Yankees' Hunt For New Hitting Instructor Will Go Into 2015
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Yankees struggled at the plate last season, but Brian Cashman still hasn't found anyone to teach them any different.
The Bombers' general manager has spent the offseason so far trying to improve his club, which is coming off its second straight non-playoff season. As far as finding a replacement for hitting instructor Kevin Long is concerned, Cashman said he's really not in a great rush.
"I am not doing anything with the coaches until the holidays are over,'' Cashman told the New York Post on Monday.
Long was fired in October after the Yankees finished 20th in the majors in both runs scored (633) and batting average (.245), though some put the blame more on the Bombers' high-priced stars -- namely Carlos Beltran and Brian McCann, among others, for not getting it done. Long was hired a few weeks later by the Mets.
According to the Post, one potential candidate for the Yankees is Jeff Pentland, who has worked as a hitting coach with the Marlins (1996), Cubs (1997-2002), Royals (2003-2005), Mariners (2005-2008) and Dodgers (2010-2011).
Pentland, 68, also has connections to both Joe Girardi and Larry Rothschild, having instructed the Yankees' manager while he a player for the Cubs, and worked alongside the Bombers' pitching coach on Chicago's staff.
"He was suggested to me about a month-and-a-half ago,'' Cashman said of Pentland. "I haven't called him. That doesn't mean I won't call him.''
The Yankees figure to have a lineup similar to last season's, but did trade for shortstop Didi Gregorius, got Alex Rodriguez back from a season-long suspension and reportedly could have two rookies, Rob Refsnyder and Jose Pirela, battling for the starting second base job in spring training.
But, then again, these are the Yankees and anything is possible. They've made impact moves after the New Year before.
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