or maybe I'm just overly jaded... I guess only time will tell. But Hendry needs to continue to pursue a more plate discipline oriented team, not figure that "this should cover me."

[goonys evil twin]

I'm I overreacting to this by hoping that such considerations (OBP, Strike Zone Discipline) will branch over to player acquisitions? Perhaps this is why we haven't heard much on the Pierre front? Is management finally figuring things out?

 

I'm still not convinced.

 

Don't get me wrong, i am still very happy about this hiring, but something about it stinks to me.

 

I guess I just expect this to be it. I think this is Hendry's way of addressing the problem... just to slap a band-aid on a severed limb. I have the strangest feeling Hendry thinks that Perry can fix the problem in one year, and not realizing that plate discipline is every bit as much part of the player as it is a coaching staff.

 

Izturis isn't going to turn into Jack Cust all of a sudden.

 

Or maybe I'm just overly jaded... I guess only time will tell. But Hendry needs to continue to pursue a more plate discipline oriented team, not figure that "this should cover me."

 

That's a realistic concern. But having him even address the issue, apparantly, is such a revelation, that I'd hold out hope.

[YearofDaCubs]

The more I read on Perry, the more I like him. I think it's clear that Piniella's staff is going to be more prepared and hard-working than the previous regime.

Absolutely. It can't get any worse than Baker and his regime.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Definitely love this signing.

 

Nice thing to see...a signing that puts this org. in the right direction.

 

Now lets see what else Hendry does, cause this is hopefully just one good move among many.

[TruffleShuffle]

Seems like a pretty good move, and it also seems like the Cubs are starting to bring in some people who actually are proponents of going to the plate with a plan in mind. I'm cautiously optimistic... cautious because this is the Cubs, after all.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Definitely a good signing.

[A New Era]

I'm I overreacting to this by hoping that such considerations (OBP, Strike Zone Discipline) will branch over to player acquisitions? Perhaps this is why we haven't heard much on the Pierre front? Is management finally figuring things out?

 

Maybe MCDUNNOUGH is listening to fans. When he went on Radio interview with WGN he said he listened to their show. He is a smart man while not a baseball man he said he knows what he doesn't know. I think he is coming into this wanting to be much more receptive and he probably hears the fans and the media about OBP. And realizes it's a good idea to address it.

[Southpaw191679666239]

It's official per RotoWorld...

[Shilzzz]

holy carp! :shock: :o :D :idea:

[snoodmonger]

Lou wasn't my first choice, but so far I really like this coaching staff, though the grim spectre of rothschild looming over our staff still makes me uneasy.

[Shilzzz]

Lou wasn't my first choice, but so far I really like this coaching staff, though the grim spectre of rothschild looming over our staff still makes me uneasy.

 

well hopefully it was dick pole and dusty overshadowing what rothschild actually brings to the table, we shall see.

[MembersOnlyJacket]

A surprisingly good addition to the Cubs coaching staff. It's nice to hear the Cubs have gone after someone who's promoted success in the right areas and has a track record of success. During Perry's tenure in Seattle, the M's were either 1 or 2 in walks.

 

Of course, you still have to get players who are zone/discipline hitters at the plate.

Edited November 9, 2006 by MembersOnlyJacket

[Magnetic Curses]

Sounds great. Swinging at pitches in the zone also means swinging at pitches that can be hit hard. Not only could this help with OBP but it could also help with SLG.

 

i am very happy with this signing. what an amazing switch in philosophy.

 

nobody that i know has ever advocated going up there looking for a walk. it's exactly like perry says, shrink the strike zone, look for a pitch in that area. if the pitch is borderline, don't swing, even if you have two strikes. the likelihood that a hitter is going to get a good swing on a questionable pitch is poor anyway, unless the hitter is pujols, vlad, or aram.

[rawaction]

I like the move. Under the radar, but a solid hitting coach from all accounts. I like that he is young (46) and will likely even evolve as a coach in the next few years.

 

Some of his successes.

 

Jason Kendall. Kendall had some great season before Perry came along to Pittsburgh, but was coming off of 2 career worse seasons in 01-02. In 03-04 under Perry, Kendall again had great seasons with a .399 OBP in both. 2005, in Oakland, without Perry, Kendall again had a horrible year. This year, he was back at being a .295/.367 OBP hitter. Eric Chavez, Bradley, and Nick Swisher, while already having solid batting eyes each had huge jumps from their 05 numbers in BB/PA. Chavez and Bradley had the 2nd most patient years of their careers.

 

For the record, he only coached Aramis for 1/2 a season until he was traded to the Cubs.

 

I hope he can get Aramis to get more selective. I hope can get Jones back to his 05 patience numbers. Most importantly, I hope he can help the young players, who are coming to the big leagues with Joshua's great coaching keep what they have been taught in the minors and carry it over to big league success.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Cubs got a decent coach, terrific! I'm sure he'll turn Izturis, Cedeno, Jones and all the other stiffs on the Cubs into instant hitting machines.

 

Cubs need good PLAYERS, not coaches (though on its own Perry seems like a fine choice).