Philosophy on Pitching Coach at ML Level

[Tony820]

So I'm curious to get some of your thoughts on this subject.

I've currently built my organization with pitching coaches throughout the minor leagues focused on Power Pitching, as that is what I usually draft and target in trades. It's worked out fairly well for me in my development thus far.

My question is, at the ML level, when these guys at pitching at the highest stage and fairly far along in their development, does it make sense to hire a finesse pitching coach for the ML level? Try and bring out better control in my power pitchers? Two very basic schools of thought obviously, 1. Play to your strengths, you should have a Power Pitching Coach or 2. Work on your players weaknesses by bringing in a coach that isn't focused on power.

What do you guys think?

[One Post Wonder]

Unless I'm mistaken, it doesn't entirely work like that. Yes, a finesse pitcher will teach control, but that teaching is going to be a lot less effective with pitchers who aren't control oriented. Coaches are best at training guys who are oriented the way they are (unless you're talking about a neutral coach who is the same with everyone).

So if you've signed power pitchers and developed them all the way along the line as power guys, then you should have a power coach at the top because you'll get the most out of his work.

[Tony820]

Originally Posted by One Post Wonder

Unless I'm mistaken, it doesn't entirely work like that. Yes, a finesse pitcher will teach control, but that teaching is going to be a lot less effective with pitchers who aren't control oriented. Coaches are best at training guys who are oriented the way they are (unless you're talking about a neutral coach who is the same with everyone).

So if you've signed power pitchers and developed them all the way along the line as power guys, then you should have a power coach at the top because you'll get the most out of his work.

Luckily that's what I'm doing now, just wanted to get a little group think going.

[jimmysthebestcop]

In reality it probably does nothing. No one has any idea about how coaches work or their mechanics and how much that translates over to a player.

There is no guide xyz coach gives xx% dev to this type of player. If there is a formula devs never mentioned it and no player to my knowledge has dropped there own data to support anything.

Coaching for sure is a huge area that needs an overhaul and significant work done. Or just remove it if it's just for show.

If coaches only give a 1% chance to develop a player well I guess it's worth the hassle to find good minor league coaches. Development needs any help it can get.

At least looking for coaches is way faster in 21. 18 to XX it took like thousands of clicks to find coaches at every level that had above average development chance

[SirMichaelJordan]

Originally Posted by jimmysthebestcop

In reality it probably does nothing. No one has any idea about how coaches work or their mechanics and how much that translates over to a player.

There is no guide xyz coach gives xx% dev to this type of player. If there is a formula devs never mentioned it and no player to my knowledge has dropped there own data to support anything.

Coaching for sure is a huge area that needs an overhaul and significant work done. Or just remove it if it's just for show.

If coaches only give a 1% chance to develop a player well I guess it's worth the hassle to find good minor league coaches. Development needs any help it can get.

At least looking for coaches is way faster in 21. 18 to XX it took like thousands of clicks to find coaches at every level that had above average development chance

You can literally find this information in the manual.

[jimmysthebestcop]

The manual is extremely vague and always has been when it comes to develop.

What I'm saying there is no known formula. Yes we know if a coach has great development he has a higher chance of helping players develop.

But to what degree? How much? A higher chance could be 1% or could be 75%.

Lot of people see ootp is 21 so they post of forum everyone looking for the secret development formula but there isn't one.

[One Post Wonder]

You know we're in complete agreement when it comes to coaching, but TBF I wouldn't want to know the exact magnitude of coach effects. Ideally I'd want coach effects to vary widely from player to player anyway.

It's like player development investment. You do the best you can and you know it helps but that's the extent of your knowledge. It should be that way, because otherwise it becomes too easy to min/max the game and break immersion.

[Argonaut]

I've never known if a Finesse Pitching Coach improves everybody's Control, improves only Finesse Pitchers' Control more than normal, or improves only Finesse Pitchers' ratings across the board more than normal. And how much their philosophy matters compared to their teaching ability.

Although I appreciate the mystery behind development and coaching... short of a complete overhaul I wish it was a bit more transparent. Would help in knowing whether to hire certain coaches. Some coaches like Power focused ones are pretty straightforward. But the rules to end up in a Contact or Patience bucket are pretty opaque. Lots of obvious Contact guys will be classified as being better trained by Power coaches. It should just be based on a hitter's best stat out of CON/POW/EYE.