Not known for his pitching prowess, Rickey Henderson would be a great addition to the A’s coaching staff. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
The Athletics know first hand what it’s like to lose to a team that is fast on the base path (see Wildcard 2014). In order to contend for the 2015 postseason, which I believe they are capable of barring a fire sale or catastrophic injuries, their strategy regarding “small ball” must be amended to include more aggressive base running and there’s nobody more capable of guiding that new philosophy than the Man of Steal himself, Rickey Henderson.
With Chip Hale gone to Arizona and Chili Davis likely to leave as well (he’s interviewing with at least two other teams), there’s going to be a shake up in the coaching department in Oakland which leaves open the possibility of bringing in Henderson, who has consulted with the A’s during spring training in the past and is a constant fixture at the park, as a hitting coach. People remember Rickey Henderson for his base stealing power but often overlook that he was a consistent .300+ hitter (the last 7 years of his 25 year career were the only below .250) who led the league in walks for much of his career. When a batter turns a walk into a double he’ll get pitches to hit and when he can hit those, too, he’s an unstoppable threat.
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Coco Crisp, Craig Gentry, Sam Fuld, Josh Donaldson, Josh Reddick and, to a lesser extent, Brandon Moss, Eric Sogard and Alberto Callaspo are all capable hitters with good speed. When healthy, any of these players could become a base stealing threat and most of them are already a threat for hits, walks and homers. If the A’s were to bring in Rickey Henderson and have him work with all of these guys to fine tune their swings, increase plate discipline and steal bags more aggressively, the A’s as we know them would be a threat to pitchers that they haven’t been in 25 years.
I love Chili Davis and think he’s been a great coach for the team but compare his numbers to Rickey’s and you see that Rickey Henderson is the more qualified candidate for the gig, considering the value Beane puts on OBP. Couple his knowledge of the game with his history and passion and you could have a recipe for tremendous success.
If the Athletics hope to manufacture runs and turn the trend of stranding men in scoring position, Rickey Henderson is a great match for the team.
Aside from that, the man is a fan favorite and a good role model in the clubhouse. I remember the day, in the third grade, that Rickey broke the record. It was a day game so I was in school but a friend of mine got to go and came back the next day with a new t-shirt that every A’s fan at school wanted. Rickey Henderson was a hero to a lot of kids of my generation and I don’t know anyone of my age that wouldn’t want Billy Beane to give Rickey a try on the coaching staff.