Mack Jenkins named Reds Assistant Pitching Coach

[Gallen5862]

MLB Network reported on it's news crawl that Mack Jenkins has been named the Reds assistant pitching coach. He had been the minor league pitching coordinator for the past 6 seasons.

[RANDY IN INDY]

What exactly is an assistant pitching coach? Is there problems with Price? Sounds fishy?

[klw]

...promoted Mack Jenkins to assistant pitching coach on the Major League club…Jenkins has been in the organization for 22 years, the first 16 as a minor league pitching coach and the last 6 as minor league pitching coordinator.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/201...itching-coach/

[savafan]

Originally Posted by RANDY IN INDY

What exactly is an assistant pitching coach? Is there problems with Price? Sounds fishy?

I was assuming that he's the guy who gets Price's coffee.

[RANDY IN INDY]

Originally Posted by savafan

I was assuming that he's the guy who gets Price's coffee.

There you go.

[George Anderson]

Ya gotta dig a guy with a name like Mack Jenkins.

Sounds like a detective from a bad 70's TV show.

[Joseph]

I can't recall what organization, but there was a team or two with assistant hitting coaches last season.

[dougdirt]

Mack is an awesome dude. Not entirely sure what his new role entails exactly, but I am sure he will be good at it.

[redsmetz]

Here's Sheldon's take on it - it appears to be without precedent:

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/...s_cin&c_id=cin

"I was told the position would evolve, it's never been done here before," Jenkins said. "I talked to Bryan about some ideas like helping prepare for series and freeing him up from the tedious stuff so he can get a rapport with the new guys. I'll be the tedious guy."

The article mentioned that Jocketty first approached him back in November with the idea.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by redsmetz

Here's Sheldon's take on it - it appears to be without precedent:

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/...s_cin&c_id=cin

"I was told the position would evolve, it's never been done here before," Jenkins said. "I talked to Bryan about some ideas like helping prepare for series and freeing him up from the tedious stuff so he can get a rapport with the new guys. I'll be the tedious guy."

The article mentioned that Jocketty first approached him back in November with the idea.

This almost sounds like Walt is lining up a succession plan. I'm guessing Dusty is gone after 2012 unless the team goes deep into the post-season. Price or David Bell are the prime guys in line as replacements with Jenkins serving as Price understudy for pitching coach should Price get promoted or be gone too.

Maybe with 2013 looking tight financially, the Reds want out from under the $4 Million or so that Dusty would command and will go with a first time manager who can be paid $1 Million or less.

[traderumor]

Originally Posted by mth123

This almost sounds like Walt is lining up a succession plan. I'm guessing Dusty is gone after 2012 unless the team goes deep into the post-season. Price or David Bell are the prime guys in line as replacements with Jenkins serving as Price understudy for pitching coach should Price get promoted or be gone too.

Maybe with 2013 looking tight financially, the Reds want out from under the $4 Million or so that Dusty would command and will go with a first time manager who can be paid $1 Million or less.

I agree with that you are guessing.

And let's be clear, he's assistant to the pitching coach

[mth123]

Originally Posted by traderumor

I agree with that you are guessing.

And let's be clear, he's assistant to the pitching coach

Never claimed otherwise. Why do you seem to have an issue with it?

[Chip R]

nm

[Kc61]

Originally Posted by mth123

This almost sounds like Walt is lining up a succession plan. I'm guessing Dusty is gone after 2012 unless the team goes deep into the post-season. Price or David Bell are the prime guys in line as replacements with Jenkins serving as Price understudy for pitching coach should Price get promoted or be gone too.

Maybe with 2013 looking tight financially, the Reds want out from under the $4 Million or so that Dusty would command and will go with a first time manager who can be paid $1 Million or less.

I think folks are reading far too much into the simple hiring of Mack Jenkins as assistant pitching coach.

It should be obvious that Walt's prime focus since last season has been on fixing the pitching staff. Trades for Latos. Trades for Marshall. Tells Fay next up is either to sign Cordero or add another reliever. LF has to wait for all that.

Walt obviously has concluded that the pitching staff is the team's main concern and probably determined that an additional guy on the coaching staff devoted to pitching made sense and would help.

I wouldn't read too much more into it.

[savafan]

Originally Posted by Kc61

Walt obviously has concluded that the pitching staff is the team's main concern and probably determined that an additional guy on the coaching staff devoted to pitching made sense and would help.

I wouldn't read too much more into it.

I wouldn't either, but I like the out of the box thinking.