Following up: White Sox complete coaching staff with Scott Coolbaugh

(@whitesox on Twitter)

If the promotion of Frank Menechino into the hitting coach position didn’t satisfy your desire for an external hire, the White Sox made up for it with the installation of his assistant.

Scott Coolbaugh is aboard, taking the place as Greg Sparks as the No. 2 hitting coach behind Menechino, who rose through the ranks after spending the season as the hitting coach in Charlotte.

Like Menechino, Coolbaugh spent 2019 serving as the minor-league hitting coach in Triple-A for Oklahoma City, the Dodgers’ affiliate. Also like Menechino, he can claim some victories as a major-league hitting coach, with a successful stint in Texas from 2011-12, and a good run overseeing the end of the Orioles’ window. They both have respectable track records, although there isn’t much about whether the successes they’ve enjoyed dovetail with the ways more advanced teams have succeeded. But hey, coming from the Dodgers organization is a point in Coolbaugh’s favor.

Unlike Menechino, there isn’t even the slightest of White Sox ties to be found — Menechino was drafted by the White Sox in 1993 — so the White Sox did truly hunt around on this particular action.

* * * * * * * * *

In terms of words, Rick Hahn had some for the White Sox reporters who traveled to the general managers meetings in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Monday. He’s aware that he can’t really say anything to make up seven losing seasons in seven years and last year’s “Waiting for Godot” winter, but he still has to talk.

This was the line that circulated the most …

… but I’ve been around a lot of first-time parents over the last few years, and my findings show that people who genuinely care want to know about both. So here we are.

Hahn’s trying to diminish the need to say things because he can’t really talk around the lack of accomplishments. He either sounds like he’s trying to paper over the failed first rebuilding attempt and pretend that the dissatisfaction is a recent and intentional development…

… or that he’s trying to pin the White Sox’ rich legacy of free-agent flops on the players, rather than their own pro scouting.

Ironically, Hahn might not like talking about the task at hand, but he makes the most sense when he’s doing just that. Read through the bullet points of Daryl Van Schouwen’s story, and there’s nothing to quibble with. Hahn said the Sox are open to short-term contracts if there aren’t long-term improvements available, which is better than last year’s Machado-or-bust-and-actually-please-somebody-outbid-us-for-Machado winter.

The rhetoric only sounds empty because the White Sox have been ghastly about converting signings into wins, and rather than hold front office personnel accountable, they chose to stop competing for players instead. People will be very interested in what Hahn will have to say if they can count on him and the White Sox ever following through. He shouldn’t pretend to lose sight of that very fixable problem.

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MrStealYoBase

I know nothing about Coolbaugh but anyone associated with the Dodgers hitting instruction or the Indians pitching instructors is probably a decent bet.

The Hahn quotes…
I’m tired of my own cynicism. Can they just do something that makes us believe they give a damn about winning for once?

burning-phoneix

I mean the best thing they could possibly do at this point they just did. Last year proved talk is cheap. I’d prefer they just stfu and sign somebody.

MrStealYoBase

This was exactly my sentiment, if it wasn’t clear. I’m tired of them talking and making excuses and want them to actually DO something.

Denman

Coolbaugh was Balt.’s hitting for 3 years beginning in 2015. That team hit a lot of homers in a pre-juiced ball period. So he probably knows something about angel of approach and launch elevation. He may be best known for being the brother of Mike Coolbaugh, a minor league 1st base coach who died after being struck in the neck by a line-drive foul ball. That he continues coaching shows a certain level of dedication.

PauliePaulie

Jerry decided he was ready to win a year too early the last time.

GoGoSoxFan

Does that mean Jerry’s ready to win enough for second place?

billyok

But when Jerry says he’s ready to win, is he talking about the 2020 White Sox or the 2021 labor dispute?

dwjm3

I think he is talking about the Padres. We do our best to help them win.

PauliePaulie

2015-2018 the Orioles had the 7th worst K%. (Sox 6th worst)
Orioles had the 3rd worst BB%. (Sox were 2nd worst)

MrStealYoBase

The 2017-2018 Orioles rosters were not much to work with. Chris Davis putting up the worst season ever by a hitter and all.

PauliePaulie

Too bad Davis’ work with his hitting coach could’t solve his issues.
7th worst K% 2015-2016. 8th worst BB%.