Myth: Base Coaches Aren’t Very Important

Many people yell at the TV when a base coach makes a bad decision. Some people choose to just nod their head no in a disgusted way. Personally, I sit back and look into what made them make that decision. Just before in today’s game vs. the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Rob Thomson, the Yankees third-base coach, sent Mark Teixeira home on a single by Shelley Duncan. Texeira was thrown out at home on a beautiful throw by Juan Rivera. Personally, I would have done the same as Thomson in the situation.

Here is the thing with base coaches: There is no winning! If they don’t send a runner and the team doesn’t get the runner home in the end, they made the wrong decision. If they send the runner and he is thrown out, horrible decision. Fans won’t let them win. I am sure the coaches know and realize this when they get the job.

The Yankees coaches this year have been Mick Kelleher-1st base and Rob Thomson-3rd base. Last year Bobby Meachem was the third base coach, with Tony Pena at 1st. Meachem was horrible. This year Thomson and Kelleher have both done OUTSTANDING jobs. So next time they make a bad call, cut them some slack.