Of everyone on that list Smit is the most intriguing. He looked pretty good in the WBC but, I believe, was hurt a lot this season.
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Of everyone on that list Smit is the most intriguing. He looked pretty good in the WBC but, I believe, was hurt a lot this season.
This whole question of Rolen's influence is intriguing. Perhaps it's intangible, but one thing I noticed during the times they were warming up between innings, Rolen always set up somewhere between 3rd base and the pitchers mound, leaning closer to the mound. I can't say he was talking to the pitcher or anything, but he was just there, taking his fielding. I don't know what effect it had, but it just stuck out to me. Probably nothing, but it made me wonder about that proverbial veteran's presence. Or it could just be a bunch of baloney on my part - I know it's nothing I can point to definitely.
Correct. To me, it is rather shocking. He has been a major league hitting coach. He must just enjoy being part of the game. Should help Benzinger in 2010. I like this. He is not just a name-guy. He knows how to coach. Not many organizations have a person with this kind of credibility coaching in their farm system, more less in Single-A.
But if I am going to give credit to the Reds, I should also balance that a bit. Did you read the article? Don't you think it might have been appropriate for someone from the Reds to at least email Benzinger about this before a newspaper writer told him that Griffey would be his hitting coach? What the heck is going on there?