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Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 23 Oct 2025 10:54 am
by Galatians221jb1
A lengthy interview with Simba and Dave LaPoint, who credits Simba with changing him as a pitcher. Fascinating discussion. I imagine Yadi would have similar discussions.

https://youtu.be/8mdeSpdn104

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 23 Oct 2025 11:25 am
by scoutyjones2
Yawn....

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 23 Oct 2025 11:35 am
by Jatalk
Many have become managers and many have been successful. But I feel like this is a push for Yadi as our manager. It is not automatic success and for many reasons may not be good for the Cardinals or for Yadi.

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 23 Oct 2025 11:40 am
by ramfandan
Yonder Alonso on MLB last night gave his two cents worth as to why catchers make good managers.
He said (paraphrasing ) . Catcher is the only position play on the field who understands how a bullpen is used . For every game, he knows the tendency of all opposing batters and he also knows the strengths /weaknesses of his bullpen staff too. So cacthers have a big edge on other players in being able to manage a baseball game. They understand the pitching/ batting battles much better.

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 23 Oct 2025 11:42 am
by ScotchMIrish
Jatalk wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:35 am Many have become managers and many have been successful. But I feel like this is a push for Yadi as our manager. It is not automatic success and for many reasons may not be good for the Cardinals or for Yadi.
Nothing is "automatic success" but I'll go out on a limb and say Molina understands how to handle a pitching staff better than Marmol.

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 23 Oct 2025 11:46 am
by Jatalk
ScotchMIrish wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:42 am
Jatalk wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:35 am Many have become managers and many have been successful. But I feel like this is a push for Yadi as our manager. It is not automatic success and for many reasons may not be good for the Cardinals or for Yadi.
Nothing is "automatic success" but I'll go out on a limb and say Molina understands how to handle a pitching staff better than Marmol.
Maybe, probably but there is more to it than that. I still question his commitment. That’s not a criticism of him but he seems to have distractions. I also would rather have an experienced manager.

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 23 Oct 2025 12:01 pm
by ramfandan
Jatalk wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:46 am
ScotchMIrish wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:42 am
Jatalk wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:35 am Many have become managers and many have been successful. But I feel like this is a push for Yadi as our manager. It is not automatic success and for many reasons may not be good for the Cardinals or for Yadi.
Nothing is "automatic success" but I'll go out on a limb and say Molina understands how to handle a pitching staff better than Marmol.
Maybe, probably but there is more to it than that. I still question his commitment. That’s not a criticism of him but he seems to have distractions. I also would rather have an experienced manager.
Terry Francona is very experienced and his team won just 5 more games than Oli this year. Braves Snitker is quite experienced and Atlanta won less games than the Cardinals. I think the talent on a team plus number of injuries play a much bigger role than the experience or inexperience of the manager. Is Dave Roberts any better than a lot of other managers ? or does he have the 'horses' that make him look really good . If a Yadi or any other guy new to managing comes into the Cardinals rebuilding team and does not win half his games .. sub .500 Does that make him a poor manager ?

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 23 Oct 2025 13:25 pm
by BrockFloodMaris
ramfandan wrote: 23 Oct 2025 12:01 pm
Jatalk wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:46 am
ScotchMIrish wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:42 am
Jatalk wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:35 am Many have become managers and many have been successful. But I feel like this is a push for Yadi as our manager. It is not automatic success and for many reasons may not be good for the Cardinals or for Yadi.
Nothing is "automatic success" but I'll go out on a limb and say Molina understands how to handle a pitching staff better than Marmol.
Maybe, probably but there is more to it than that. I still question his commitment. That’s not a criticism of him but he seems to have distractions. I also would rather have an experienced manager.
Terry Francona is very experienced and his team won just 5 more games than Oli this year. Braves Snitker is quite experienced and Atlanta won less games than the Cardinals. I think the talent on a team plus number of injuries play a much bigger role than the experience or inexperience of the manager. Is Dave Roberts any better than a lot of other managers ? or does he have the 'horses' that make him look really good . If a Yadi or any other guy new to managing comes into the Cardinals rebuilding team and does not win half his games .. sub .500 Does that make him a poor manager ?
Pat Murphy (Brewers) has won 190 games in his first two years as an MLB Manager.

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 23 Oct 2025 13:56 pm
by ScotchMIrish
Jatalk wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:46 am
ScotchMIrish wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:42 am
Jatalk wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:35 am Many have become managers and many have been successful. But I feel like this is a push for Yadi as our manager. It is not automatic success and for many reasons may not be good for the Cardinals or for Yadi.
Nothing is "automatic success" but I'll go out on a limb and say Molina understands how to handle a pitching staff better than Marmol.
Maybe, probably but there is more to it than that. I still question his commitment. That’s not a criticism of him but he seems to have distractions. I also would rather have an experienced manager.
That's true. He would have to love the game and be willing to accept criticism at a level he hasn't seen before.

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 23 Oct 2025 14:14 pm
by ICCFIM2
ramfandan wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:40 am Yonder Alonso on MLB last night gave his two cents worth as to why catchers make good managers.
He said (paraphrasing ) . Catcher is the only position play on the field who understands how a bullpen is used . For every game, he knows the tendency of all opposing batters and he also knows the strengths /weaknesses of his bullpen staff too. So cacthers have a big edge on other players in being able to manage a baseball game. They understand the pitching/ batting battles much better.
Your comment is on point and certainly part of it. Managing / head coach jobs require a lot of skillsets that few people have. Identify talent, manage the game, coach players, handle personnel/personal issues, interact with the GM and handle the media. There are very few people that can do all those well. If you are a college head coach, you have to add to that list managing donors / boosters. Catchers see more plays up close than any other player on the field. That should enable them to be exceptional at the identify talent, manage the game, coach the players aspects listed above compared to others. So if they can add on the other skillsets, it is a shorter path to success than others might have. Also, others likely will never be as good at the first three, at least collectively, as a catcher.

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 23 Oct 2025 21:11 pm
by ramfandan
Simple reason guys who play behind the plate do better as managers., they ‘catch’ on faster !

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 24 Oct 2025 08:38 am
by ScotchMIrish
ICCFIM2 wrote: 23 Oct 2025 14:14 pm
ramfandan wrote: 23 Oct 2025 11:40 am Yonder Alonso on MLB last night gave his two cents worth as to why catchers make good managers.
He said (paraphrasing ) . Catcher is the only position play on the field who understands how a bullpen is used . For every game, he knows the tendency of all opposing batters and he also knows the strengths /weaknesses of his bullpen staff too. So cacthers have a big edge on other players in being able to manage a baseball game. They understand the pitching/ batting battles much better.
Your comment is on point and certainly part of it. Managing / head coach jobs require a lot of skillsets that few people have. Identify talent, manage the game, coach players, handle personnel/personal issues, interact with the GM and handle the media. There are very few people that can do all those well. If you are a college head coach, you have to add to that list managing donors / boosters. Catchers see more plays up close than any other player on the field. That should enable them to be exceptional at the identify talent, manage the game, coach the players aspects listed above compared to others. So if they can add on the other skillsets, it is a shorter path to success than others might have. Also, others likely will never be as good at the first three, at least collectively, as a catcher.
We had a gold glove x4 catcher as manager who never had a losing season and the team was #2 in attendance his final full season. He was replaced by a guy who never played the game and just quit because he couldn't handle criticism.

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 24 Oct 2025 11:44 am
by Bob39
Of the guys who are in the HOF as managers, only Connie Mack, Al Lopez, and Wilbert Robinson were primary catchers. Joe Torre caught and played other positions. Catchers have been good managers, but so have utility infielders.

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 24 Oct 2025 11:55 am
by ilcubuffs
The catcher is the only player, pitcher being the 2nd, intimately involved with the opponents every play on offense, running game, pitching, plus own teams defense et al play on the field. Those players who have the skills to understand the game strategy of their opponents will always be game changers. Manager on the field.

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 24 Oct 2025 13:34 pm
by kscardsfan
ramfandan wrote: 23 Oct 2025 21:11 pm Simple reason guys who play behind the plate do better as managers., they ‘catch’ on faster !
That merits a quiet 7.

Re: Why catchers make good coaches/managers

Posted: 24 Oct 2025 15:07 pm
by Galatians221jb1
ramfandan wrote: 23 Oct 2025 21:11 pm Simple reason guys who play behind the plate do better as managers., they ‘catch’ on faster !
Funny but true. I doubt anyone actually watched the video but the intricacies of the game are discussed at a level above the average ball player. Teddy is credited with actually changing pitchers careers. Reminds me of the praises LaRussa showered on Yadi.