The Giants finalized their coaching staff with today’s announcements that Alyssa Nakken and Mark Hallberg have been hired as Major League assistant coaches. Nakken becomes the first woman to ever hold a coaching position on a big league team, after working for the Giants in various organizational roles since 2014. Hallberg, a former Diamondbacks minor leaguer, has coached in the Cape Cod League and spent the last two seasons as a coach and manager with the Giants’ short-season A-ball team.
The two new hires give San Francisco an unusually large 13-person coaching staff under new manager Gabe Kapler. Third base coach Ron Wotus is the only member of that group to return to the club from Bruce Bochy’s 2019 coaching staff.
More from the Senior Circuit…
- Ryan Zimmerman feels “it’s just a matter of time” before he signs a new contract with the Nationals, the veteran first baseman tells The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli (subscription required). “We’ve talked. We are continuing to talk,” Zimmerman said. “I’ve made my intentions pretty clear, they know where I stand and we know where they stand. We’ve been going back and forth the last couple weeks.” It has been widely assumed that Zimmerman will return for his 16th season with the Nats, and as Ghiroli notes, a deal doesn’t necessarily need to be finalized before camp opens since Zimmerman “has never been a big fan of spring training.”
- While Reds president of baseball operations Dick Williams warned The Athletic’s C. Trent Rosecrans and other reporters “don’t expect anything imminent” in terms of near-term roster moves, “I think it’s very possible that we’ll see additional free-agent signings or potential trades. I’m pretty sure there will be some changes between now and camp.” The signings of Mike Moustakas, Shogo Akiyama, and Wade Miley have already made it a busy offseason in Cincinnati, though the club still has some question marks at shortstop, catcher, in the bullpen, and whether or not to add to an already-crowded outfield mix.
Reds have had a solid last 12 months reshaping their team around Suarez and pitching rather then Votto. Should be a fun team to watch.
I admire the Reds Ownership for standing up and acquiring impact players, still in their prime, to make a run at the NL Central in 2020!!! St. Louis will be stand pat from 2019. Banking their season on a Matt Carpenter Come Back Player of the Year season. A healthy Alex Reyes. Another healthy season fo Wainwright. An above average season from Fowler. Bader to hit over .250. O’Neal to become Marcel Ozuna. Get dizzy headed Carlos Martinez to turn into Dizzy Dean. Then turn to prospects to fill in the gaps and become Mike Trout. Arenaldo is an Early Season Ticket play. The type the Cardinals fo every year at this time of year. It’s about a 10% chance all of that will come together or the Cards. Staying pay actually means the Cardinals are going to tank for 2 years!!!!! When Carpenter, Molina, Wainwright, Holland, Cecil, and player the Cards are still paying their salaries such as Mike Leake. Therefore……the Reds should vault in and win the NL Central.
In other words——the Cardinals Owners are wanting to tank until their big money players are off the books.
Neat sounds!
Reds should get Cozart.
MOOKIE BETTS!
Reds should be aiming higher than that.
Cozart and Bronson Arroyo. We are talking about the Old Timer’s Game, right?
Why
If Cards make significant signings what Reds have won’t b enough to win the NLC, they need another bat @ SS, with this lineup any big injury would destroy there chances
Who’s left that would be a ‘significant’ signing? Methinks, other than bringing Ozuna back, you might be disappointed.
Arenado, one of the best bats in NL
Arenado is not a free agent. And as others have pointed out, there is only a couple of players left in free agency that might be considered a significant signing.
The Cards (and the Cubs) decided early on that they were sitting out on player acquisition this offseason.
If cards make significant signings?HAHAHAHAHA – pretty sure they missed the significant signings boat by about 6 weeks
I always get Miley mixed up with Smyly, Although Miley’s prized more widely, Smyly won’t just go idly. Also, whatever happened to Joseph Wiley?
*remarks snidely*
And John Smiley, I note wryly.
Easy…
Miley is widely prized,
whereas Smyley is mighty sly.
Reds will be decent in 2020 and downright dangerous in 2021.
I’ll open a can of worms. Just read a tweet from Bauer concerning Astros players wearing buzzers inside their jerseys. I would love to see the Reds get rid of him. This guy is a drama queen and potential clubhouse cancer. So far this offseason he’s “developed” his new negotiating policy which will without a doubt influence his teammates, and now he’s perpetuating this new buzzer on Astros players conspiracy. If the latter turns out to be true, then that’s a major issue that MLB needs to deal with. But I’m not crazy about having this guy in our clubhouse. Get rid of this guy.
that buzzer story is spreading like wildfire right now, he’s hardly the only one saying it nor is he the first
How do you perpetuate a new conspiracy? Initiate. Or maybe instigate. But not perpetuate.
Brain washed sheep call facts backed w evidence conspiracy.
As a reds fan, good for Bauer. Whatever he comes up with to make the most money possible- that’s fantastic for him! Always disappointing when fans side with corporations over players when it comes to salaries. Promise the corporations care nothing about you- only sucking out your money, health, and emotion. Wake up !
I’m a Reds fan, and I could care less about the money involved in today’s game. I’m more concerned about team unity and avoiding distractions. Case in point, look at the Pirates last season. I don’t want that type of BS happening to the Reds, and if there’s one flake on this team that could make a mess of that clubhouse it’s Bauer…
Did Bauer date your sister and break up with her? Don’t understand the hate
Get over it dude. Bauer called out the Astros cheating 3 years ago, and now he’s blowing his “told ya so” horn. Good for him – like most of us, the Houston Asterisks are a bunch of cheating b’s, and they should hear it non-stop
More coaches than players on the field. That is unusual. Only Kapler.
I don’t think it’s Kapler as much as it is the front office surrounding him with more voices. Well just have to wait and see !!
The reds should get Seager.
And his Silver Bullet Band.
But that would be going Against the Wind.
Only if you’re going to Katmandu!
His numbers aren’t very good east of Omaha.
I think they’ve already Turned the Page on that one
Unless a lot of players have career years, I am not sure that the reds have done enough improving to make up the 15 or so games they need to make playoffs. The moves they did make, don’t make a lot of sense unless they are planning more player movement. I mean Moose is quality player but they paid a lot for him to play out of position, a unknown quantity in a crowded outfield and a pitcher who was left off his teams playoff roster.
The reds are just one metal trash can away from winning it all.
War snore.
They’re banking on those improvements plus better luck/performance in close games. That 1-8 start was a huge set back.
The reds should go after kyle seager the guy can play baseball, and i personaly would love to see what he can do on a winning ball club. He gives his all and the mariners dont deserve that kinda of guy when they dont want to try and be better
What?!?!?……
No proposed trades of Reds garbage for Lindor?
Telling Indian fans how lucky they will be to get Freddy Galvis from them to play SS. The Freddy Galvis that the Reds got on waivers last year as no AL team claimed him.
Well, Freddy is your SS, and Moose – a 3B – is your 2B.
Not to worry. The NLC is yours for the taking. Just wait till all that garbage you wanted to off to Cleveland gets called up to play for you this year.
And the Reds are a totally innovative organization. They’ve got this thing where the manager gets thrown out of so many games for no reason, that lull the opposing team to giving up, then they spring for the W!
LOL
Lighten up, Francis…
What a troll. And a jealous one at that. First, no one in their right mind thinks Galvis and trash gets any deal done. You also forgot they have far and away the best rotation in the central. And then you jab their manager getting thrown out of games like that is relevant to the talent of a team. Back in your hole boy.
I’m floored lindor didn’t get traded. Shows how weak the trade market is ! As a red fan I laughed at them getting lindor for senzel as dodgers and padres both have way more expendable talent to acquire him yet them and the reds all passed on him. Reds can acquire lindor with a phone. Indians will never get more than a senzel package for him now. Then they’d have to sign Ozuna however and it doesn’t seem they are ready to spend another 30 mil person season between those two.
And based on the terrible market for lindor- Bryant has absolutely no trade value.
baseballsavant.mlb.com/infield-defense?year=2019&#…
Where is Freddy on that list? That is why he is the starting SS.
Galvis was not on waivers because he was not playing well, he was hitting .267/.299/.444/.743 and playing lights out defense, he was on waivers because the Blue Jays were committed to playing the kids and not to winning. They put him on waivers so that he could go play every day on a better team. In the first half he had more hoMe runs in less AB and the same BA with a higher SLG than Marcus Semien.
Reds have about as much chance of winning the NL Central as the Indians do of winning the AL Central and more than my Angels do of winning the West.
Trying to use Freddy as a reason that the Reds can’t contend is barking up the wrong tree.
Well said
Alyssa Nakken gives the Giants two assistants (Ethan Katz being the other) that were student-athletes at Sacramento State. Apparently she was a really good softball player. From what I read it seems her role has more to do with life skills that are quite transferable between the two sports. However, neither of the hitting coaches they hired did much in the pros, so maybe she could be the hitting coach or even the manager someday. No sarcasm intended. I’m more commenting on how coaching has changed in the game. You no longer have to be a successful former pro to be an MLB coach.
I’ve played enough hockey to know a make up call when I see one.
Tucker Barnhart is a gold glove catcher. No one in baseball blocks more buried curveballs in the dirt. When he came back after injury in the second half he raked. Reds do NOT need another catcher. Pay attention people.
Meh….If TySteve makes the team they don’t. Barnhart is good but u still got a pitcher and Galvis in the lineup which makes a weak lineup. Reds also offered grandel more money than what he signed for so your more confident then that are.
They are stacked at relief pitching however. For sure not a need and they can actually trade from that strength. Like Iglesias for Cory seager makes sense.
Barnhart is the perfect backup catcher. Great defense and about average offense for a catcher.
Galvis is average or a tiny bit above on offense at .260 BA with a .734 OPS and his defense is great – baseballsavant.mlb.com/infield-defense?year=2019&#…
Neither of them is a reason they can’t contend. Still don’t think they will contend, but its not those two.
Meant to say platoon catcher, not backup catcher. Got ahead of myself.
Doesn’t every NL team have a pitcher in the lineup?
Not the first time I’ve seen someone lament the #7, # 8, AND #9 spots in the Reds lineup. The Reds have just 2 somewhat weak spots in their lineup. Most teams have a weak spot or two.
Tucker was a gold glove catcher several years ago and now is considered league average. Framing is bad. He’s nothing but an 8 hole hitter that even when hot, is an unreliable singles hitter. There is a lot to be desired with him. If the point of all of this is to win a championship, the rest of the lineup would have to be drastically better to do that with Barnhart behind the plate.
Barnhart was 9th in baseball in pitch framing between Realmuto and Posey. 10.1 runs saved. For catchers with at least 2000 framing chances, MLB average was 0.8 runs saved. Overall on defense he was 5th in MLB.
11 HRs in 316 ab is not a singles hitter. Its being on pace for 20 in a 600 ab season. He hit a very respectable .247/.343/.417/.760 with a 114 OPS+ and 115 wRC+ against RHP
What he is, is a good platoon catcher. .
I think the reds stay pat til season plays out. Then they’ll see what Aquino/Galvis/Barnhart have to offer and who are sellers. If Rockies are sellers- story is a great fit and will cost much less in prospects than seager or lindor. Baez May be another option pending on cost.
Upgrading catcher will be tough with options available. Might as well try Tyler Stevenson if he comes out hot
Not a fan of Galvis. Would love Lindor, but I still believe in Senzel. And Lodolo might be a staff ace in a couple years. Turner was not the answer at hitting coach. Which is why he is gone. Hopefully the bats return in 2020 and the outfield logjam works itself out. Ozuna is not worth the money. No way!
Reds are going to be good.
Pitching will determine the Reds playoff chances. Not a SS or a Catcher who averages a hit or so more every other or every third game. Word on the street is that Nate Jones has been working out at his college facilities. If he’s healthy, a big addition to the bullpen. He had closer stuff in Chicago when he pitched
The reds need to make a trade for a SS and sign a outfielder , right now your looking at 2nd or 3rd place to manny question in the outfield winkler and senzel get hurt to much
Good thing they play in the NL central where cubs cardinals and brewers have all became worse than they were last year.
Bowzer, Happy Days Winkler doesn’t play for the Reds.
The OF will be one of the strengths of this team going forward.