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The Orioles have named Jeff Datz as bench coach, decined their options on Melvin Mora and Chad Moeller, outrighted Jeff Fiorentino, Chris Lambert, Jim Miller and Guillermo Rodriguez, and lost Sean Henn to a waiver claim.
That's quite a press release.
Datz began his major league coaching career in 2002 as the Indians' bench coach. After spending the second half of the 2002 season as the third base coach, he served as first base coach from 2003 to 2005. Datz spent the first five months of the 2006 season as third base coach before moving back to the bench.
He's almost coached for the cycle.
The 2010 season will be Datz's 29th in professional baseball. After a nine-year career as a player, which included a stint with the Detroit Tigers in 1989, he spent two years as a scout before beginning a coaching career that has spanned the last 17 years.
Datz is a former catcher, so he can work with Matt Wieters. He became available to the Orioles after Eric Wedge was fired.
Fiorentino, Lambert, Miller and Rodriguez come off the 40-man roster after clearing waivers and being outrighted to Triple-A Norfolk.
The Blue Jays claimed Henn, who appeared in six games for the Orioles and allowed three earned runs in three innings.
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Categories (click for archive)Roch Kubatko | Roch Kubatko Orioles |
Wow! The Sean Henn era was so short.
Who dat?
Big Daddy Datz?
Crap.
Datz so not the news I was hoping to ever hear.
(see? bad jokes are not exclusive to youuuuuu, my friend.)
NOOOO!!! The humanity!!! Not Henn!!!! What on EARTH are we going to DO?!?!
Roch,
Is it still possible that we bring Moeller back next year?
He seems like the perfect backup and mentor to Matt Wieters.
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It's possible. They do like him. - Roch
Hey Roch,
It sounds like you're feeling better, and that's always good news. I have a question for you about Jeffrey Datz. What has he done since 2006? Has he been the bench coach under Wedge since that time? Do you know what kind of coach he is (hard-nosed, an intellectual, old-school, etc.)? What do you think of this hiring?
I'm also a little surprised that we didn't pick up Moeller's option. What was the Orioles' reasoning on that? Is it that they could re-sign him for less money if they didn't pick up the option? The other intriguing name on this list is Jim Miller. It doesn't seem like he's ever gotten a fair shake at the big league level. Is that your sense too?
Take care!
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I filed his bio info. Most recently bench coach before Wedge was fired. Moeller could be re-signed to minor league deal. Not sure why Miller wasn't called up in Sept., though I was told one reason could have been that the club had enough one-inning relievers. - Roch
Jeff WHO??? At least it sounds as if he has already gained experience on seeing veteran players traded away in salary dumps mid season, so he should fit right in...
No surprises & more importantly, no losses that can't be easily replaced. I am just sad that no one would claim Lambert. That guy should have just been released.
#1 Chief Rocher,
Now that Mora's option has been declined, where do you see him going? Retirement? Bench player?
You da man!
Michael
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He still wants to play and still thinks he can be a starter. - Roch
RK
maybe the only coach in MLB that has a FIRE_______.com website...
http://www.firejeffdatz.blogspot.com/
So does that mean they will give Moeller a shot at another teams offer?
Sounds like Datz has a ton of coaching experience.
So Datz is a former catcher, managed in the minors, and is hired, in part, to work with Wieters. Anything else of interest on the guy?
Was the option on Moeller declined so they could re-sign him at a lower price? Or will he just not be back with the Orioles?
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He could be invited to spring training if he doesn't get a better offer. - Roch
Roch, I was wondering what do you think it would take to get gonzalez from the padres I think mabye Pie, patton, Hernandez, snyder, ebre, waring for gonzalez and a throw in.
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Don't know what the Padres want, but I'm assuming it would take a couple of the top young arms. - Roch
I'm a lifetime yankee fan going back to the late 1940's. Yes the old and current Yankees. I'm telling all who will listen the current Yankees have gone as far as they will go. I feared this would happen, they would make to the WS and fold under the pressure. This team does not handle this kind of pressure. The manager looks like he's ready to cry at any time and the core players 1 thru 5 just can't come thru under this type of pressure. The Phillies can by vertue of being there last year, their game last night showed they are the better team. The Yankees by comparason looked like "a deere cought in the headlights" and played poorly. With Lee going a full game and Sabathia now beaten, there is little hope for the Yankees. The only thing we can hope for is to avoid a sweep, something these Yankees have been prone to the last several years. Sad, very Sad.....
Does this mean Mora and Moeller are officially free agents?
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Yes. - Roch
you've mentioned several times that it seems logical that the Birds will bring Moeller back next year. Any thoughts on this decision's affect on that?
I guess with all the Molina brothers in the league, there has to be one that's a free agent this off season, right?
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He could still be a spring invite. Depends if he gets a more attractive offer. - Roch
Horrible, horrible move on Datz. But I have come to expect this from the Orioles. Winning is not a priority here folks. And this move only reaffirms it. Keep the staus quo of losing and playing poor fundamental baseball going! Continue to hire terrible coaches.
Datz was a coach for a franchise that lost nearly every year except '07. He was a terrible base coach and did a poor job teaching fundamentals and evaluating talent.
The Indian fanbase HATED Datz. So much so that they started a website calling for him to be FIRED.
http://firejeffdatz.blogspot.com/
Wow. Sure sounds like we caught ourselves a winner! He'll fit right in with Crow, Samuel etc.
I like the hiring of Jeff Datz, because he brings some postseason experience from some of the better Indians teams of this decade,
I don't like letting Chad Moeller go, he hit .258 last year which is like .300 for a backup catcher.
Plus, as Matt Weiters continues to grow into what everyone hopes will be an All-Star Caliber catcher, I feel that some stability at Backup Catcher is important.
Sorry, the Indians had a winning season in '05 as well. Still, a very poor choice as Trembley's #2.
I was expecting "Datz the ticket."
Oh no, not a-Henn!
Good news on Mora. I really think the O's should give Bell a serious look in spring training, give the kid a real shot at making the team. If not, Wiggy is a servicable place holder.
Now that these guys are gone, how much space do the Orioles have on their 40 man roster? Do you expect more guys to come off the roster?
Andrew,
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It's 40 minus the names that came off today. And yes, we should see a few more. - Roch
Yeah b_o because the Indians Fan Base consists of yes, approximately TWO people. The author of the blog and the ONE person who commented on it. Get a clue idiot. What do you know about him? Nothing, as usual.
are the four players outrighted to norfolk now eligable for the rule five draft
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That sounds right to me. - Roch
I don't understand the Moeller thing. Are we expecting somebody better to become available to play back-up to Wieters?
And seriously what is with the Blue Jays and scooping up all our old players?!? (Not that I'm spilling any tears over Henn, mind you)
Roch
who was the bench coach when Weaver was the manager?
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Did such a thing exist when Weaver was the manager? - Roch
I'd never heard of Datz before today, but that's probably true of most bench coaches. I will say, though, that I'd prefer to get someone from a culture of winning, maybe like Minnesota or Anaheim. Prying their bench coaches away for a lateral move (this isn't football, where you can "upgrade" from offensive coordinator to "assistant head coach - offense," after all) probably wouldn't be possible, though.
Moeller looks like a casualty of the need to create space on the 40-man roster. If the Orioles liked him (and it seems like they did), then they'll probably try to get him back once the roster has settled from the Rule V draft, free agency, and trades. Weep not for Chad Moeller, O's fans; I guarantee* he'll be back in the orange and black!
(*all predictions guaranteed to be right, unless they happen to be wrong first)
What's up with the recent posts by Yankee fans on here recently????
Extremely odd.......and annoying.
The Moeller move is to free up a 40 man spot, probably with the communication to Moeller that he is the lead candidate to back up Wieters and a promise to pay him the $850,000. if he does agree to come to spring training. Something like that.
B_O, really? You're going to claim to really know what Indians fans think of anything? Really? Based on what? A visit to The Google? Right, why bother with real, live people who actually live here, attend a kabillion games, or OR! or actually work for the team. Anything else I really need to say in response to you on this subject would only result in a response from Roch that he normally saves for you and Jack.
And while I like CrankyRoch, I'm in too good of a mood today to be sent to detention.
Hall pass, please.
Roch,
two questions:
After today's roster moves are you in a position to tell us the rest of the Pie stomach ache story?
Did anyone in the Blue Jay organization actually see Henn pitch this year?
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Still sitting on that story for now. And I'll assume the Jays scouted him. Guess big left-handers will always find jobs. - Roch
Ignorance, Amarie. We know who the poster children are for this.
I think he's an excellent hire for bench coach. This is after doing some RESEARCH about the guy.
Seems like a solid baseball guy. Trembley has tracked him. He's his bench coach. Upside with Wieters.
What is there to disqualify him?
Good grief. (Apologies to Schulz.)
To those who are picking up the pitchforks and torches: Enough.
Welcome to the Orioles, Mr. Datz. May your stay be a long and profitable one.
Schoolman,
Rhetorically submitted: Why do I feel as though we are marking time with B and J, rather than making progress?
A post on this thread gives rise to a wonder about a pupil who moonlights as a journalist, but places his training in his locker before he writes a post.
For instance -- and quite damning for a professional is -- a failure to adequately vet a source for its accuracy and its significance to the topic under discussion.
Phony. Creepy. Unprofessional. A trifecta of unappetizing characteristics.
All of which sparks the following inspired suggestion: Place Ann Marie in charge of the SOR's Breakfast Club. The problem is "sol-ved"* -- no more fuss, no witnesses -- and accomplished as a professional courtesy by Annihilator Marie.
*Inspector Clouseau.
Ok, we are talking about a bench coach right?
(doing my best Allen Iverson imitation)
We are talking a bench coach..a bench coach, not
playing the game, but a bench coach...a bench coach
not the game..but a bench coach..a bench coach, not a player,
but a bench coach.....a bench coach...
Does anyone including Roch know what a bench coach does?
I mean the manager, pitching coach and hitting coach are on the bench
when we are batting, and all the coaches are there whenb they are in the field, so what the heck is the bench coach doing? Keeping
seats warm for the players batting or on base? Making sure there are enough sunflower seeds? Waking the manager if he falls asleep? Lighting the bat boy's shoelaces on fire to make the players laugh? What?
So we have a new one..is he a good one, how the heck would we know?
As for the poster who considers this a bad move because he came fm the Indians instead of a playoff team..WTF? He is a BENCH COACH!!!!!!
Were we one bench coach away fm competing for the division title?
Sorry, Roch I just found this over reaction to a bench coach comical...I'll go back to my beer and scouting of the Yankes and Phillies bench coachs, respectively, see if I can pick up how they helped their teams make it to the WS.
Ann Marie,
I'd like to find out what your take is on Mr. Datz, since you are close with a certain Ohio baseball team (no offense Roch).
Tom
I'm looking forward to every post game press conference ending with Dave T nodding to is bench coach and saying "Datz all, folks."
Andy W:
You don't know what a bench coach does for a MLB team, yet you belittle him. For some education, read the interview (reproduced below) with the St. Louis Cardinal's bench coach, Joe Pettini, which buddy had submitted to this blog 2 weeks ago when Dave Jauss was let go.
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The Role of the Bench Coach
Interview with Joe Pettini
By Brian Walton
Those of us with a few miles on our frames remember the days before the invention of the bench coach. For others, when one hears the term, the image of Popeye (a.k.a. The Gerbil), Don Zimmer, immediately comes to mind. Think of the respected former manager, in his twilight years, sitting at the manager’s side, ready to whisper sage words of advice into his ear.
Well, the St. Louis Cardinals have one of these new/old-age coaches, too. But, while Joe Pettini’s role is very different from Zimmer’s was with the Yankees, it is no less important. In fact, I assure you that after reading this interview, you will be as surprised as I was about the depth of Pettini’s involvement in preparation of the team each day. It’s a lot more than the guy perched on the top step of the dugout with a stop watch or the rubber-armed batting practice hurler with the whip-like throwing motion.
Joe Pettini is a relative Johnny-come-lately on a coaching staff known for continuity. While he is starting just his third season as Tony La Russa’s bench coach, Pettini has been with the organization for a long time. He managed eight years in the Cardinal minor league system and served as minor league field coordinator from 1997-2001.
I caught up with Joe last weekend in Montreal.
BW: The bench coach is kind of a new position in baseball. What are your responsibilities?
JP: Mainly my responsibility when first getting here is to help set up the day’s routine, as far as the BPs, get the stretch times, set up the groups. Once the game begins, I’ve said that the bench coach’s role changes depending on the manager. When you have somebody who is relatively a newer type of manager here in the big leagues, they might rely on a bench coach more so than someone who has been around as long as Tony. But, you know, he still has a lot of questions during the game as far as pitcher’s time to the plate – our guys, their guys - whether you can take advantage of the running game or keeping the other team from using the running game against us.
The main job I do during the course of the game is help set up the infield positioning. I get together with Dave Duncan prior to every series to go over how we’re exactly going play each hitter in the infield, depending on whether he’s against a right hander or a left hander. What I do is I set it up in order and I go over it with each infielder before the series starts and during the games if they have any questions about where they are or where they should be. You can move them here or there or wherever Duncan wants them to play. Basically, that’s about it except for one thing – that’s taking care of the lineup card. That’s the easy part. (laughs)
BW: When you need to make a defensive adjustment during the game, how is that given to the player?
JP: Well, you know, basically, all these guys are pretty good. They want to be sure to be in the right spot. What I did the first year in all the ballparks, I brought a digital camera and took a picture from the dugout. I had Jose Oquendo go out and I mark on the picture that I keep in the computer in a folder for each team. So, I know exactly from where I am sitting on the bench if the second baseman is playing a right hander straight away because of the mark on the wall of the stadium behind him. So, I’ll know if he is out of position and there’s signs to where these guys know, depending on the pitcher, depending on the count, and how a hitter is going, they might make a slight adjustment themselves, too, which is ok. Just because we tell them to play straightaway, doesn’t mean that if they bring in somebody and they get behind in the count, that they can’t go ahead and maybe shade him a step or two the other way thinking that he is not going to be as aggressive of a hitter.
BW: That’s surprising. So, you actually use geometry for defensive positioning?
JP: Yeah, it makes it look simpler. I took pictures of all the fields from the second base side and through the shortstop side. That way, we don’t have to do it every time we come in and have Jose go out there and have me mark down the spots. We have it on the computer, so that way when we go to a city, I can bring it up, print out the picture and I put it in my folder that I keep on the bench. That way, I know exactly where these guys should be.
BW: So, that also affects where you stand during the game, then?
JP: Yes, I have to take the same position. Otherwise, it’s going to change on you. I make notations on the pictures themselves where the lines are going to go from straightaway up to some point, whether it is on the wall, the stadium steps or scoreboard. And then, I make a notation on the bottom where I’ll be sitting. Usually, you can remember where you sit, but just in case…
BW: A lot of times at home I see you’re pretty much perched with one foot on the top step. Is that your spot?
JP: Right. That’s the spot where I know. At home, you kind of memorize everything. So you know exactly, through the shortstop, through the second baseman, where they should be playing against a right-handed hitter or a left-handed hitter, because they vary. A left-handed hitter playing straightaway is just a couple of steps over from where a right-hander should be. At times, we’ll plan to where we’ll play maybe a step towards the middle or a couple of steps toward the middle when we’ll play a dead pull and sometime as you can tell, against Berkman, such guys that are strong pull hitters, we’ll even have a shift.
BW: How often do you determine whether to change the defense for a hitter?
JP: Dunc keeps a lot of stuff. I keep a lot of things. Every year that I’ve been here, I’ve kept a chart on the computer of every playable ball that was hit by each hitter. I’ll have a diagram for each hitter, whether it was against a right handed or left handed pitcher. And Dunc does the same thing. He just gets all his information. You know, it’s not a science. It’s not black and white. But, it gives you really good tendencies on where you should be playing some people. And, of course, it doesn’t always work out well. But, over the long haul, I think that when you pay attention to the data that you have on certain hitters, in the long run, you’re going to be better off by watching these things, positioning the infielders as opposed to where the guy is hitting the ball.
BW: You have a stopwatch during the game. Are you timing the pitcher’s move to the plate?
JP: Basically, with our guys, when I’m timing our pitchers, it’s just to let Tony know if a guy starts to slow up. Usually, if a pitcher once he leaves the set position can get the ball to the catcher in 1.3 seconds or less, then the catcher has at least some kind of a chance to throw out a base stealer. If he starts getting above 1.3, then starts creeping up to 1.4 or between 1.4 and 1.5, these are mostly right handed pitchers, then the running game becomes a little easier to go ahead and try. So, if Tony wants to know if our pitcher starts to slow up; that way, he can have him throw over or he can let the catcher know to have him quicken up a little bit. Because, basically, when you manage or are coaching, you are trying to keep the other club from taking advantage of you. And the flip side is that if the other club’s pitcher starts to slow up or have some slow times or their breaking pitch is overly slow, and you get a breaking ball count, you can take a chance on sending a guy and maybe stealing a base on a breaking ball.
BW: When you see a pitcher slow down, is that always later in the game, when they are tired?
JP: It happens a lot late in the game when guys get tired, but pitchers are a different breed and basically for these guys at this level to pitch the way they are capable, to pitch the way they want to, to have that command where they are going to keep the ball out of the middle of the plate, to try to hit the corners and come off the plate, they need a lot of rhythm. And if guys have to quicken up because the other club is running, trying to steal bases, it takes them out of their game a little bit. And all of a sudden, your command isn’t there, you get behind a little in the count and then you get some pitches to hit and drive in some runs. Like you said, later is a big thing. When they do get tired, some guys will slow up a lot.
BW: Do you provide input to Duncan at times when he is considering a pitching change?
JP: Well, not really for pitching changes. Tony’s the manager and he’s going to take care of that. He relies a lot on Dunky. He’ll ask Dunc a lot of questions but when it comes down to the final decision, Tony makes it. As far as pitching changes, that is handled by Dave and Tony.
BW: So, you keep track and share the information when you see something or they want it?
JP: Right. What we do is I keep track of, for every club and every pitcher, I keep track of the times over the course of a period with fastballs, with runners at first base, how quick they are when they throw a fastball and how quick they are when they throw an off-speed pitch. I do the same thing when they are at second base. At second base, you don’t have to be as quick, naturally, because it is a shorter throw to third base when you’re trying to steal. But, I keep all that and when we go into a town, and every pitcher that is on that roster, I will make sure that they have all that data on the bench and they’ll know who the starters are and what their times are. And if they bring in a reliever, especially as a lot of left-handed relievers will be awfully slow, even though they are deceptive with runners at first, sometimes they keep that slow time when they are at second, which makes it possible to steal. So, whenever they bring in a reliever, we will have times already there so we can look them up and say, “Well, he’s anywhere between 1.3 and 1.5 or even slower. If you want to run, here is the time to take a chance.
BW: It is surprising to me, even as a person who follows baseball closely, as to the amount of preparation that goes into the game.
JP: What’s so good about the game of baseball is that it’s pitching, it’s fielding, it’s hitting, but any little thing that you can take advantage of, can help win a game. And on the flip side again, any thing you can keep another club from taking advantage of, may possibly keep them from scoring a run or two and keeping you in a game or keeping you on top.
BW: Thank you for your time.
JP: No problem.
October 13, 2009 4:29 PM
Andy W's comment is about as close to perfection as you can get when it comes to internet baseball blog comments. Cheers, Andy W.
so, what's your advice when you get a deere caught in the headlights? check the oil? see if they left the keys in the ignition?
ah... it takes me back to those days of me and my pop, hunting the neighborhood sheds in the early mornings of spring, searching for that nice big deere to sustain us through the difficult summer-mowing season.