Impact of Gerald Perry

[David]

Now that we're getting ever closer to the start of the season, I wanted to revisit something that was being discussed early in the offseason.

 

The Cubs, obviously, hired a whole new coaching staff (for the most part) this offseason. Among them was the new hitting coach, Gerald Perry. Perry is a guy who is known to preach a patient but aggressive style at the plate. If I remember correctly, he teaches guys to wait, not just for strikes, but for pitches in the areas of the zone where they feel they can hit them and hit them hard. To me, this is the ideal approach. For the most part, don't even attempt to make contact unless you can drive the ball hard somewhere.

 

His teams have historically been pretty good in terms of OBP. Whether this is a function of the personell he had dealt with or his coaching is open to debate. I'd imagine that it's some combination of the two.

 

Anyway, this is a refreshingly different approach from what the Cubs' coaching staffs have been preaching for the last few years. What kind of impact do you guys think he might have on the team? Will it be noticeable from the start? Will it take a while for his impact to be felt? Will there be no effect at all?

 

Just something I thought would be interesting to discuss.

 

I think, for the most part, we have some hitters who are willing to be pretty patient (Lee, Barrett, & Murton most notably) and some other good hitters who haven't been that patient but are just good, powerful hitters and might become even better with the right approach (Aramis, Soriano). That being the case, I think we might see more of an improvement offensively than any of us are expecting if the new philosophy really takes.

Edited February 16, 2007 by David

[goonys evil twin]

After years of placing 14th, 14th, 16th and 16th in bases on balls among NL teams, if the Cubs somehow land in the top 10, I'd give him a ton of credit. Especially since the most notable offensive upgrade was a non-walker. And if they somehow make the top half of the league in walks taken, I'd predict the offense would win up being top 2 or 3 in the league overall, and the team could flirt with 90 wins.

[Danny82]

Honestly, of all the additions to the coaching staff, I am most excited about Perry.

[David]

After years of placing 14th, 14th, 16th and 16th in bases on balls among NL teams, if the Cubs somehow land in the top 10, I'd give him a ton of credit. Especially since the most notable offensive upgrade was a non-walker. And if they somehow make the top half of the league in walks taken, I'd predict the offense would win up being top 2 or 3 in the league overall, and the team could flirt with 90 wins.

 

Didn't he lead a turnaround somewhat like that with Pittsburgh's offense? Maybe I'm remembering wrong. It's been so long since all those hires were made and all the fluff pieces were coming out.

 

At the very least, it has to be cause for optimism that you're going from a coach/staff preaching quite possibly one of the worst approaches at the plate imaginable, to a guy who seems to "get it" pretty well.

[Balsa]

Honestly, of all the additions to the coaching staff, I am most excited about Perry.

Me as well. I think he offers the best option for improvement, although I am excited about our pitchers being used better.

[cubweiser03]

Aramis. He's the one with the most to benefit. He's got the skills to improve at the plate with good coaching. Aramis could define Perry's success.

[David]

Aramis. He's the one with the most to benefit. He's got the skills to improve at the plate with good coaching. Aramis could define Perry's success.

 

I can't disagree.

 

Remember what Pentland did for Sammy? Whether you think he was on the roids or not, there was a definite change in Sammy's approach in 98 and after.

 

That said, Aramis is further along at this point in his career than pre-98 Sammy, and I think he's already closer to his ceiling, so I don't expect an insane jump in his numbers.

 

Soriano is also a guy who could benefit from the right approach.

[CuseCubFan69]

The players are going to have to be receptive to what Perry says too and I'm not so sure all of them will be. It's very very hard to teach an old dog a new trick at the MLB level.

[Balsa]

I was thinking that Jacque Jones could really benefit as well. Him and Cedeno.

[cubweiser03]

Aramis. He's the one with the most to benefit. He's got the skills to improve at the plate with good coaching. Aramis could define Perry's success.

 

I can't disagree.

 

Remember what Pentland did for Sammy? Whether you think he was on the roids or not, there was a definite change in Sammy's approach in 98 and after.

 

That said, Aramis is further along at this point in his career than pre-98 Sammy, and I think he's already closer to his ceiling, so I don't expect an insane jump in his numbers.

 

Soriano is also a guy who could benefit from the right approach.

 

There is no reason Aramis shouldnt have an OBP around .375

Yeah, Soriano needs to layoff the curve balls away and out of the zone like sammy finally did. Recognize quicker.

 

Aramis needs to wait for his pitch more and see more pitches, Soriano needs to stop chasing bad balls.

[goonys evil twin]

The players are going to have to be receptive to what Perry says too and I'm not so sure all of them will be. It's very very hard to teach an old dog a new trick at the MLB level.

 

Different guys will obviously react differently. Jones is the closest thing the Cubs have to an old dog, and I don't see him learning new tricks. Lee doesn't really need any reform. Ramirez might receive a slight boost, but I don't see him being receptive to any major changes. And really, he doesn't need them. Soriano probably won't be any different than he's always been. But Murton could flourish under a guy like this. And this could be the best option for major league hitting coach you could get for a guy like Pie, if/when he ever gets the call.

[Jehrico]

I was thinking that Jacque Jones could really benefit as well. Him and Cedeno.

A lot of people have written off Cedeno. I'd really like to see him get time over Izturdis and see if someone teaching him a little patience can turn him back around.

[cubweiser03]

I was thinking that Jacque Jones could really benefit as well. Him and Cedeno.

 

For Jacque, Gorilla Glue his bat to his shoulder and throw sliders down and in all day.

[David]

I was thinking that Jacque Jones could really benefit as well. Him and Cedeno.

 

For Jacque, Gorilla Glue his bat to his shoulder and throw sliders down and in all day.

 

I had almost forgotten about that. I can't imagine why anyone would attack him with anything other than a slider low and in.

[CuseCubFan69]

The players are going to have to be receptive to what Perry says too and I'm not so sure all of them will be. It's very very hard to teach an old dog a new trick at the MLB level.

 

Different guys will obviously react differently. Jones is the closest thing the Cubs have to an old dog, and I don't see him learning new tricks. Lee doesn't really need any reform. Ramirez might receive a slight boost, but I don't see him being receptive to any major changes. And really, he doesn't need them. Soriano probably won't be any different than he's always been. But Murton could flourish under a guy like this. And this could be the best option for major league hitting coach you could get for a guy like Pie, if/when he ever gets the call.

 

I think Perry will validate Murtons theory and technique in hitting and I agree this may give him a boost. Pie would definately be helped and with Perry being a lefty it may even help more. Hopefully guys like Jones and Soriano will pick up something and I agree, I don't expect them to change either. I'm curious on how this would effect Barrett. I think he's made a lot of good strides in hitting and I'm not sure he'll change much if at all. IMO it really depends on how good of a communicater/salesman Perry is.

[Guest]

The players are going to have to be receptive to what Perry says too and I'm not so sure all of them will be. It's very very hard to teach an old dog a new trick at the MLB level.

 

Different guys will obviously react differently. Jones is the closest thing the Cubs have to an old dog, and I don't see him learning new tricks. Lee doesn't really need any reform. Ramirez might receive a slight boost, but I don't see him being receptive to any major changes. And really, he doesn't need them. Soriano probably won't be any different than he's always been. But Murton could flourish under a guy like this. And this could be the best option for major league hitting coach you could get for a guy like Pie, if/when he ever gets the call.

 

I think Perry will validate Murtons theory and technique in hitting and I agree this may give him a boost. Pie would definately be helped and with Perry being a lefty it may even help more. Hopefully guys like Jones and Soriano will pick up something and I agree, I don't expect them to change either. I'm curious on how this would effect Barrett. I think he's made a lot of good strides in hitting and I'm not sure he'll change much if at all. IMO it really depends on how good of a communicater/salesman Perry is.

 

I think Jones could benefit more than anyone but I agree he likely won't change. At least no one will be trying to teach the opposite approach. That alone is a big benefit.

 

what might really make a difference is getting some guys in the minors that teach some patience.

[cubweiser03]

Jones did have a nice little spike in OBP/IsoD the last 2 months. All hope may not be lost. Edited February 16, 2007 by cubweiser03

[b_wiggy_66]

I think he is a great addition. I really hope he can help Izturis and DeRosa get on base more. The best tools they could both bring to the lineup would be the ability to get on base more. Especially DeRosa since he is projected to be the number two hitter right now.

[Laura]

I am definitely looking forward to different management/coaching styles and philosophies this season.

[CuseCubFan69]

The players are going to have to be receptive to what Perry says too and I'm not so sure all of them will be. It's very very hard to teach an old dog a new trick at the MLB level.

 

Different guys will obviously react differently. Jones is the closest thing the Cubs have to an old dog, and I don't see him learning new tricks. Lee doesn't really need any reform. Ramirez might receive a slight boost, but I don't see him being receptive to any major changes. And really, he doesn't need them. Soriano probably won't be any different than he's always been. But Murton could flourish under a guy like this. And this could be the best option for major league hitting coach you could get for a guy like Pie, if/when he ever gets the call.

 

I think Perry will validate Murtons theory and technique in hitting and I agree this may give him a boost. Pie would definately be helped and with Perry being a lefty it may even help more. Hopefully guys like Jones and Soriano will pick up something and I agree, I don't expect them to change either. I'm curious on how this would effect Barrett. I think he's made a lot of good strides in hitting and I'm not sure he'll change much if at all. IMO it really depends on how good of a communicater/salesman Perry is.

 

I think Jones could benefit more than anyone but I agree he likely won't change. At least no one will be trying to teach the opposite approach. That alone is a big benefit.

 

what might really make a difference is getting some guys in the minors that teach some patience.

 

You know even at my level, which is JV, it's incredibly hard to get kids to adapt to a new approach, especially if they have had success in the past and we know these guys have all had success at the previous levels to be able to get where they are. The Varsity coach and myself were talking about this just the other day, trying to reach kids at a younger age because they learn so many bad habits and continue them until they get to us. From what I've heard Joshua does a very nice job with the yonger guys and if he does his thing and Perry does his, maybe something really good can come out of this but I'm not looking to see any drastic difference for 2007.

[Amazing_Grace]

I don't know how much of an impact a hitting coach, or any coach, can have on a team that's made of mostly developed players in the middle to late stages of their careers. Picking players is the task of the GM and our GM does not value OBP or the walk.

 

I think the younger guys, Theriot, Cedeno, Murton, Pagan, maybe even Barrett, might benefit from him. I doubt he'll have much impact on Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Floyd but really those guys don't need the help. I doubt he'll be able to fix Jones or Izturis, the former because I think he's too far gone and the latter because he doesn't have any offensive talent to work with.

 

If the Cubs crack the top 10 in the NL in OBP this season, I'll be surprised. We're really the same team as last year plus Soriano and minus Pierre. There's some improvement there, but I don't know how much. Of course, if our players stay healthier this year, that would be an improvement too, but that's true of any team in any season. A full season of Lee will be a bigger gain than Soriano over Pierre.

[goonys evil twin]

If the Cubs crack the top 10 in the NL in OBP this season, I'll be surprised.

 

I wouldn't be that surprised with top 10 in OBP. I would be with top 10 in walks. The team is a good hitting for average team. And they could lead the league in that stat. It wouldn't take an enormous increase in walks to crack the top 10 in OBP.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I am happy about Perry's addition. He was an excellent choice. Hopefully, the players listen to his tuteledge.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

One thing I didn't know until after we hired Piniella was that he was a hitting coach himself, and apparently one that was pretty manic about improving his players. I'm anxious to see how those two in tandem impact our bats.

[moorecg]

If the Cubs crack the top 10 in the NL in OBP this season, I'll be surprised.

 

I wouldn't be that surprised with top 10 in OBP. I would be with top 10 in walks. The team is a good hitting for average team. And they could lead the league in that stat. It wouldn't take an enormous increase in walks to crack the top 10 in OBP.

 

And unfortunatly, cracking the top 10 in the NL doesn't even put us in the top 1/2 of the league. If we could sneek into the top 6-8 and be "above average" in OBP, we'd have something going.