Six Former Yankees Who Could be the Next Hitting Coach

Apr 17, 2014; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; New York Yankees batting coach Kevin Long (54) works out prior to the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Long is gone! Long came aboard in 2007 and in the eight season’s since, the Yankees have fallen deeper and deeper into an offensive abyss. Many Yankees fans thought the 2013 season was as low as our boys could go as the Bronx Bombers finished dead last in the AL East in every offensive category. That was of course, until this season.

The 2014 Yankees were one of the worst offenses the Bombers have ever thrown onto a baseball field. The 1991 Yankees team finished 71-91, for example. That awful baseball team scored 41 more runs than this year’s Yankees, driving in 39 more. This year’s Yankees didn’t even drive in 600 runs (finishing at 591) because they didn’t hit. Finally, after three years of not hitting, and finding every excuse to save Kevin Long’s job, the Yankees brass realized when the team doesn’t hit, the hitting coach must go.

So, who’s next? Who is the savior to return the Yankees to their Bronx Bombers status. I’m sure the search won’t be solved over night, but what if the Yankees were to turn to a former Yankees player as the next hitting coach? Here’s a look at five former Yankees that would be interesting in the role. (Author’s note: former Yankee players only. I would love to see Denbo back, and should Mattingly get fired, the job should be his.)