Comments on: Giants bench coach suspended for a game

By: bigdicktater

bigdicktater — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:29:12 +0000

What makes you say anything remotely like that about anyone, let alone Wotus?
Grow up!

By: Walk

Walk — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 06:05:46 +0000

Carlos Tosca the braves bench coach was the recipient of the gift win tonight, well him and scott proctor i believe. Much as i like the braves that win left a sour taste in my mouth, bad call even though it went the braves way for the winning run and losing mccann to injury.

By: humanexcrement

humanexcrement — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 05:36:18 +0000

I think the bench coach’s job is to assist in instructing young players, help guys out, provide advice, remind the manager of stuff he forgot to do and say stuff like “Remember, Joe that guy can gets jammed up easy if you keep feeding him fastballs inside.” And he takes charge when the manager gets tossed from a game or fired. I guess it’s kind of like being a backup quarterback and assistant coach all in one–you have to be ready to step in as needed, but mostly you just wonder around trying to be useful whenever possible.

By: bigleagues

bigleagues — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:44:39 +0000

Rags is the new Duncan.

The Giants are an unconventional organization for an unconventional City. The reason Wotus and Rags (and Jack Hiatt, Dick Tidrow and Bobby Evans) have remained through multiple managers is because Sabean has been there through 2 ownership groups.

Sabean largely hires the right people, then promotes from within the organization to fill holes when they arise.

By: cerveceros82

cerveceros82 — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:29:56 +0000

I’d say a bench coach would be closer to Chief of Staff than VP

By: bigleagues

bigleagues — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:45:37 +0000

I’m with you, Craig, on the impact of a ‘bench coach’, however, Ron Wotus will be a MLB manager some day – and you will use his photo again someday.

By: deathmonkey41

deathmonkey41 — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:52:23 +0000

“In other news, I’m willing to bet that this is the last time we ever use a pic of Ron Wotus on HardballTalk.”

How about if he goes OJ on his ex-wife?

By: kmgannon

kmgannon — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:43:38 +0000

I was watching that game, and Wotus got ejected because he was barking at Sam Holbrook about the strike zone (as was the entire Giants bench), and Holbrook called a pitch right down Broadway a ball. Then he turned toward the Giants’ dugout and threw Wotus out. Then Wotus came on the field, though he didn’t bump the umpire or anything–just barked a lot. I was watching the Brewers’ feed, and the Milwaukee announcers couldn’t believe how bad and inconsistent the strike zone was–they’d been on Holbrook all game, too. It was definitely Joe West syndrome: Holbrook’s strike zone was a constantly-moving disaster (as usual), he knew it, and as a result was extra defensive, it looked like. Wotus’s suspension is a joke–but as long as umps aren’t accountable for their performance, these things will continue to happen.

By: gallaghedj311

gallaghedj311 — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:39:24 +0000

And Timmy it scratched from tonites lineup too

By: bigharold

bigharold — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:34:13 +0000

Bench coaches are the Manager’s wing man, good cop to his bad cop or the other way around depending on the circumstances, somebody that can and if necessary will tell him his in game strategy is horse sh&^. In the case of Joe Torre and don Zimmer it seems that Zimmer was the brains of the outfit.

Everybody, especially leaders at all levels, need somebody that they respect that they can bounce ideas off off that they trust. Someone that isn’t afraid to disagree with his boss, is respected enough that the boss will give his ideas their proper consideration without feeling challenged but is also loyal enough that execute to the bosses decision even if he doesn’t totally agree with it.

By: marshallnbrown

marshallnbrown — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:27:20 +0000

Spot on! Rags has never gotten the credit he serves for the Giants having such excellent pitching.

By: bobulated

bobulated — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:26:55 +0000

Wasn’t Tony Consigliere a journeyman utility infielder back in the day?

By: trevorb06

trevorb06 — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:25:28 +0000

So basically a bench coach is about as useful, albeit necessary, as a Vice President…

By: skerney

skerney — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:11:41 +0000

A bench coach is a second set of eyes on both defenses, moves players into position on shifts, takes over game in event of manager ejection allowing pitching coach to monitor guy on the mound, is consigliere on plate match ups, and gets to wear a uniform.

By: dlevalley

dlevalley — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 21:08:48 +0000

I’ve always thought it interesting that the Giants have maintained such consistency with their coaching staff. Rags has been the pitching coach since 2000, and Wotus has been the bench coach since 1999, both through three different managers (Baker, Alou, Bochy).

Does any other team have this kind of arrangement? It seems to me that most coaching staffs follow the manager, or at least turn over quickly after managerial changes.