According to multiple reports, it appears as if the Braves are narrowing their list of potential hitting coaches and could make a decision in the next few days. Former Marlins hitting coach Jim Presley was named a finalist for the open spot earlier today, but the Braves will interview at least one or two more candidates before making a decision. Presley played seven seasons in the Major Leagues and even spent the 1990 season in Atlanta. He was an All-Star in 1986, but not too much became of his career after that.
Presley was named the Marlins hitting coach in December of 2005 and served three and a half seasons in Florida before being fired this past summer. It's certainly tough to gage the Marlins offense under Presley as a good majority of us only watched them sparingly, but it's safe to say that the Marlins certainly had a solid offense during Presley's tenure.
As you read above, the Braves will at least interview "one or two more candidates" before making a decision. We haven't heard who any of these other candidates are, but I'm sure we'll know in the very short future. It is safe to say that Don Baylor (who I had seen mentioned multiple times as a possible replacement for Terry Pendleton) won't be named our hitting coach, as he took the job in Arizona with the DBacks.
More to come in the upcoming days as the Braves look to complete their coaching staff.
(H/T: ROBravo for originally posting the story.)
0 recs | 46 comments
Whats with all the ex-Marlins?
conspiracy anyone?
saipol - October 26, 2010
Kind of a slow day if you ask me...
Scott Coleman - October 26, 2010 via mobile
Julio Franco
I know this a non-conventional choice, but I feel Julio Franco would be a great hire for the braves as a hitting coach. Currently he is the the manager for the Mets Instructional league team, and perhaps he would be interested in working with a major league club. It seemed as if Franco was already serving as a coach in his final playing days, constantly providing advice to younger players. Further, I can’t help but be nostalgic and remember the amazing at bats Franco was able to put together at such an advanced age (constantly fouling balls off to keep at bats alive, taking pitches, and driving the ball to the oppoist field).
I assume he’s probably not high up on the list but damn it’d be nice to see Franco in a Braves uniform as out hitting coach.
el crime dog - October 26, 2010
Heck, I’d be fine with him at 1st every once in a while.
king of games - October 27, 2010
He could probably still play.
Tarkus - October 27, 2010
Heck yeah!
BravePhin - October 27, 2010
THIS
…would bring me much joy.
HailStonz - October 27, 2010
I’d rather see Chipper as hitting coach and 3b lol
MO'toole - October 26, 2010
+1
:)
HEYJUDE - October 27, 2010
I loathe Jim Presley
He was awful. As important as anything in sparking the 1991 revival was getting rid of his useless carcass.
Mac T - October 26, 2010
Was he? I was surprised to see he played for us. I was just a little guy back then.
Scott Coleman - October 26, 2010
He wasn't good.
But then, I don’t really think that’s a requirement towards becoming a good coach.
Tarkus - October 27, 2010
indeed
see: leo mazzone
forgotten_glory - October 27, 2010
I still think Leo Mazzone was a product of our talented pitching staff, not the other way around… but that’s another thread
Bmacbandwagon - October 27, 2010
this was the guy who was their hitting coach when their entire infield had 20+ HRs right?
forgotten_glory - October 27, 2010
Maybe he should bring Dan Uggla to Atlanta with him…
Scott Coleman - October 27, 2010
that’d be awesome…
forgotten_glory - October 27, 2010
No real place to put him though… unless he or Nitram wants to take a shot at LF.
Scott Coleman - October 27, 2010 via mobile
why not
Uggla to LF?
drumzalicious - October 27, 2010
Well he’s a pretty bad defensive 2B with minimal range, so I worry about him covering all that ground in LF and making the throws.
Scott Coleman - October 27, 2010 via mobile
This.
If he was taller he’d be a first baseman, and no one would think twice about it. The Fish saw fit to keep him at second in the minors and on into the majors, but he’s really a DH.
J-Freak - October 27, 2010
If you have a CF who covers a lot of ground and Heyward who covers a lot of ground in right, minimal range on a LF wouldn’t be as bad.
Broccoman - October 27, 2010
You’re probably right, but sometimes you never know how positional changes will work out. Dale Murphy and Ron Gant are 2 Braves examples of moving a terrible defensive player to the outfield and having it work out very well. Murph even won a few gold gloves.
Zontar - October 27, 2010
He plays the OF in Venezuela
just saying
Mr. Sanchez - October 27, 2010
Probably won’t anymore. Now he’s reached that status of success in the US that makes it so guys get to play where they want down there. It should also be pointed out that Gregor Blanco is a huge star in the Venezuelan Winter League, so maybe it’s not the best place to judge things.
cbwilk - October 27, 2010
I was joking
as I assume Cox was when he talked about Prado playing OF down there.
Mr. Sanchez - October 27, 2010
It’s not really a joke though. Prado did play a ton of OF in winter ball, and he’s played some here in the US, so it’s no stretch to think he could play LF regularly. He shouldn’t, because his value as a player is caught up in him playing second, but still.
cbwilk - October 27, 2010
In My Opinion
We should just hire Chipper’s Dad and call it a day.
drumzalicious - October 27, 2010
I’m sold. Make it so, Frank!
redwards95 - October 27, 2010
Hey, I mentioned he was the likely candidate when they hired Fredi. Sweet, he’s a cool dude and a good coach.
cbwilk - October 27, 2010
Hopefully he deosn’t take the same approach he had as a hitter to his coaching. If you hated TP, you will really hate Presley. The guy could not take a walk in his career if his life depended on it. I actually would have preferred Norton.
BravesFan - October 27, 2010
Interesting career Presley had; three really good seasons followed by a quick downward turn.
ChrisK562 - October 27, 2010
He obviously got off the juice.Tarkus - October 27, 2010
Or he’s just like most players, who have a very small window where their physical skills are actually good enough to compete at the Major League level and the second they lose a step you wonder how they were ever able to compete in the first place.
cbwilk - October 27, 2010
Or that.
Tarkus - October 27, 2010
His counting numbers were good for a couple of years, but he never got on base well even in his two best seasons. Were he to have that career these days he’d be another Jeff Francoeur, cuz people would look beyond the counting stats to what the more advanced metrics say about him. Saying you had 27 HRs and 107 RBIs doesn’t mean much these days without any other supporting stats to go with them.
J-Freak - October 27, 2010
And that.
Tarkus - October 27, 2010
Your last two responses were perfect, haha!
bwellnjonesco - October 27, 2010
like FYF
Kobe:The Legend - October 27, 2010
Mentioned in DOB's story...
and not mentioned here that I’ve noticed, I guess Tosca is confirmed as the bench coach and not joining the Pirates.
Mr. Sanchez - October 27, 2010
I forgot all about that.
That is good to hear (selfishly speaking). Have the Pirates hired anyone yet?
Tarkus - October 27, 2010
OT: What do you all think of the Alderson hiring by the Mets?
Tarkus - October 27, 2010
they need it
good signing for them. They need someone who can turn that franchise around. Its in shambles right now.
drumzalicious - October 27, 2010
Yeah, with their payroll...
I’m afraid that they might have finally done something right. It’s only a matter of time before they find someone who knows what to do with all that money.
Tarkus - October 27, 2010
This
Yakker - October 27, 2010
Barry Bonds wants to be hitting coach
that would be a way outside the box choice (and highly, highly unlikely…slightly more plausible if Bobby is still the manager)
LEastCoastBears - October 28, 2010
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