Lastoria: Derek Shelton is gone

I only see it on his Twitter feed, but there it is. Hired by the Rays, officially won't be back with the Tribe.

Kind of a surprise.

[now official — updated link with AP story]

3 months ago nickjs21 28 comments 0 recs |

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Not really surprised. How many times are support staff kept on for a new manager? Has to be kind of rare.

Back in 2007, I would have been shocked if someone told me Derek Shelton was going to outlast Eric Wedge. He seemed like the guy on the chopping block if that season went awry.

by Toxicadam on Oct 21, 2009 12:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Reading more about this, looks like some sharp Indians fan saw it posted on the Facebook of Derek Shelton’s girlfriend. Allison, Triv’s one time radio sidekick.

by Toxicadam on Oct 21, 2009 12:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wife, actually.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 21, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shelton is dating Triv’s ex-wife?

Is this the whale section?

by sarcasmdave on Oct 22, 2009 3:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shelton is married to Triv’s ex-sidekick.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 22, 2009 5:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And he has a girlfriend?!?! Whoa!

by JulioBernazard on Oct 22, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would assume its as hitting coach, TB let Steve Henderson go after the season.

by one two seven on Oct 21, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very odd that they did that, too.

by Jay on Oct 21, 2009 1:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh happy day

If you don't respect Aaron Laffey, I will fight you.

by Cap'n Snegiryov on Oct 21, 2009 1:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I updated the link above; the AP is now reporting this.

by Jay on Oct 21, 2009 1:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Appreciate it. I don’t pretend to have journalistic integrity, but linking to Twitter feels weird.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 21, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rays make it official.

“Derek has proven himself to be one of the better minds in baseball when it comes to hitting,” said Andrew Friedman, Rays executive vice president of baseball operations. “He brings a fresh voice that can help our talented core of hitters reach new heights. His attention to detail and ability to communicate will be great additions to our group.”
Rays manager Joe Maddon has been hoping to improve the situational hitting at the Major League level as well as throughout the organization.
“I believe he is the kind of coach who can create a hitting program that will benefit the organization both at the Minor League and Major League levels,” Maddon said. “In our conversations, I found that we share the same philosophy on a number of different areas. He was very clear and concise on his intentions and in the end it was an easy decision.”

by FredOx on Oct 21, 2009 1:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I’m kinda disappointed.

Resident Take the Football References One Step Too Far Guy

by westbrook on Oct 21, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

HIRE DONNY BASEBALL (as hitting coach, under Acta)

by JulioBernazard on Oct 21, 2009 3:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he already has a job as a hitting coach, and he said he wants to manage.

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Oct 21, 2009 4:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s the joke, dawg.

by JulioBernazard on Oct 21, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh. One of those…

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Oct 21, 2009 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Castro points out that Shelton’s family lives in Tampa year-round.

by Jay on Oct 21, 2009 11:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I assume that Steve Henderson will not be our next hitting coach.

by palcal on Oct 22, 2009 1:17 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t see why he necessarily wouldn’t be. After all …

Tampa Bay set club records for runs, homers, on-base percentage and walks this season. Henderson was fired because of concerns about situational hitting woes …

by Jay on Oct 22, 2009 7:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking he might have been fired for the major digression of Upton.

by Roger Dorn on Oct 22, 2009 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

YOU CAN’T COACH LAZY.

/semi-sarcasm

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 22, 2009 9:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he can produce a Bartlett offensive season out of one of our middle infielders, I’ll take it.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Oct 22, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

NOT ENOUGH BUNTING

(situational hitting woes)

Wait 'til next millennium!

by emd2k3 on Oct 22, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d like more of this kind of bunting:

by FredOx on Oct 22, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 5 recs

Situational hitting?

Shelton said in his interview that one thing he would be stressing is getting home the runner on third with less than 2 outs and that that is the key to situational hitting, not trying to do too much in that situation. Rays’ manager was totally impressed….

Does any little leaguer not know that getting in the runner from third with less than 2 outs is critical for run production? This is “professional expertise?” This is the “expertise” that convinced Maddon he just had to sign this guy?

And if the Rays set a record for runs scored, it must be that they were knocking in the runners from third all year, no? Maybe we should bring in Henderson, and I’m not regretting losing Shelton at all after reading this.

In the new Geico commercial, Marte sings "Let me be myself" on Wedge's front lawn (with the cavemen).

by V-Mart Shopper on Oct 22, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The situational hitting explanation seems like such BS, especially coming from as stat-savvy an organization as the Rays are, that I wonder if that wasn’t just the PR reason. Seems more likely that Maddon just didn’t see eye-to-eye with the guy and/or the GM thinks all that run production was his own doing.

by Jay on Oct 22, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs