The new Dodgers management has built a team that can win. But have they built a coaching staff that can help the players win?
I went to the game last night, April 16. Windy night, wind blowing left to right. And cold. Nothing's going out tonight. But the Dodgers swing for the fences. Ten high fly balls to the outfield, only one with a chance to go out. It was caught, just like all the others. Not one line drive up the middle. Just four hits in all: a bouncer up the third base line, a bouncer between second and shortstop, a blooper into shallow left-center and a low line drive up the first base line.
Good hits, those four, but not enough to win ballgames.
Dodgers' primary hitting coach is Mark McGwire. Yes, the Mark McGwire who intentionally swung for the fences and surpassed Roger Maris' record of 61 homeruns in a single season.
Steroid Mark McGwire.
Steroids weren't illegal when he set his record, so his record stands. But they are now. So maybe hitters should go back to the tried and true way to hit: line drives up the middle. But is McGwire telling them that? He relied on performance enhancing drugs. Can he coach in an era that doesn't allow their use?
And the Dodgers had to go to the bullpen early when starter Chris Capuano injured his leg covering first base. And the Dodger relief pitchers don't seem to know how to take charge of the game.
Dodger pitching coach Rick Honeycutt didn't always seem to know that either. He nibbled around the strike zone, throwing balls, until he had to throw a strike and then the batter hit it.
Same thing last night.
Padres received one walk, one hit-by-pitch and got ten hits off the Dodger relief corps.
Can Honeycutt really coach in the modern era?
Just wondering....
