Since taking over in DC, Paul Toboni has slowly been assembling a staff. He hired Blake Butera to be the manager, Michael Johns to be the bench coach and Simon Mathews to be the pitching coach. Toboni has also filled a number of other organizational positions. However, one role he has not filled yet is hitting coach.
Given the young offensive talent on the roster, hitting coach is one of the positions Nats fans were most eager to see filled. Darnell Coles took a lot of heat during his time in DC and
Nats fans want to see what the young talent on the roster can do without him. We are almost at the Winter Meetings and there is no hitting coach though.
Given the timing of some of the other staff hires, this is a bit odd. Pitching coach Simon Mathews took the job nearly a month ago now. You would think that a hitting coach would not be far behind, but that has not been the case. It has been mostly quiet on that front.
It makes sense for Paul Toboni to do his due diligence on this hire. The Nats young core is very hitter heavy, so nailing this hire is crucial. For the Nats to be good anytime soon, their young bats need to develop. Players like James Wood, CJ Abrams and even Luis Garcia Jr. have shown flashes at the plate, but have been highly inconsistent. All of these guys being so up and down makes me think coaching was at least part of the problem.
However, it is still curious that this is taking so long. I am sure they have done a lot of interviews, but there is still no hire. Have there been a lot of rejections, or are they just taking their time?
While it has been mostly quiet, there have been some rumors about some names in the mix. Former Twins hitting coach Matt Borgschulte has been mentioned as a candidate. He seems like their type as well. Borgschulte is only 35 years old and spent a lot of time in the analytically minded Orioles organization.
It would not be surprising if he was their guy, but why hasn’t it happened yet? Is Borgschulte having cold feet or are they just sorting things out. I have been hesitant to go too deep into this speculation, but as the days go on without a hitting coach, it is tough for me not to discuss this.
One other curious thing is that the Nats hired an assistant hitting coach a couple weeks ago. It was reported that Andrew Aydt of Driveline would be the assistant hitting coach. I am very excited about that hire because of Aydt’s innovative ideas. However, the fact he was hired before the main hitting coach is confusing.
What if the guy they hire does not like Aydt for whatever reason? Usually the main guy is hired before the assistants. That made me think that there was a hitting coach on the way very soon. However, it has been about two weeks since the Aydt hire and still nothing.
Obviously they will hire a hitting coach before too long, but this is becoming a little bit strange. This is one of the most important hires Paul Toboni and Blake Butera have to make and it is becoming a strange process.
Hopefully we can get some clarity soon on this situation. This should absolutely be a question that is asked to Toboni during the Winter Meetings though. I still have faith in this regime to make the right hire, but this is getting a little weird.
