Yankees officially announce 2011 coaching staff
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Jan 11, 2011 
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No surprise here. The Yankees have announced their 2011 coaching staff, with Mike Harkey, Mick Kelleher, Kevin Long, Tony Pena and Rob Thomson returning to their familiar roles. The only change will be at pitching coach, where Larry Rothschild has replaced Dave Eiland.
• Harkey, 44, will begin his fourth season as Yankees bullpen coach.
• Kelleher, 63, will return for his third year as the Yankees’ first base and sixth year as a coach or instructor in the Yankees organization.
• Long, 44, will return for his fifth season as Yankees hitting coach and eighth year in the Yankees organization.
• Pena, 53, will return for his sixth season on the Yankees Major League coaching staff and third as bench coach.
• Thomson, 47, will enter his 22nd season in the Yankees organization and his third as third base coach.
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
I am shocked that Tony Pena doesn’t get more consideration for a managerial gig.
Chip – maybe there’s some residual fallout from his departure from KC. Not saying it’s right, just saying some in the industry might hold something against him.
Joe –
For what? I don’t recall any scandal surrounding him leaving KC – just that the team stunk and wanted to go in a different direction. He did win Manager of the Year once with them.
K. Long is the man that is for sure.
As long as Eiland is gone and Long is back, it’s all good.
I’m just happy Pena is still here. If we’re going to develop one of the young guys into a real catcher it helps having Girardi and Pena there on the team. Pena helped Posada get better a few years ago. He’s an asset.
Pena walked out in the middle May of 2005. That doesn’t sit well with owners.
GreenBeret7 January 11th, 2011 at 3:06 pm
Pena walked out in the middle May of 2005. That doesn’t sit well with owners.
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Well that would do it.
Chip – Not living in KC, I’m not sure of all the details. As GB said, he left during the season. I think it was personal reasons. Whatever’s going on, I’ve always thought of him as a very solid baseball man.
GB7
Torre Tyson is now the defensive coordinator for the Yankees minor leagues.
Joe from Long Island January 11th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
Chip – Not living in KC, I’m not sure of all the details. As GB said, he left during the season. I think it was personal reasons. Whatever’s going on, I’ve always thought of him as a very solid baseball man.
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Yeah – and there are other guys who have had some pretty shady reasons for moving on and have gotten subsiquent jobs
I always thought that Mick Kelleher has really good hands over there.
Watch him sometime. He makes some sweet grabs.
Hey Chad
I didn’t get time to post on the last entry about minor league injury updates but what about Melky Mesa? He had a cast on his arm at the end of the season. Do you know what happened to him? And Corban Joseph? Didn’t get have surgery on his wrist?
tyanks
love your blog
tyanksfan36 January 11th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
GB7
Torre Tyson is now the defensive coordinator for the Yankees minor leagues.
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Thanks, TY. I’m glad to see the Yankees start adding more instructors. I’d really like to see them add catching instructors and infield/outfield coaches to the entire system. That’s been missing for years. Tyson comes from good baseball stock. His dad was an infielder in the 70s and 80s for the Cardinals.
The Cardinals’ negotiations with Albert Pujols could resemble the Yankees’ negotiations with Alex Rodriguez, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Cardinals executives have acknowledged that an extension with their first baseman would take the organization “places it hasn’t gone” in terms of contract value and potential incentive clauses, Goold writes.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com
J just wonder what the Cards can actually afford in addition to Pujols if they give him 30 million per. Also, wonder how many years they are willing to extend him for….he’s already 30 and looks older than that (in apperance, not performance ).
blake January 11th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
The Cardinals’ negotiations with Albert Pujols could resemble the Yankees’ negotiations with Alex Rodriguez, writes Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Cardinals executives have acknowledged that an extension with their first baseman would take the organization “places it hasn’t gone” in terms of contract value and potential incentive clauses, Goold writes.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com
J just wonder what the Cards can actually afford in addition to Pujols if they give him 30 million per. Also, wonder how many years they are willing to extend him for….he’s already 30 and looks older than that (in apperance, not performance ).
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It’s a great question. St. Louis is not the Yankees. They can’t afford to go to the same places New York went for A-Rod – not if they want to field 24 more quality players.
It would probably be as big a mistake for them as signing Alex to his original deal turned out to be for the Rangers.
I also wonder if the Red Sox would get in on it figuring that they could sign A-Gone or spend some more and get a vastly better player instead.
Kate
Thanks. I’ve had it for a while and haven’t really done much with it, now that baseball is starting up again I figured I’d try to keep it up.
GB7
I’m glad they are keeping Tyson in the organization. I will miss his arguing with the umps but it will be cool to see the team managed under Sojo again. I think he gives hope to utility infielders everywhere with all his WS rings!
Great coaching staff. Long has shown what a difference a quality coach can make. If I were running the team I would be willing to pay the man an awful lot of money should be ever consider leaving. I am also optimistic about Rothschild. I was never an Eiland fan and had hoped they would hire someone else when he first got the gig. This team could really use a quality pitching coach…
coaches are good at what they do, plus all the help they get at ST is a plus
Gosh this offseason blows so far, and Harkey can’t only be 44. He’s been around baseball forever it seems.
another groundhog day in Yankee land, but I have a feeling that will all change soon
The Pujols negotiations will be interesting, but an underrated topic for next winter is the destination of Prince Fielder. The Red Sox will be shedding Ortiz and Drew’s contracts ($26 mil combined)…could they possibly go after Fielder to be their DH?
Ground Hog Day is a fitting description Joeman…every morning I expect there will be some news, but it just like the day before!
From my simple Yankee fan perspective, the weak link in the coaching staff is gone.
From Joba, to AJ, and even Phil—there was just too many screw-ups for me.
And while I don’t blame him, I also can’t give him any credit for fixing anything either.
Chip,
If Pujols makes it to free agency I wouldn’t rule.the Yankees or Red Sox either one out as getting in on the bidding. Let’s remember the Yankees had a SS already when they traded for Arod….of course this would be a little different because Pujols isn’t as position flexible as Alex was but to add that bat I can see the Yanks getting creative…..
I am excited for Groundhog’s Day.
Groundhog’s Day would mean I am 3 weeks closer to the end of busy season
Tar
I’m not an Eiland supporter but what do you think about when Kerry Wood came over here, apparently the scouts and Eiland saw something wrong with his mechanics and fixed it and he became the stabilizer of the bullpen.
Do you think that was all Eiland or a collaboration of many minds?
Pena resigned as manager of the Royals after 33 games in 2005. His name was in the middle of a divorce case involving his neighbors in a KC suburb. He was supposedly having an affair with his neighbor. He was subpoenaed to appear in court for the divorce case right around the time he quit. That’s about it.
SI_JonHeyman #yankees remain interested in soriano. another pen possibility: fuentes.
Take it FWIW
Ground Hog’s Day means we are that much closer to the end of winter too
HA. The Yankees don’t seem that interested in anyone.
I still dont get the first round pick thing unless he was posturing. 31st in the first round? Might as well be a regular pick once you get past the top 10.
upstate kate January 11th, 2011 at 4:08 pm
Ground Hog’s Day means we are that much closer to the end of winter too
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Especially if the Groundhog doesn’t see his shadow!!!!!!!!
I think the plan at this point is to make the fans wait so long, that we are excited just to sign someone (A.Jones, Ducscherer, Rauch, Fuentes, Soriano, or anyone).
TY
I have no knowledge of the inner workings, but with a veteran like Wood I would tend to give him the credit. I bet he talked to MO more than Eiland. I really kind of doubt Eiland was the reason Wood was so effective as a Yankee. Also, sometimes it’s as simple as a change of scenery. But if you have a link that Eiland was responsible for Wood, let me know.
oh Erica you know that doesn’t apply up here! It is April before it is even mud season.
Here’s something new.
YAY welcome back m!!!
upstate kate January 11th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
oh Erica you know that doesn’t apply up here! It is April before it is even mud season.
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My sister and I both went to college upstate. We were on the phone last night laughing about mud season.
Hi m
Blake –
Only spot for Pujols would be DH – could they possibly talk Tex into going back to 3b? Possibly but it’s not a road I would want to go down. So the question really boils down to – would Pujols sign to DH?
Aloha m.
m…..nice to have you back…..
Pujols in RF
M
Did you get lost at another blog and find your way back
RS January 11th, 2011 at 3:57 pm
The Pujols negotiations will be interesting, but an underrated topic for next winter is the destination of Prince Fielder. The Red Sox will be shedding Ortiz and Drew’s contracts ($26 mil combined)…could they possibly go after Fielder to be their DH?
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I think Prince is going to be an amazing case study. He’s going to want at least Ryan Howard money, but what team is going to invest long term in a guy who is that big already?
No NL team will do it because they know that in 3 or 4 years he’s going to be a DH. I can’t imagine though him signing with an AL team to just go in and automatically slot into the DH spot. If something happens where Boston loses Gonzalez they could go after Prince to play 1b for a while and then shift him off it towards the back of his contract. Short of that where does he fit? My only guesses would be either Texas or Seattle.
Seattle has Smoak but they could easily deal him for pitching
Texas has Moreland and Young – but neither of those guys would prevent Texas from making that kind of move and a 3, 4, 5 of Hamilton, Cruz, Prince would be scary.
LGY January 11th, 2011 at 4:32 pm
Pujols in RF
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Pujols was moved to 1b because of chronic elbow injuries – so that’s a non-starter.
m,
I’ve missed you. Welcome back!!!
M,
Good to see you.
Chip,
If I could add Albert’s bat I would figure out something out as to where to play everyone. DH, LF, 1B some when Tex needs a day off.
Glad to see the coaching staff back
and m!!!
blake January 11th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Chip,
If I could add Albert’s bat I would figure out something out as to where to play everyone. DH, LF, 1B some when Tex needs a day off.
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I don’t disagree – but the first or second question from Albert would likely be “Where would you play me?”
Ah well, it’s all fine for fantasy — we know it’s not in the stars though. Cash will once again focus on pitching. Best case is that some of the kids show enough to get another year in the show and/or the B’s all progress along and are ready to make their own impact.
Worst case: all the minor leaguers flop, AJ continues to confound, Hughes regresses and CC opts out of his deal.
cgrand14 http://fb.me/NSdXQwOY
I think Pujols will re-up with St. Louis, but thinking outside the square just for fun; is a Pujols for Teixeira, Joba and prospect(s) deal out of the question? Pujols will probably get $28 milion a year, so there is an incentive for St. Louis as Teixera is signed through 2016 at only $23 million. Yankees can afford Pujols.
Or does Tex have a no-trade?
WCYF,
Tex has a full no-trade clause
West Coast Yankee Fan January 11th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
I think Pujols will re-up with St. Louis, but thinking outside the square just for fun; is a Pujols for Teixeira, Joba and prospect(s) deal out of the question? Pujols will probably get $28 milion a year, so there is an incentive for St. Louis as Teixera is signed through 2016 at only $23 million. Yankees can afford Pujols.
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Silly as it sounds I don’t think the Yankees would do it.
Tex is a much better defensive 1b than Pujols and Phat Albert has had recurring issues with his obliques, shoulder, elbow, etc…probably from having to carry the entire city of St. Louis on his back.
Pujols was moved to 1b because of chronic elbow injuries – so that’s a non-starter
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I believe Pujols had one elbow injury in 2003 and they moved him to 1B as a precaution.
Tex is a much better defensive 1b than Pujols and Phat Alber
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I don’t agree. I think Pujols is actually better than Tex at 1B.
LGY January 11th, 2011 at 4:52 pm
Pujols was moved to 1b because of chronic elbow injuries – so that’s a non-starter
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I believe Pujols had one elbow injury in 2003 and they moved him to 1B as a precaution.
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And so giving him $250 mil and moving him back to LF is a good idea why?
In any case – I’m pretty sure Albert would balk at signing a deal where he has to move off 1b.
LGY January 11th, 2011 at 4:54 pm
Tex is a much better defensive 1b than Pujols and Phat Alber
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I don’t agree. I think Pujols is actually better than Tex at 1B.
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Okie dokie.
I think the Cards will come up with the cash to sign Pujols….the real impact for the Yankees may be the fall out from the extension he signs and the players that may be made available because of it. Can they lock Wainwright up? Will they move Carpenter? Etc…..
Heyman forgot to add the Yanks would be interested in Soriano if his price tag drops in half and it’s a sign and trade. We know Cash won’t give up his precious draft pick so he can waste it on someone that will never make the Yanks.
blake January 11th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
I think the Cards will come up with the cash to sign Pujols….the real impact for the Yankees may be the fall out from the extension he signs and the players that may be made available because of it. Can they lock Wainwright up? Will they move Carpenter? Etc…..
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I think Carpenter is a lot like Andy in that if he doesn’t re-sign with the Cards he’s not going to pitch again. At this age, at this stage, he’s comfortable, he likes the manager and pitching coach and city – no reason to pick up and move.
Wainwright’s another animal entirely – but I would think they would sooner dump other guys off the payroll than let Wainwright get away.
Tex is probably a better defender than Pujols but it’s really not by that much. Pujols.is pretty good himsellf defensively and although Tex is a good hitter, he’s not.close to Albert’s level in that arena.
Captain Clutch January 11th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
Heyman forgot to add the Yanks would be interested in Soriano if his price tag drops in half and it’s a sign and trade. We know Cash won’t give up his precious draft pick so he can waste it on someone that will never make the Yanks.
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The pick the Yankees gave up in signing Mark Teixeira was used by the Angels to draft Mike Trout easily the best prospect in all of baseball.
No I am not saying I would rather have Trout than Tex (or CC). I’m just saying – don’t pooh pooh draft picks and proclaim that they never work out.
Pujols is great defensively.
I think Tex has better hands, but Pujols has way more range and Albert is no slouch scooping balls and such.
I don’t see what makes Tex better at 1B than Albert.
Carpenter is what 35…..why would he retire?
Thanks Bobby.
New Post- Yankees organizational depth: Third base
This will mainly be about Alan Horne who I saw mentioned earlier today on here, but first about Torre Tyson, his position is not a new one, he is replacing Jody Reed, who has been the roving coach for a few years now.
In terms of Alan Horne, someone posted the post from May about him doing the platelet thing, they thought it did not work so he had another surgery in June, but there is good news added to it if there can ever be good news when talking about a shoulder operation.
When Andrews went in he found the platelets had repaired his shoulder, but his bursa sac was inflamed, the problem all along was a loose bone spur that was digging into his rotatar cuff, this is why even with the operation and everything he never got to 100 percent and was always in pain.
He said in Nov he feels for the first time healthy since his great 2007 season, so yeah the odds are long, but at least they figured out what was wrong with his arm and finally fixed it to give him a chance this year.
I have not heard if Christian Garcia has signed with anyone yet, so I still hold out hope that the Yankees will sign him later in the year, and finally put him in the pen to see if he can make it, if his elbow can recover for the second time of course.