Baseball for the Thinking Fan

Login | Register | Feedback

btf_logo
You are here > Home > Baseball Newsstand > Baseball Primer Newsblog > Discussion
Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Pirates president Coonelly: Criticism of fundamentals, development personnel “overblown”

The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday On The Giger Counter Radio Show.

Team president Frank Coonelly believes much of the criticism was “overblown” and also gave a vote of confidence to assistant general manager Kyle Stark, who has come under heavy scrutiny for his handling of the minor league system.

“When we struggled at the end of last year, there were a lot of things that were overblown, in my opinion, because people were rightly frustrated and disappointed in the major league team’s play over the last two months,” Coonelly said on my radio show Tuesday while attending the Curve Booster Club’s annual members-only dinner at the UVA Club.

...Coonelly made one declaration during the banquet that pleased the crowd.

“[In] 2013 we are going to play meaningful baseball, not only in September, but next year we plan to do it in October,” he said.

... Then Coonelly addressed what he thinks is the issue, and his words sounded at least in part like an explanation for Stark’s highly unusual implementation of a military-type training regimen for minor leaguers after the season.

“It’s mental conditioning,” Coonelly said, “the mental toughness that is more of an issue than the player hasn’t been drilled, hasn’t been trained on these things, doesn’t know how to do them.

“It’s performing the fundamentals of the game in the highest pressure situation, and so we continue to work with our players throughout our system ... teaching them how to perform well under pressure situations, how to control their emotions, how to be mentally and physically tough so that when they face the adversity, whether it be in the minor leagues or when they come up to Pittsburgh, they’re prepared.”

Repoz Posted: October 31, 2012 at 09:19 AM | 4 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
  Tags: pirates

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

   1. Mike Emeigh Posted: October 31, 2012 at 02:23 PM (#4289354)
And yet one of the biggest criticisms of the Pirates' young players is how poorly they execute fundamentals...

-- MWE
   2. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: October 31, 2012 at 02:33 PM (#4289369)
And yet one of the biggest criticisms of the Pirates' young players is how poorly they execute fundamentals...


Just think how bad they would've been without the training!
   3. Joe OBrien Posted: October 31, 2012 at 06:00 PM (#4289553)
Do these players really feel pressure rolling tires or carrying logs or what have you? Is that more pressure than playing a county championship in high school?

These exercises aren't about pressure. They're about executing during adverse mental and physical conditions. They're great for the military, because the military has to operate any time, any where. If Al Qaeda and the Taliban agreed to schedule all conflicts for 1:05 on weekends, 7:15 on weekdays and 12:35 on getaway day the military wouldn't need to train like this.
   4. Swedish Chef Posted: October 31, 2012 at 06:09 PM (#4289558)
These exercises aren't about pressure. They're about executing during adverse mental and physical conditions. They're great for the military, because the military has to operate any time, any where.

And baseball players need to perform and not be distracted at Dodger Stadium with a vicious crowd and half-blind umpires, let's say a couple of rain delays too. And an attractive streaking woman. At the dollar-hotdog night.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

 

 

<< Back to main

BBTF Sponsor

Support BBTF

donate

Thanks to
Los Angeles El Hombre of Anaheim
for his generous support.

Bookmarks

You must be logged in to view your Bookmarks.

Hot Topics

NewsblogOT: The Soccer Thread, May 2013
(1071 - 4:59am, May 23)
Last: Arnett Mead (Arjun)

Newsblog[OTP-May] Politico: Congressional baseball game, May 1, 1926
(4086 - 4:46am, May 23)
Last: BurlyBuehrle

NewsblogChase Utley 'scared' by injury, could be headed to DL
(4 - 4:32am, May 23)
Last: vivaelpujols

NewsblogVerducci: Offensive decline leads list of 10 early-season trends to watch
(33 - 4:25am, May 23)
Last: BrianBrianson

NewsblogMitchell: Pedroia, Cano and Magical Thinking
(14 - 3:23am, May 23)
Last: Cooper Nielson

NewsblogJose Canseco to join Ft. Worth Cats as player/coach... or maybe not.
(3 - 3:13am, May 23)
Last: Jim Wisinski

NewsblogESPN: Forging bond with Pete Rose has helped fuel Joey Votto's desire to be great
(37 - 1:22am, May 23)
Last: Sunday silence

NewsblogOT: NBA Monthly Thread - May 2013
(1187 - 12:54am, May 23)
Last: tshipman

NewsblogOMNICHATTER for MAY 22, 2013
(171 - 12:50am, May 23)
Last: Guts

NewsblogSeamheads.com Adds 1928 Negro Leagues Data
(3 - 12:41am, May 23)
Last: OCF

NewsblogArizona Diamondbacks broadcaster Bob Brenly says it’s time for robo-umps in baseball
(32 - 12:33am, May 23)
Last: Sunday silence

NewsblogPosnanski: Jeff Francoeur and ANT
(81 - 12:03am, May 23)
Last: Steve Treder

NewsblogWhite Sox Ace Chris Sale Eats and Eats and Eats Without Gaining Any Weight
(124 - 12:02am, May 23)
Last: Squash

NewsblogGonzales: No plans to dismantle White Sox
(13 - 11:51pm, May 22)
Last: asinwreck

NewsblogSources: O's calling up Kevin Gausman
(6 - 11:51pm, May 22)
Last: Crispix Attacks 2: Swag Airlines

Demarini, Easton and TPX Baseball Bats

 

 

 

AllianceTickets.com has cheap MLB Tickets. Get all your Colorado Rockies Tickets, Seattle Mariners Tickets, San Francisco Giants Tickets and all your favorite baseball tickets here. We also carry cheap Denver Broncos Tickets, Seattle Seahawks Tickets and Denver Nuggets Tickets.

For wholesale prices on baseball gifts and equipment, check these stores out!

Baseball Autograph Signings
Baseball Card Supplies
Baseball Memorabilia
Baseball Collectibles
Baseball Equipment
Baseball Protective Gear

Page rendered in 0.1211 seconds
53 querie(s) executed