Baseball, at least if its coached properly is different than a sport like football. Take a quarterback, for example. If a new head coach comes in with a new offensive coordinator, there will be a whole new game plan, playbook and perhaps even instructional philosophy and that could really make it hard on a QB. A lot of studying, memorizing and maybe even a change in the way he plays.
In baseball, from what I have seen and heard from Clint Hurdle, he is here to improve. Not change, unless needed.
Hitting-wise, there may be some tweaks here and there to improve a player’s swing, but there will be no cloning like some amateurish instructors like to do. Hurdle will implement a more aggressive style on the base paths but again, that will not be a major adjustment to the offense.
The only real adjustment should be on the pitching side, and that will be a welcome change.
Former pitching coach Joe Kerrigan was a real stickler for information; perhaps way too much information. Information-overload of it. At times, that resulted in making pitchers try to be something and someone that they were not.
Keeping pitching coach Ray Searage was a great move. As Searage said in last month’s PSR, “I cut out a lot of over-information.. .and basically kept it simple…. I wanted to make sure I don’t give pitchers too much information so it overwhelms them.”
He also stated that he expects his starters to go nine innings and throw 120-plus pitches.
Finally! A coach that does not make the game of baseball tougher than it already is!
All in all, I don’t think it will be a hard adjustment at all for this team. I expect to see a more aggressive, fundamentally sound team.
And most importantly, a better playing team.
