SB Nation St. Louis - St. Louis Cardinals coaching staff changes as Mike Matheny settles inhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49009/stl-fave.png2012-11-06T13:00:48-06:00http://stlouis.sbnation.com/rss/stream/33577392012-11-06T13:00:48-06:002012-11-06T13:00:48-06:00Martinez hired away from Cards by Astros
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<figcaption>Scott Rovak-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Houston Astros hired Dennis Martinez away from the St. Louis Cardinals.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> saw another coach leave leave their staff earlier this week, when pitching coach and former Major League All-Star Dennis Martinez took a job on new <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Houston Astros</a> manager's Bo Porter's staff <a href="http://blog.chron.com/ultimateastros/2012/11/05/astros-add-dennis-martinez-eduardo-perez-to-staff-tony-defrancesco-named-triple-a-manager/" target="_blank">as the team's new bullpen coach</a>.</p>
<p>The Cardinals and manager Mike Matheny previously lost hitting instructor Mark McGwire, who is reportedly <a href="http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/story/_/id/8584448/mark-mcgwire-st-louis-cardinals-eyeing-los-angeles-dodgers-job-report-says" target="_blank">in line to take the same job</a> with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>.</p>
<p>Martinez was named to his new job on Monday after being released from his service with St. Louis last Thursday. Martinez served in the Cardinals' organization for the past six seasons. The Astros, who are leaving the Cardinals' NL Central for the AL West next season, also rounded out their new staff with <span>Eduardo Perez</span> as the new bench coach, Dave Clark as first base coach, Dave Trembley as third base coach, <span>Doug Brocail</span> as pitching coach and John Mallee as hitting coach.</p>
<p>Martinez won 245 games with five Major League teams between 1976-98.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-cardinals/2012/11/6/3608910/st-louis-cardinals-dennis-martinez-astros-coachKevin Jeffers2012-11-06T09:01:15-06:002012-11-06T09:01:15-06:00John Mabry follows Big Mac as Cards' hitting coach
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<figcaption>Scott Rovak-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>John Mabry, the St. Louis Cardinals' assistant hitting coach last season, was promoted Monday as Mark McGwire packed up for Los Angeles.</p> <p>In 1997 the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> acquired Mark McGwire in a franchise-changing move that had the side effect of pushing two-year-starter <span>John Mabry</span> into the outfield and eventually off the team. 16 years later McGwire finally paid Mabry back, quitting as the Cardinals' hitting coach to work closer to his family in Los Angeles. Mabry, who returned to the Cardinals in 2011 as the assistant hitting coach, was promoted Monday to fill the vacancy. </p>
<p>Mabry spent four years with the Cardinals as a utility bat in the mid-90s and started at first base in 1996, during Tony La Russa's first year on the job. At his best—in 1996, during an inexplicable run with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.athleticsnation.com/">Oakland Athletics</a> in 2002, and in an unlikely return to St. Louis in 2004—he was a high-average hitter with line-drive power who could play at each of the four offensive-minded corners. He ended his career after a brief stint with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Colorado Rockies</a> in 2007 with 898 hits and a career line of .263/.322/.405. </p>
<p>No word yet as to who will replace Mabry as the assistant hitting coach, but in spite of <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/cardinals-rumors-2013/2012/11/5/3602218/jim-edmonds-st-louis-cardinals-2013" target="_blank">the recent Jim Edmonds rumors</a> it seems reasonable to expect he'll be right-handed. </p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/cardinals-rumors-2013/2012/11/6/3607768/st-louis-cardinals-john-mabry-hitting-coachDan Moore2012-11-05T08:01:38-06:002012-11-05T08:01:38-06:00Jim Edmonds tabbed for bigger role—but doing what?
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<figcaption>David Welker</figcaption>
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<p>The St. Louis Cardinals could be expanding Jim Edmonds's role with the organization in 2013. What do they plan on doing with him?</p> <p>Shortly after the news that <a href="http://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-cardinals/2012/11/2/3593698/mark-mcgwire-los-angeles-dodgers-hitting-coach" target="_blank">Mark McGwire would be leaving as hitting coach</a> broke, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> fans at <a href="http://www.vivaelbirdos.com">Viva El Birdos</a> began speculating about who would replace him. And because they're at VEB (we sponsor his Baseball Reference page, donchaknow), the conversation naturally turned toward <span>Jim Edmonds</span>. The logical replacement has always been <span>John Mabry</span>, and since word of the McGwire exit first came he's only become a more likely candidate. But shortly afterward came this news from local Cryptic Tweeter Joe Strauss:</p>
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<p>There have been discussions about Edmonds expanding role with Cards. Could mean more time in camp. Could mean something else.</p>
— Joe Strauss (@JoeStrauss) <a data-datetime="2012-11-03T13:39:50+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/JoeStrauss/status/264723562097688576">November 3, 2012</a>
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<p>Which is exciting news for anybody who remembers the 2004 NLCS, or just likes baseball players who are particularly fun to watch. Assuming it's "something else," what, exactly, would Jim Edmonds do in the Cardinals' organization?</p>
<p>It's hard to say, if only because he seems like a natural fit as—well, hitting coach. Edmonds was a light-hitting seventh-rounder when he began his professional career, but as he developed, in the minors and majors, he moved to that distinctive, idiosyncratic uppercut swing and developed the plate discipline to walk 998 times in 2011 career games. </p>
<p>It looked odd—the stationary feet, the shrug backward, the long swing—but it was the work of someone who clearly loved hitting, and knew it well enough to remain a potent slugger until his body failed him at 41. His ability to gauge pitchers was always a topic-of-choice among the broadcasters, too; he was always given credit for noticing when pitchers, on the Cardinals or elsewhere, were tipping pitches. </p>
<p>Of course, he was also able to translate average speed into excellent outfield play into his late thirties, when most center fielders have long-since been moved to a corner. So it could just be that he's being brought in to teach <span>Matt Holliday</span> how to handle that play where the shortstop backs onto the outfield grass and he needs to be charging it instead of backing off...</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/cardinals-rumors-2013/2012/11/5/3602218/jim-edmonds-st-louis-cardinals-2013Dan Moore2012-11-02T22:42:45-05:002012-11-02T22:42:45-05:00John Mabry a candidate to be Cards hitting coach
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<figcaption>Scott Rovak-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>John Mabry is looking like he will be replacing Mark McGwire as the Cardinals hitting coach.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> are losing hitting coach Mark McGwire to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a>, and the <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/JoeStrauss/status/264561467389509634">St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting</a> that assistant hitting coach <span>John Mabry</span> is the leading candidate to take over for McGwire. Mabry was drafted by the Cardinals, and had three different stints with the team as a player.</p>
<p>He was initially hired by the team in December of 2011 to be the teams assistant hitting coach, and now one year later he is looking to be promoted.</p>
<p>In his one year, Mabry was part of an offense that was second in the National League in runs scored, and fifth overall. Plus, the team had the fourth best batting average in all of baseball at .271.</p>
<p>This move is not yet official for Mabry getting the job, but so far he is the only candidate mentioned as a possible replacement for the departing McGwire, who is heading out West.</p>
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https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-cardinals/2012/11/2/3593718/mark-mcgwire-dodgers-hitting-coachJeremy Mauss2012-11-02T17:21:27-05:002012-11-02T17:21:27-05:00Mark McGwire to join Dodgers as hitting coach
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<figcaption>Christian Petersen</figcaption>
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<p>The St. Louis Dispatch is reporting that Mark McGwire is heading to the Dodgers to take over as their hitting coach.</p> <p>Mark McGwire has been the hitting coach for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">St. Louis Cardinals</a> over the past three years, and he could be on his way to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Los Angeles Dodgers</a> to take the same position, <a href="http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/cardinal-beat/mcgwire-dodgers-appear-to-be-a-match/article_770ac892-2524-11e2-9cb5-001a4bcf6878.html" target="_blank">according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch</a>.</p>
<p>The deal is not finalized, but McGwire has already informed the Cardinals of his intentions to leave and not accept the extension the club has offered him.</p>
<p>One main reason that McGwire wants to head to Los Angeles is because his family lives in Orange County, and he has always considered his family when making career choices.</p>
<p>McGwire has been a success as the Cardinals hitting coach, and has helped the team have one of the more prolific offenses since he took over the positon in 2009.</p>
<p>Many of the Cardinals players are aware of McGwire leaving the team, and as of right now, the Cardinals have declined to comment on the situation.</p>
https://stlouis.sbnation.com/st-louis-cardinals/2012/11/2/3592704/mark-mcgwire-los-angeles-dodgersJeremy Mauss