Are The Yankees In Desperation Mode After Eric Hinske Said No?

There was a time when getting pursued by the Yankees meant something. Whether that was as a highly-sought after free agent (Masahiro Tanaka), a hot pitching coach (Larry Rothschild), or the manager who would turn things around (Billy Martin-the first time). Now, when the sheen of the 27 World Series titles don’t mean as much as they once did, in the “What have you done for me lately?” world of professional sports, the Yankees might be finding themselves in desperation mode, after their initial plans to hire a new hitting coach have gone awry so far. 

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It all started a couple weeks ago when after eight mostly successful seasons, Kevin Long was shown the door. Don’t worry Yankees fans who wanted the man crucified, Long has landed on his feet, and didn’t have to go far to do so. His new address is in Queens, as the Mets hitting coach. The Yankees first target was former Oakland A’s hitting coach, and winner of two Yankees’ World Series rings, Chili Davis. I guess loyalty doesn’t mean nearly as much as it used to. Chili took the money and went to the Yankees bitter rivals, the Boston Red Sox as THEIR new hitting coach.

Former Red Sox hitting coach, and current Texas Rangers’ hitting coach, Dave Magadan had been mentioned around the same time that Davis was being sought. After Davis accepted the Boston job, New York soured on Mags, who decided to stay in Texas in his current role. Whether the Yankees didn’t like his approach, or if something else was at the heart of the issues, Magadan was skipped over and the search continued.

My partner in crime, Jason Evans, thinks that Yankees minor league hitting coordinator James Rowson is the guy, and it’s just a matter of time before he’s named. Well, prior to the coronation of Rowson, the Yankees offered their hitting coach gig to, yes, another former ring winner, this time 2009 super sub Eric Hinske, who was recently promoted to assistant hitting coach in Chicago with the Cubs after serving as their first base coach last season. Much like the Yankee hitters of the past two seasons, the organization isn’t doing so hot themselves, as they too, swung on and missed. Hinske said thanks, but no thanks. Excuse me, what was that? You win a ring in the Bronx, which means you’re always welcome back, and they offer you a job and you say no? Alright, back to reality. This Yankees’ team isn’t as important as they think they are.

So now what? George A. King III of the New York Daily News mentioned that Dante Bichette could still be on the Yankees’ radar. The reason could be two-fold: he is good friends and former Colorado Rockies teammates with Yankees’ skipper Joe Girardi, and his son, Dante Bichette, Jr., is finally starting to live up to his prospect expectations and could find himself in the Bronx within a few years.

Personally? I like Yanks Go Yard senior writer Ricky Keeler’s idea: Marcus Thames. The man has worked closely with several of the young Baby Bombers in the minor league system. If I had my choice? There is a certain former first baseman who has always lived and breathed hitting. He almost got the Colorado Rockies’ managerial job with no managing experience a couple years ago. Plus, he’s got the big league chops to not take any guff from anyone on this roster. He has an AL MVP and played in the Bronx, so he knows the heat and pressure that comes with winning and losing in the Big Apple. That guy? Jason Giambi.