June 9, 200521 yr Sun-Sentinel... MIAMI GARDENS ? With rumors swirling around Marlins hitting coach Bill Robinson, Jeff Pentland knows the feeling. A highly respected and former Marlins hitting coach, Pentland was fired by the Kansas City Royals on May 30. "Firing hitting coaches is in vogue right now," Pentland said Wednesday by phone from his Tempe, Ariz., residence. "It's just a tough business. Pitching has improved." Hall of Famer Eddie Murray was fired in Cleveland last week, and there is growing speculation Robinson could be next. The Marlins entered Wednesday's game hitting .269 with runners in scoring position, 10th in the National League. "I've heard nothing but good things about Bill Robinson, and I hope it's not the case," Pentland said. "We're all in a fraternity. I certainly hope it doesn't happen to him because it's a rotten feeling, that's for sure." Despite the Marlins being tied for the league's second-highest batting average (.273), Robinson expressed concern over his job security after Sunday's loss in Washington. Wednesday, he said no one in the organization had reassured him his uneasiness was unwarranted. "I think [the media] is trying to run me out of town," Robinson said. "[unjustly] you guys have put it on one element of a losing streak. I can't control the base hits. I can only give my guys the knowledge and the swing plane and thought process. Once the game starts, everything is totally out of my hands." Should the Marlins make Robinson the scapegoat for their hitting woes, minor league hitting coordinator John Mallee could be a possible replacement. More likely, according to a National League source, the Marlins would look to an experienced hand such as Pentland. Pentland, 58, spent five seasons in the Marlins organization, scouting in 1992-93 and working the minors for 21/2 seasons. When Rene Lachemann was fired at midseason in 1996, Pentland was promoted as the hitting coach for new manager John Boles. Marlins special assistant Orrin Freeman is a holdover from those days and has always thought highly of Pentland. Marlins Assistant GM Jim Fleming also goes way back with Pentland to their days coaching college ball and in the minors. Pentland counted Barry Bonds among his top pupils at Arizona State and he is credited with tapping Sammy Sosa's potential during his stint with the Chicago Cubs from 1997 to 2002. During his two-plus seasons with the low-payroll Royals, Pentland's 2003 club led the majors with a .304 batting average with runners in scoring position. That figure was the sixth-highest mark in big-league history. "Baseball is a sport where when you don't do the right things as far as getting runners in, everybody sees that," Pentland said. "Hitting is contagious one way or the other. As a hitting coach, the worst thing that can happen is you get most of your team not hitting at the same time. You go through it once or twice a year. You just hope it's short-lived." :whistle
June 9, 200521 yr We need to walk more with the bases loaded! Thats the key! And when the pitcher comes up, THEN have a grand slam hit..
June 9, 200521 yr We need to walk more with the bases loaded! Thats the key! 802027[/snapback] :lol Although pitch selection comes down to the hitting coach and watching video on the pitcher.
June 9, 200521 yr I still say, why not Perez or Dawson. They're both respected, well liked, and already in the organization.
June 9, 200521 yr Bill Robinson caught by spycam in the dugout: 802055[/snapback] thats wrong and a shame
June 9, 200521 yr Very interesting. This is the first time I've seen it in the press that were rumors concerning Robinson's dismissal. All the hoopla has been on this board up until this point. Glad to see there is some momentum building to make a change. It should have happened in the off-season. I hope it happens now.
June 9, 200521 yr Sun-Sentinel... "I think [the media] is trying to run me out of town," Robinson said. "[unjustly] you guys have put it on one element of a losing streak. I can't control the base hits. I can only give my guys the knowledge and the swing plane and thought process. Once the game starts, everything is totally out of my hands." 802022[/snapback] Exactly my point
June 9, 200521 yr Sun-Sentinel... "I think [the media] is trying to run me out of town," Robinson said. "[unjustly] you guys have put it on one element of a losing streak. I can't control the base hits. I can only give my guys the knowledge and the swing plane and thought process. Once the game starts, everything is totally out of my hands." 802022[/snapback] Exactly my point 802128[/snapback] No Bill, the members of MarlinsBaseball.com are trying to run you out of town. He thinks his job is on the line because of this current losing streak. :lol :lol :lol I guess he doesn't think what's been going on for 2 years now doesn't count. :lol :lol :lol
June 9, 200521 yr Sun-Sentinel... "I think [the media] is trying to run me out of town," Robinson said. "[unjustly] you guys have put it on one element of a losing streak. I can't control the base hits. I can only give my guys the knowledge and the swing plane and thought process. Once the game starts, everything is totally out of my hands." 802022[/snapback] Exactly my point 802128[/snapback] No Bill, the members of MarlinsBaseball.com are trying to run you out of town. He thinks his job is on the line because of this current losing streak. :lol :lol :lol I guess he doesn't think what's been going on for 2 years now doesn't count. :lol :lol :lol 802158[/snapback] Exactly my point. This has very little to do with the current losing streak, and everything to do with his track record of ineptitude. Since last June, we haven't been able to hit with runners in scoring position, execute with a guy on third base in a close game, and just, in general, all the offense does is pad stats enough in blowouts to look like a high-function offense. In games where we need 4 runs, we can't score with any consistency, but games where we need only 1 or 2, we pour on 9. It kills me.
June 9, 200521 yr "Baseball is a sport where when you don't do the right things as far as getting runners in, everybody sees that," Pentland said. "Hitting is contagious one way or the other. As a hitting coach, the worst thing that can happen is you get most of your team not hitting at the same time. You go through it once or twice a year. You just hope it's short-lived." It's already happened like what 4 maybe 5 times this year alone? Followed by a week of hitting and then back to the status quo.
June 9, 200521 yr Sun-Sentinel... "I think [the media] is trying to run me out of town," Robinson said. "[unjustly] you guys have put it on one element of a losing streak. I can't control the base hits. I can only give my guys the knowledge and the swing plane and thought process. Once the game starts, everything is totally out of my hands." 802022[/snapback] Exactly my point 802128[/snapback] No Bill, the members of MarlinsBaseball.com are trying to run you out of town. He thinks his job is on the line because of this current losing streak. :lol :lol :lol I guess he doesn't think what's been going on for 2 years now doesn't count. :lol :lol :lol 802158[/snapback] 3 years. Often in baseball, as long as you're winning no one cares about your faults.
June 9, 200521 yr Bill Robinson needs to pull his head out of his ass. Just resign and save some face.
June 9, 200521 yr Bill Robinson needs to pull his head out of his ass. Just resign and save some face. 802462[/snapback] He's not going to resign. According to Bill nobody else could do a better job with this group.
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