What Orioles coaching changes really mean

Change is coming for the Orioles’ coaching staff next season, and at this point it really feels like that: change for the sake of change.

That doesn’t make it good or bad. But if the final decision in the Orioles’ early stages of introspection is that a massive course correction isn’t needed, then I’m hard-pressed to be upset about such an outcome.

This is especially true in the case of assistant hitting coaches Ryan Fuller And Matt Borgschulte leaves the team, the Twins add Borgschulte to their team and Fuller should be a sought-after coach due to his success here.

I don’t think the fact that neither will return should be interpreted as the team carrying the second half offensive impotence and early playoff exit at their feet. Perhaps the coaches anticipated this and took the opportunity to avoid the axe, but it’s more likely that their departures are a final act of service to an organization to which they owe nothing – but which owe them a lot.

In some ways, this allows the Orioles to continue to build on what they’ve built over the past few years without the organization having to indict its offensive processes to get over it.

According to our reporting, Fuller left of his own accord. Borgschulte has spoken to other teams in the past week, including the Twins, but was not included in the first wave of coaching changes last week, suggesting the door was at least open for his return.

The fact that Fuller and Borgschulte are now gone feels like a sidekick to a frustrated fanbase that somewhere wanted to take responsibility for an Orioles season that ended incredibly early compared to expectations. Even towards the end it wasn’t much fun due to some offensive struggles.

For the Orioles, however, this isn’t a dramatic shift in philosophy. Whoever hires them for these spots will likely maintain the general philosophy of controlling the strike zone to get shots that can be hit hard. It wasn’t until the amateur draft in July that they reiterated that they believe in what they believe in and that they need to hire someone completely old school for me to think that has changed. These steps are not a refutation of what these coaches have preached.

Borgschulte has another job and Fuller will likely have another job soon, because the Orioles’ offense was in the top five in baseball in almost every way.

I don’t feel the need to list them, but will do so anyway: runs scored (fourth), home runs (second), on-base plus slugging (fourth), weighted on-base average (fifth), weighted runs created plus (third), hard hit rate (third) and ground ball rate (fourth lowest).

But they’re gone because the Orioles’ situational hitting worsened in the second half. Much of that – as well as most of their offensive decline over the course of the season – was due to this Adleyrutschmans problems. But Executive Vice President Mike Elias He himself said it’s hard to predict scoring with runners in scoring position and “there’s a lot of evidence that can be difficult to control on a yearly and monthly basis.”

He also said that they act like they can control it and here we are. The Orioles will likely replace hitting coaches with colleagues with philosophy and, most importantly, work ethic. Because the job is about teaching, yes, but mostly it’s about work. Work on preparing hitters from a data perspective for what they will see that night, but also the literal act of replicating those throws in the cage so the hitters can adjust their eyes to the shapes and movements.

To be as process-oriented as the Orioles from top to bottom requires a lot of practice, and it’s up to the hitting coaches to give hitters everything they need. If the habits acquired by minors involve demanding work in the cage, these will be adopted. So, guessed Cody Ash has returned in some capacity and the Orioles add something from within or find another outside voice a la Borgschulte, everything will be fine.

Just think about a few things: The team that Fuller and Borgschulte were a part of will likely win its second Rookie of the Year winner Colton Cowser.

This group also helped several players including Ramon Urias, Cedric Mullins And Austin Haysretreated from the abyss as the season progressed.

And then those same hard-hitting coaches spent the final week of a season witnessing plenty of heartache from fans helping out Jackson Holiday Transition from leg kick to toe tap. This move has the potential to revitalize the former top prospect’s major league career. It could mean that Fuller and Borgschulte’s most significant influence (in a long list of them) is the result of the last major adjustment they made.

Baseball chatter

There are many former Reconstruction-era Orioles who were never heard from again. Then again, I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it Evan Phillips Pitched well out of the Dodgers bullpen in October.

Phillips was one of four players who came to the Orioles in a trade Kevin Gausman And Darren O’Day He was traded to the Atlanta Braves at the 2018 trade deadline and had a 7.36 ERA with a 1.867 WHIP in parts of three seasons with the Orioles before being released from the organization in August 2021. He landed with the Dodgers and has a 2.28 ERA .935 WHIP with 10.2 strikeouts per nine in three years with the Dodgers.

His sweeper became a real weapon after he left here and he had a really nice career. He remains beloved by those who knew him on the Orioles; It’s not like many would have predicted this.

📫 Do you have a question? Write to me here.

🚀 Talent pipeline

The Arizona Fall League isn’t what it used to be when it comes to youth quality, but the Orioles have someone who can do some serious work as an outfielder Jake Cunningham. The 2023 fifth-round pick had a tough debut all season, but ended up at High-A Aberdeen and quickly made an impact in the AFL with a 115 mph grand slam, his first of two home runs in the West. The second traveled only 411 feet at 110 miles per hour.

📰 For further reading

🥈 Second base fights: The strangest thing about the Orioles’ second base struggles that Paul wrote about here is this Jordan Westburg had an OPS of .845 at third base and .693 at second base. No idea what to think about it, but I think it will probably be helpful for him to look for a position in 2025, just like that Gunnar Henderson. (The Baltimore Banner)

😲 How did he get so good? I’ve seen a lot less of it Jack Flaherty more in his few months with the Orioles than I did with Phillips in his years here. I’m no less amazed at how poorly he’s fared here compared to the success he’s had this season. He was dominant. Imagine how helpful it would have been for the 2023 Orioles to have the version of him discussed in this article. (FanGraphs)