Those Who Wanted Brook Jacoby Fired Read This

Brandon Phillips hit two home runs and drove in three runs. He was helped by the Cincinnati Reds hitting coach Brook Jacoby, who has been a scapegoat of some vocal fans.

PHILLIPS HADN’T homered since April 24, 27 games ago, and said he had chats with hitting coach Brook Jacoby and with Atlanta superstar Chipper Jones before the game. “I came in early and sat down with Jacoby and said I feel like I’ve got my legs back and he told me, ‘Come and look at this video,’” said Phillips. He checked video from last year to this year and discovered he was standing more straight-up this year and Jacoby told me, ‘Just go out and lower your stance and see what happens.’” What happened? Two home runs in his first two at-bats.

The italicized section above was taken from Hal McCoy's blog in the Dayton Dailey News.

The sports talk host on the Reds' flagship station wanted Jacoby fired for of all reasons the fans wanted the Reds to do something,  so the Reds should throw the fans a bone. If that reasoning isn't the dumbest thing ever uttered it is most assuredly in the top 10.

Fans and talk show pseudo experts continually show a lack of patience and over react.  While it is nice that fans care and wear their hearts on their sleeve, there is an old adage, "If a manager or coach listens to the fans, they will soon be joining them."

 A coach can not hit for a player.  He can only be an objective eye and look for things players can't see for themselves.  Baseball is all about fundamentals and technique.  One nearly imperceptible change can cause a slump.  If a team is hitting no one credits the coach.  Then why blame the coach when a player slumps?

 The Reds do strike out a lot and  Dusty Baker and his staff would like to cut down on them, as the players do. It is a good bet that these players struck out at a high rate since they started playing baseball.

The Reds are a young team that is still a work in progress, yet they show signs of coming together. As they gain experience and see more major league pitches, strikeouts will decrease.

 Having coaches that know them well is important.  It is idiotic to change that trusted opinion just for the sake of "doing something".

 There is one reason and one reason only that you fire a hitting coach or a pitching coach for that matter.  If the manager or a large group of players lose confidence in a coaches opinion.

The Reds are blessed with two guys that know hitting.  Dusty Baker was a hitting coach for San Francisco for several seasons before he became a manager. He also spends hours behind the batting cage to offer tips.