Rays drop hitting coach Steve Henderson; bring back pitching coach Jim Hickey, others

UPDATE, 7:22: More from Friedman on not bringing back Henderson: "It was something we've been talking about for the past couple weeks. I think it's obvious the impact that he has had on our guys in the minor leagues and also the major leagues, and ultimately it was a very difficult decision. Both of us have tremendous respect for him - his tireless work ethic and all the things he does on a daily basis. But ultimately we felt like it was time for a new voice. We felt like this was a much harder decision to make than not, but ultimately felt like this was how we could really advance things going forward. There were some inadequacies offensively this year, but this move isn’t a result of us pointing our fingers at Hendu. In fact, ultimately I'm the one that's accountable and so it's nothing to do with things that have transpired, but just looking forward we felt like this was the right move.''

Henderson took it relatively well: "They wanted to make a change, and that’s cool. I had some good years there … I helped a lot of guys.’’

UPDATE, 5:35: Henderson was let go, exec VP Andrew Friedman, said because "ultimately we felt it was time for a new voice." A replacement won't be named anytime soon. Hickey was retained, manager Joe Maddon said, because he is one of the best in the game and not all that went wrong was his fault. Also, senior advisor Don Zimmer will be back, and discussions are ongoing with assistant to the pitching coach Brian Anderson. 

UPDATE, 4:35: Hitting coach Steve Henderson was let go by the Rays but the five other coaches, including pitching coach Jim Hickey, will return.
  Also Todd Greene won't return as the position of quality assurance coach was eliminated.  
  The Rays set teams records for runs, home runs, walks and on-base percentage this season, but their lack of situational hitting - getting runners home from third, making productive outs - was an ongoing problem, and Henderson took the fall.
   Henderson, 56, had the job for five seasons, including the last four. He was also on the job for the 1998 inaugural season, then reassigned to the minor leagues. He has been in the Rays organization for 12 seasons, longer than all but three other uniformed personnel - third-base coach Tom Foley, Triple-A manager Charlie Montoyo and minor-league hitting instructor Steve Livesey.
    The returning coaches are bench coach Dave Martinez, bullpen coach Bobby Ramos, first-base coach George Hendrick (who had been considering asking for a minor-league assignment), Foley and Hickey.
   Greene, 38, was new to the organization this season.
   Hickey, 47, has been with the Rays for three seasons. The staff ERA went from 5.53 his first season to 3.82 last season to 4.33 this season  

DEVELOPING: Pitching coach Jim Hickey will be back with the Rays.

After meeting with Rays officials Monday at Tropicana Field, Hickey said: “They want to have me back and I want to be back, so that’s probably what’s going to happen. We’re going to talk in the next couple days and work out the details.’’

All the Rays coaches are at the end of their contracts, and are meeting today with executive VP Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon. Bullpen coach Bobby Ramos is also going to return.

There should be more word later today on the status of hitting coach Steve Henderson, bench coach Dave Martinez, third-base coach Tom Foley and first-base coach George Hendrick, who has been considering leaving and taking a minor-league instructors assignment but decided to stay with the big-league team. Quality assurance coach Todd Greene's status is also unclear. 

Hickey, 47, has been with the Rays for three seasons. The staff ERA went from 5.53 his first season to 3.82 last season to 4.33 this season.

 

Comments

[tbird]

ReyL-- Burrell-- anyone who has played a considerable amount of baseball can see he pulls off everything, very vulnerable to any breaking pitch and at times looks like a high school kid trying to feel his way at the plate. Truth be known, Philly fans were ELATED to see him leave town. If you remember last year's WS (I do), he looked pathetic at the plate and was booed loud and long by philly fans, getting one hit and striking out the majority of the time (like now). for the record, Burrell, in post season, has hit .218. Believe it or not, he has had a worse year than this one; in 2003 (his 4th yr with Phil) he hit .209 for a full season. He has a career 29% strikeout ratio, striking out nearly 3 out of every 10 at bats. This season he regressed steadily, never did anything-- at his best, he averaged .255 with 30 homers but he has had several years with low power productivity and the most he has ever produced is 37 homers. I would have to assume you are among the few who see a light at the end of his tunnel--hope you are right but there is no history there to provide that optimism. As for Upton, just what has this guy done to think he can turn it around? That is what baffles me; he has had one decent major league season, a great post season and this year was nothing but terrible. His swing mystifies anyone who knows the game as it is all hands, no stride into the ball, no follow through, no confidence! He can play a decent CF, if and when he wants to play a decent CF. His batting average certainly could be higher but he refuses to bust it down the line (like Aubrey Huff) when hitting ground balls. How many times have we seen the infielder boot the ball and still throw Upton out by a country mile--he could learn much from the likes of CC or Zobrist or Pena or Aki or Bartlett on how to hustle and play the game with effort and desire. How many times has he been caught off base, seemingly day dreaming or thinking of places he would rather be. So, to me, he wouldn't play on MY TEAM for those reasons. There are way too many guys who can catch a ball and hit .235 and they TRY to do better. Burrell has a past history of moderate power, good RBI, low average, with lots of strikeouts. Upton has yet to post much history..In closing--Shields, didn't like this season at all and it bothers me. Last year was great as his change up was his out pitch. This year the batters have seen him enough to know what he has and that change-up isn't all that effective anymore..This is the scary part-- 219 2/3 innings pitched - gave up 239 hits!! That is downright not good but the positive to Shields is that he normally gives you innings and goes deep in games. He doesn't have the "stuff" that Garza has and his future is not nearly as bright as Garza's. It is what it is and they are what they are but if this team remains mostly what it is for next year, they will end up in 3rd or 4th in the division again.

[ReyL]

tbird-I would agree that we probably won't see the same type of seasons from Barty or Zo, but why are you so convinced that we are going to see the same season from Burrell. Before this year, Burrell was above average for the past 5 seasons. Maybe his neck was more injured than he led on. Maybe he just needed a season to adjust to the pitching in the AL or to DHing full time. I would like to think after 5 straight above average MLB seasons, he didn't forget how to hit overnight and may have a nice bounce back season. I also am very confident that we can expect a much better season out of BJ. The only one of our underperforming starters that scares me for next season is Navi. I hope they will address the cather position in the offseason, but we'll have to see. It's hard to find good MLB quality catchers either in trades or free agency.

As for Garza and Sheilds, both had very similar seasons to 2008. Garza, unfortunately was the least supported pitcher in the American League and it wasn't even close. I don't think we have to worry about them next year and think that Price, Niemman and Davis should all improve with experience and age.

After a normal offseason, I think this team will be hungry and ready to have a bounce back season next year. I think the playoffs are very much in our reach and expect next year to be closer to 2008, than 2009.

[ReyL]

As for Howell, just because he doesn't throw hard, doesn't mean he can't be an effective closer. before Aug 22 he was 14 of 14 in save opportunities when used like traditional closers(entering in the 9th with a lead, 0 out, 0 on, etc...) and 16 of 19 overall. Up until that point his BB/9 were 3.52 and his HR/9 was 0.77. Papelbon's BB/9 were 3.2 and his HR/9 were 0.7 this year.

I have no problem believing that JP tired out. He threw over 101 relief innings last year including the playoffs, had a shortened offseason, then started the season pitching in the WBC instead of his normal spring training. I think after a regular offseason and normal spring training, the JP of 08 and the first 4 1/2 months of 09 will return for the entire year.

As for him being a failed starter, that is irrelevant. Almost every single great relief pitcher started off as a starter and most failed, including Rivera, Nathan, Gagne, etc...

[ReyL]

JD123-I won't disagree with you about Mazzone and the O's. He didn't have much to work with there.

I'm not a Hickey supporter, but I also cannot say without a doubt that he is the problem. I think it is just hard to quantify the success or failure of a pitching coach and would trust the guy who hears his advice and works personally with him every day, such as the manager. He seems to be doing a good job of keeping our young arms healthy and for every failure, there is a success like Niemman.

[JD123]

Paul - Really don't care about the Braves missing the playoffs as I am not a Braves fan. Just making a point about the importance the pitching coach plays in developing young pitching talent. We have some awesome guys on our club and with the proper development our starters could be the best in baseball. Hickey scares me. He has not shown he is capable of developing our staff.

[tbird]

ReyL-- nobody is more of a fan of JP than I am but he is not a closer. JP is strictly a situational guy who went from being a starter (getting killed), to a situational guy who was lights out. His stats as a closer are not much and to consider him as your meat and potatoes, going into the 9th with a 1 run lead and feeling comfortable---no way. Feeling comfortable with the likes of Rivera, Nathan, Papplebon, etc. defines a closer. Everyone knows that the Yanks, with a lead and handing the ball to Rivera--game over. If the mentality remains, like today's paper indicates; that "we expect Burrell and Navarro to bounce back from disappointing season" and "our closer is a lefty already on the team"--then, we are in for more of the same next year and probably worse because you cannot expect Zobrist/Bartlett to have repeat seasons like that BUT YOU CAN expect Burrell to repeat his performance, not to mention the quality or non-quality starts by Shields and Garza...Merely revamping a few arms in the bullpen, by getting rid of 3 or 4 guys and replacing them with other team's castoffs, ain't gonna get er done...That 63 million cap they have self-imposed and staying with the nucleous of the 2009 team doesn't say much for the "desire" to achieve the ultimate goal--winning the league championship and World Series.

[Paul]

jd123,

Obviously you know more than I when it comes to the importance of a pitching coach, and probably baseball in general.

Oh, buy the way, who are the Braves playing in the playoffs
this year?

I must have missed something. Go Rays. :-)

[JD123]

Great stats on JP so lets add a few more. Led the AL in blown saves and his ERA, WHIP, HR/9, and BB/9 all increased over 2008. So his arm got tired. Not a good excuse in my book. I want a reliever who be counted on the entire season (playoffs included) not just the first few months.

[JD123]

No doubt that Mazzone had some good pitchers to work with in Atlanta. But Glavine was far from a stud before Mazzone though and he worked wonders with several pitchers over the years that fell off once they left his coaching. As for his Orioles stint, well it is the Orioles and the organization is a far cry from the Braves. That would be like asking him to turn one of us into a stud pitcher.

[ReyL]

I don't think anyone would argue that Papelbon is one of the best relievers in baseball. Yet JP Howell has been just as good and doesn't even get respect from his hometown fans.

Here is a comparison of the two pitchers. Here were Papelbon's stats through the first 4 months of this season.

April: 1.74 ERA 8.7 so/9
May: 3.09 11.6
June: 0.75 6.8
July: 2.45 10.6

On Aug. 21 Papelbon had an ERA of 2.08 and 56 SO in 52 IP. JP at that time had an ERA of 2.15 with 71 SO in 58 2/3 IP.

Last year, Papelbon's ERA was 2.34 with 77 SO in 69 1/3 IP, while JP's ERA was 2.22 with 92 SO in 89 1/3 IP.

JP was just as dominating as Papelbon until his arm fell off towards the end of the season. After a full offseason of rest, I feel very comfortable with JP in the closer role next season, just as I'm sure Sox fans are with Paps.

[ReyL]

Why would you not trust JP Howell? He was lights through the first 4 1/2 months of the season. His monthly ERA and SO/9 were:

April: 3.00 era 11.0 so/9
May: 2.16 10.8
June: 0.00 10.4
July: 2.45 11.5
Aug 1-21: 4.00 11.0

Last year his ERA was 2.22 and his so/9 was 9.3.

He admitted that he ran out of gas at the end of this season. That isn't hard to believe after pitching throughout the playoffs and WS last year, then starting the season early by pitching in the World Baseball Classic this year. He has been our best bullpen arm and for 10 1/2 out of the last 12 months, one of the best in all of baseball. If Maddon is insistent on having a closer, then I don't have any problem with it being JP Howell.

[ReyL]

If we are going to talk about the success of Leo Mazzone, how about his failure as pitching coach for the Baltimore Orioles. In 2 seasons the team ERA was 5.35 and 5.19 while the team won 70 and 69 games those two years. They didn't even let him finish his contract as they fired him 2 years into a 3 year deal. The year before he got there they won 74 games and had an ERA of 4.56.

Nothing against Mazzone, but a lot of people would be great pitching coaches if your rotation had Maddox, Glavine and Smoltz, all in their primes at the top of your rotation.

[tbird]

Hey guys--- was just watching evening news on ABC and Tom Korun had a piece about the Rays and a need or no need for a bonafide closer next year. Maddon was talking to someone and he said that "our closer is already on our team, lefty J.P. Howell"....R U kidding me, they already have the mentality to spin Howell around as a closer?? Maddon must be taking Jim Jones kool aide or he believes the public fan base is stupid. I love JP as much as the next fan does but he is not a closer, he is a situational pitcher, probably best suited for the 7th inning..Ridiculous statement!!!

[JD123]

Hey Paul - Want to know how important a pitching coach is? Take a look at the Atlanta Braves. Leo Mazzone will most likely be the 1st pitching coach elected to the hall. From 1991 - 2004 his staff had either the 1st or 2nd best era in the NL. Unheard of. With young guys like we have Hickey's role is almost as important. Bottom line, watch Kaz over the next 2 years and see him develop into what we all thought he could be. Bottom line - Kaz had to leave the organization to get straight and several guys have regressed under Hickey. It is not all his fault but he is a cancer not a coach. A young staff like the Rays need someone like Mazzone.

[joemaddonsucks.com]

Hey Dick Weed, I don't think Sonny is MLB quality either. I agree on that with you totally. The guy all year was just horrible, and even at AAA this year, he simply wasn't quality. Giving up 4 runs a game in AAA, and 6.8 runs a game in MLB simply isn't quality, regardless of the coach. Wonder if he is fixable in any way. He simply is a meatball pitcher right now, it is unreal to watch him this year, it felt like he was throwing batting practice in the majority of his starts. You simply can't throw meatballs to MLB hitters and keep getting away with it.

I disagree with them keeping Hickey, but since we don't have a choice, I guess we'll have to hope they got it right. Watching every game this year, it just seems like he doesn't get it, and how many times did you see him visit the mound and a walk or big hit followed. Granted pitchers have to make pitches, but coaches are supposed to adjust to the pitcher's strengh and utilize their talent.

Maddon's comment about fans, just shows you his smugness and arrogance. Right or worng, Maddon consistently takes shots at fans about attendance, their lack of knowledge of the game, yet never attempts to explain his reasonings. He just acts smug and smartassed most of the time, and actually demeans the fan base. Even if he is all that, his fake portrayal of being the good guy is clearly an act when he makes comments like he did. No need to blast fans, there is 15,000 of them that show up every night and alot of them don't like Maddon anymore because of his decisions and smugness.

Hoping the Rays turn it around and all this will go away. Until then Joemaddonsucks.com lives on

[Paul]

Answer this, all of you so called experts.

Why blame Hickey?

He didn't throw a pitch.
Madden says when to pull a pitcher.
The owners hire the pitchers and pay them.
The pitchers are pros, paid well to do their jobs.

What is Hickey's job?

Whatever it is, you give him too much credit, and too much blame.

You might as well blame OBAMA.

It would make as much sense.

[Kurt]

I don't know if Hickey is a good coach, but I don't think it's true that the starters "regressed." I watched every Rays home game this year from sec 104, right behond home plate, and Shields struggled primarily because hitters (especially on AL East teams) had him figured out. I think Shields is to the point where he's been in the league long enough, and there's enough film on him out there, that opponents have adjusted to his approach. You have to understand that Shields' strength is change-of-speed, not power or even movement, really. I can distinctly recall watching two of his starts -- one against the Orioles and another againsst the Jays -- in which it seemed like the hitters in the first and second inning knew what James was going to throw before James even knew. They swung early in the count, and invariably got fastballs to hit. They shelled him. The last couple of home starts, you could see that Shields was learning to switch his pitch selection up some more, and was keeping hitters more off balance. I don't think any of that was coaching per se, but rather the continued maturing of a pitcher going up against top-notch competition night after night. He's had to adjust to how teams are adjusting to him.

As for Garza, I thought he pitched very well all year, but gave up some home runs here and there, mostly due to momentary losses of concentration. Otherwise, his record was primarily due to non-existent run support.

As for Sonnanstine, I have no explanation. He was excellent in '08, especially late against Boston in September. Now he doesn't look like he could even cut it in triple A.

But if you're going to blame Hickey for Sonnanstine, then you have to give him credit for the pretty seamless transition that Niemann made to the majors, and the way Price improved over the course of the season (I still think Price would have been better served over the long run by spending the year in AAA, but no matter -- he's ready to turn into a dominant pitcher next year). And Davis certainly seemed comfortable this last month, though he's still got some learning to do.

So on the one hand you've got Sonny's disappointing year, and on the other hand you've got Niemann, Price, and Davis ready to bang away on all cylinders come March. If you attribute all of that to the pitching coach, and you weigh the failures against the successes, it isn't really close.

[George]

We need a real closer.

[joemaddonsucks.com]

Dissapointing to see Hickey get retained. Sonnanstine, Kaz, Shields, Garza, Howell, Balfour, all took steps backwards under Hickey this year.

Price didn't improve as much as he should have, and Hickey just seems to not use the pitcher's strengths, and tries to force them into his system. I guess we'll see next year how it comes out.

Granted it isn't all Hickey's fault, but why did most of the pitchers on the Rays struggle this year.

Jackson, Hammel, and Kaz aren't really factors, Jackson has 4.55 ERA since June 11, Hammel 4.33 ERA for the season, & Kaz in Anaheim is with a great team and a better pitching coach, but it's only been 6 weeks.

Hickey however never seemed to get the best out of the pitchers on the current Rays, and maybe he is under orders from Maddon or Friedman, but these starting 5 now should dominate, and Garza, Price, Davis need to use their strength, not always pitching to contact like Hickey preaches. Just look how well that worked for Sonnanstine. It works well for Niemann but that is his style, and Shields simply made poor pitches this year, he needs to go back to his changeup and use his best "OUT"pitch.

Steve Henderson-Friedman said the Rays didn't score runners from 3rd, and situational hitting was poor. --SO TRUE! How many times did the Rays not score the man from 3rd with less than 2 outs this season? It was a horrible job of making productive outs, and getting runners home, so this move makes sense. Also Navarro .218 avg, BJ .241 avg, Burrell .221 avg, Gross & Pena .227 avg, some of this has to be on the batting coach doesn't it? Too many proven hitters taking steps backwards, except Gross, he simply isn't a quality hitter. Gross hit .171 since Jul 1st, .227 for the year, with almost no run production
Pena hit .212 since Jul 1st, .227 for the year but did have 100 RBI, but still...

I will maintain season tix, regardless of who the Rays hire/fire, because I love the team and love baseball, but I understand fans that feel different. If the Rays were the Indians or Marlins and just didn't give a damn about their fans or winning, then I'd feel different, but this ownership does want to win, and even if they don't spend money as much as we'd like, they still field a team good enough to win and make the playoffs, and it's simply up to the staff and players to improve.

Hopefully the Rays add some real bullpen help, and maybe use some of their many young pitchers in the farm system to help the pen either by trading them for help, or by using them in the pen. Hellickson will be in Tampa Bay before too long, so who know what starter will lose his position in the next 18 months. This team is good enough to make the playoffs even in the AL EAST..

[galloway84]

I agree with Friedman on the Henderson firing. I never like that guy when they hired him in the first place. Rays offense lead MLB in K's and no patience at the plate. Also, Friedman did not fire Jim Hickey; that was a mistake. He should had gotten the boot as well along with Henderson. Hickey messed up pitchers like Kazmir,Shields, and Garza. They all underachieved this year exception of Kazmir with the Angels. Hickey must be a "yes" man to retain his job. Him and Maddon have a minor league type mentality.

[amjr]

Rays make the first mistake of the offseason retaining Hickey. Jackson, Kazmir, Hammel all are doing well after leaving the Rays. Hmmmm. Makes you wonder. Imagine how good Shields, Garza, Price, Niemann, and Davis could really be with a decent pitching coach! Maybe they will at least get rid of Gabe Gross once and for all. That guy has no business playing RF or anywhere for that matter! Wouldn't even play RF for the Pirates or the Nationals.

[John]

Hickey is the clown that needs to go.

[Jay of St Pete Beach]

All I want for Christmas is for Hickey to be gone.....
But maybe he is here because he comes cheap... just like the entire coaching staff.
Money talks. And that is why the Rays will only "compete" in the AL east. But baseball in St Petersburg is better than no baseball at all1

[MarkFidrych]

Hickey is the one who should be fired!!!

[JD123]

Great start to the off season. Hickey is a pitching cancer. Obviously the RFO are not interested in winning in 2010. I have not renewed my season tickets yet as I really wanted to see what the front office was going to do. This is NOT a step in right direction. I can see attendance plummeting now and management clueless as to why. Stupid moves will turn fans away and bringing Hickey back is as dumb as it gets.

[GatorSphere]

Scott at 2:02, the Rays World Series run and any credit of successes that go with it are now TWO SEASONS AGO. It's no longer "last year", it's now "two years ago" or "2008".

You can't argue that 2009 and its lack of success is a major blame to Hickey. It sure was. Jeff Niemann would be about an 18-game winner if not for a bullpen that blew leads. It goes on from there. Pitching was this team's downfall when they needed it most.

In other news, I'm happy to know the Rays will have a new hitting coach and happy to see the reasons why they let Henderson go. It sucks for Henderson, but hopefully the situational hitting in 2010 will get better.

Go Rays! And for the playoffs, Go Angels! or ANYONE BUT BOSTON AND NEW YORK!

[Mr.Fabulous]

(...spoken as John McEnroe)

YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS!!!

[JD123]

TO the poster Scott - Are you really Jim Hickey???? No fan I have ever spoken with believes that garbage but Hickey himself.

[JD123]

If the RFO does end up bringing him back, it will be the single biggest mistake they have ever made. Hickey is a joke. Pitchers that have left him have excelled almost immediately. Keeping Hickey around will destroy Davis and Price. The RFO needs to wake up and make Brian Anderson the pitching coach.

[MarkFidrych]

I wonder if Friedman has the balls to fire ANYONE?

[Scott]

You guys are horrible! Hickey is the reason we did so well last year! Along with our minor league pitching coaches Hickey developed the young starters into competitive Major Leaguers. The bulpen meltdown lies at the feet of Andrew Friedman. His personell choices in the offseason were obviously off center. Friedman should get a pass though b/c he's done well by us and I think the Kaz trade could turn out to be huge when Rodriguez is on the roster next year. Davis will be batter than Kaz and Hellickson and McGee will be following shortly. We do need a closer big time! I hope we try to get one this offseason.

[GatorSphere]

I hope someone from the illustrious Times sports editing and columnist departments can write a scathing column criticizing the Rays on this move. But it just goes in line with the season. It seems most of the fans knew the Rays needed a closer or at least some better arms in the pen but the team couldn't get that done. I believe most of us fans would rather not see a pitching staff coached by Jim Hickey next year. But they're bringing him back.

Oh well.

[Gene]

I guess they wanted to get the bad news out of the way as soon as possible! I was all about giving him a second chance a couple of years ago, but it sure looks like he did no better. How do his results justify keeping him? What did he do with Kaz and David Price in the off season last year to help them? Nothing I could see. I saw no evidence that he was doing anything with the relievers during the season to help them along. Please, tell me if there was something that we were never told, but it sure didn't look like it worked! Fortunately, how they managed the starters has kept them healthy and with them all above 200 innings, they should now be able to take care of themselves.

[Bud Lite]

Of course he will be asked back...
the pitching staff did so well...
starters lead by rookies, and relief pitchers terrible when we needed them most!
Heck yeh...hire him back!