(Story by Marco Stoovelaar; Photos by Henk Seppen)
 Hensley Meulens named Bench Coach of San Francisco Giants
Nederlands
 SAN FRANCISCO, California (USA) -
Hensley Meulens has been named the new Bench Coach of San Francisco Giants.
The club announced several changes in its coaching-staff on Thursday (October 26).
...Hensley Meulens is the new Bench Coach of the Giants...
...On the photo, he is the Manager of the Netherlands...
...during the 2013 World Baseball Classic...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Hensley Meulens, who was the Hitting Coach in the staff of Manager Bruce Bochy since 2010, takes over the position from Ron Wotus, who has become the new 3B Coach.
Wotus replaces Phil Nevin, who coached at third base in the 2017 season.
It was reported that Nevin refused another assignment and has left the club.
Also on Thursday, Matt Herges was named as the new Bullpen Coach, while José Alguacil will return as 1B Coach.
A successor for Meulens as Hitting Coach has not yet been named.
Meulens, Alguacil and Wotus are the lone coaches to return in an on-field position.
A few days earlier, several other changes were made in the coaching-staff.
Pitching Coach Dave Righetti, Bullpen Coach Mark Gardner and Assistant Hitting Coach Steve Decker all will not return in uniform, but will in other roles within the organization.
Righetti, who was the Pitching Coach of the Giants for 18 years, will become a Special Assistant of General Manager Bobby Evans.
Gardner was the Bullpen Coach for 15 years and now will be active in pitching evaluations, while Decker will work in the Baseball Operations Department.
This year, the Giants had a disappointing and struggling season.
The team was 64-98 and finished in last place in the National League West.
The team won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014.
In a press release, the Giants Senior Vice President and General Manager Bobby Evans stated:
,,Teams have to constantly infuse new ideas and energy at every level of the organization, on the field and in the front office.
This reorganization helps us enhance an already successful group of some of the best minds in baseball''.
...Hensley Meulens also managed...
...the Netherlands during the 2013...
...World Baseball Classic...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In the same press release, it is mentioned that in his new role ''Meulens will take over the day-to-day administration and participate more directly with Bruce Bochy's in-game strategy.
Meulens also will be responsible for the outfield defense instruction, positioning and preparation''.
In 2013 and 2017, Hensley Meulens was the Manager of the Netherlands Kingdom Baseball Team during the World Baseball Classic.
In both events, Meulens led the team to the Semi-Final.
Playing for the Orange squad during these events were several former or current Major Leaguers, including pitchers Rick van den Hurk (2017), Kenley Jansen (2013, 2017), Jair Jurrjens (2017) and Shairon Martis (2013, 2017), infielders Xander Bogaerts (2013, 2017), Yurendell De Caster (2013 2017), Didi Gregorius (2017), Jurickson Profar (2013, 2017), Jonathan Schoop (2013, 2017) and Andrelton Simmons (2013, 2017) and outfielders Wladimir Balentien (2013, 2017), Roger Bernadina (2013) and Andruw Jones (2013).
In recent days after completion of the regular season, several teams announced changes it their coaching staffs.
That included the firing of John Farrell (Boston Red Sox) and no contract extensions for Dusty Baker (Washington Nationals) and Joe Girardi (New York Yankees) after their teams were eliminated in the postseason.
Boston Red Sox
Boston fired Manager John Farrell on October 11, two days after the team was eliminated in the postseason, losing the American League Division Series against Houston Astros.
Farrell was Boston's Manager since 2013 after having led Toronto Blue Jays in the previous two seasons.
On Sunday, October 22, it was announced that Alex Cora has become the 47th Manager.
Cora is currently the Bench Coach of the Houston Astros.
He will join the Red Sox after conclusion of the World Series to succeed John Farrell.
Cora has no experience as Manager and played in the Major League in 1998-2011 for six different clubs, including seven seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He also played for seasons for the Red Sox.
Washington Nationals
On Friday, October 20, the Nationals announced that Manager Dusty Baker, whose contract expired, would not return.
On Sunday, October 29, it was reported, but not yet confirmed, that Dave Martinez most likely will be the new Manager.
Martinez has never been a Manager before, but has been the Bench Coach of Joe Maddon with both the Tampa Bay Rays (2008-2014) and Chicago Cubs (2015-2017).
Baker led the team in the past two seasons.
The announcement came eight days after the team lost the National League Division Series against the Chicago Cubs.
The decision was a surprise, as Baker led Washington to two National League East-titles.
However, the team was eliminated in the postseason both years.
Earlier, Baker also had been the Manager of the San Francisco Giants (1993-2002), Chicago Cubs (2003-2006) and Cincinnati Reds (2008-2013) after having played for 19 seasons.
New York Yankees
On Thursday, October 26, the Yankees announced that Joe Girardi would not return as its Manager.
Five days earlier, the Yankees lost the American League Championship Series against Houston Astros.
After losing the first two games, the Yankees won the next three at home, but lost games six and seven in Houston, resulting in elimination.
Girardi's contract expired a few days later and was not renewed.
The former catcher led the Yankees since 2008, winning the World Series in 2009.
Girardi played in the Majors in 1989-2003 for five clubs, including four years with the Yankees (1996-1999).
A successor for Girardi has not yet been named.
Philadelphia Phillies
Late September, the Phillies announced that Manager Pete Mackanin will not return.
Mackanin took over as Manager in June 2015 after Ryne Sandberg stepped down.
He also managed Pittsburgh Pirates (2005) and Cincinnati Reds (2007).
Mackanin played in the Major League in 1973-1981 for four clubs.
A successor has not yet been named, but it is rumored that John Farrell is amongst the candidates.
Detroit Tigers
On Friday, October 20, veteran Ron Gardenhire became the 38th Manager of the Tigers.
He succeeds Brad Ausmus, who led the Tigers for four seasons.
In September, it was announced that the Tigers opted not to extend his contract.
Gardenhire has a long career with the Minnesota Twins.
He was the 3B Coach in 1991-2001, then was its Manager from 2002 through 2014.
With the Twins, he won six titles in the American League Central Division.
This season, Gardenhire was the Bench Coach of Arizona Diamondbacks.
New York Mets
On Monday, October 23, Mickey Callaway was named as new Manager.
He became the 21st Manager in the history of the Mets and succeeds Terry Collins, who resigned after the season after having led the Mets since 2011.
Callaway has no managerial experience.
As a pitcher, he played in the Major League for Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1999, 2001), Anaheim Angels (2002-2003) and Texas Rangers (2003-2004).
Hereafter, he played in the professional leagues of South Korea (2005-2007) and Taiwan (2009).
Since 2013 through this season, Callaway was the Pitching Coach of Cleveland Indians.
(October 29)
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