Blue Jays Hire Tim Raines as base-running coach

[baulderdash77]

So the Jays have hired Tim Raines today to be their base-running coach. I don't remember a team having a dedicated base-running coach but with the kind of team speed that we have it's not a bad idea.

If you're going to have a guy teaching people to steal bases, Raines is about as good as you're going to get really.

SN 590 The FAN ‏@FAN590
Reports indicate that Tim Raines will be an outfield and base-running coach for the Blue Jays in 2013.
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[s e n s i]

can someone verify if raines will be the big league or minors outfield/baserunning instructor? i've read reports of both.

[Skin Blues]

Step 1: Do a line of coke
Step 2: Run like hell
Step 3: ???
Step 4: Profit

[baulderdash77]

It sounds like he's going to be a roving instructor going through the minor league teams and also the big league team. I'm sure when there is an announcement it will be more clear.

[zong]

This guy was a great base-stealer in his prime, but I'm kind of concerned at his quality as a coach and experience, he hasn't exactly coached anything significant or something similar to this role in the majors so far, hopefully he gets good work done here.

[YogiStewart]

was hoping for Delino Deshields

[LittleOzzy]

This guy was a great base-stealer in his prime, but I'm kind of concerned at his quality as a coach and experience, he hasn't exactly coached anything significant or something similar to this role in the majors so far, hopefully he gets good work done here.

has previous big league coaching experience with the White Sox and has managed the Newark Bears of the Can-Am league for the past three seasons.

At least it's something.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/ ... aff-report

[J-Roc]

This guy was a great base-stealer in his prime, but I'm kind of concerned at his quality as a coach and experience, he hasn't exactly coached anything significant or something similar to this role in the majors so far, hopefully he gets good work done here.

Concerned is a strong word. This might have an upside, but it can't have a downside. Unless he tells youngsters to steal as many bases as possible, no matter how many times you're caught, to get a fat contract.

[The_Hater]

This guy was a great base-stealer in his prime, but I'm kind of concerned at his quality as a coach and experience, he hasn't exactly coached anything significant or something similar to this role in the majors so far, hopefully he gets good work done here.

You're concerned about the base-running coach? Excactly how much damage do you think he could do?

[LittleOzzy]

Blue Jays hiring of former Expos’ star Tim Raines a positive step

There’s more uplifting baseball news on the Blue Jays’ front. Toronto has hired former Expos’ all-star Tim Raines as a roving minor-league coach and coordinator within the farm system. That’s a great hire.

There are no major-league responsibilities right now, although Raines will be a visible presence with the major-league club at early spring training and likely on several exhibition bus trips.

The former NL batting champion and four-time league stolen base king will be asked to counsel young Jays’ outfielders and baserunners throughout the farm system, taking over that role from the departed Rich Miller. The 53-year-old, who made his debut in 1979 with the Expos, had been out of baseball. Welcome back. Even though it’s officially a minor-league hiring, it’s a great move by GM Alex Anthopoulos on several levels.

First is the fact that bringing Raines into the fold acknowledges the rich history of major-league baseball in this nation, even as the Jays are gaining real momentum in La Belle Province.

Second, Raines is being hired before he is able to add the inevitable “HoF #30” at the end of his official and soon-to-be more valuable autograph, as is the right of every immortal at Cooperstown.

It won’t be this year, but fact is if the Jays had waited until after Raines was voted into the Hall of Fame, even though it may take a few years, it would seem like opportunism. The Sanford, Fla., native will likely not earn 75 per cent of the votes cast this time, but his candidacy is gaining traction.

Third positive? Two of the best outfield prospects in the Jays’ current system, project with similar tools and skill sets to Raines. They are both high draft picks from June 2012, D.J. Davis and Anthony Alford. Raines will be able to help them tremendously. Raines knows their issues on and off the field. He was a second baseman, not a natural outfielder. He had a below average outfield arm, but it made him have to work harder, charging base hits with quick release and hitting the cutoff man.

The Jays’ young prospects will listen to a man with a similar background who has been there, done it, made mistakes and found redemption along the way. It adds to his credibility with the message.

http://www.thestar.com/sports/baseball/ ... ep-griffin

[JN]

Was a monster in the early to mid 80's stealing bases -- much more efficient than Henderson.

SB-CS

71-11
78-16
90-14
75-10
70-9
70-9
50-5

Hopefully, he will start to receive the media push from Canadians for the HOF that he deserves.

[Al_Oliver]

Was a monster in the early to mid 80's stealing bases -- much more efficient than Henderson.

SB-CS

71-11
78-16
90-14
75-10
70-9
70-9
50-5

Hopefully, he will start to receive the media push from Canadians for the HOF that he deserves.

Tough to get 75% of the vote from Canadian media... but I think he should capitalize on the momentum from the voters who won't put steroid users in the Hall

[JN]

Was a monster in the early to mid 80's stealing bases -- much more efficient than Henderson.

SB-CS

71-11
78-16
90-14
75-10
70-9
70-9
50-5

Hopefully, he will start to receive the media push from Canadians for the HOF that he deserves.

Tough to get 75% of the vote from Canadian media... but I think he should capitalize on the momentum from the voters who won't put steroid users in the Hall

That is certainly a positive factor as well. And despite a large part of his game being "steals", advanced stats enhance Raines contributions due to his high OBP. Raines 80's numbers look better as time progresses.

Raines was 7th in MVP voting in 1987.. his teammate Tim Wallach was 4th because Wallach had so many RBI's. But looking at it now, its ridiculous that Wallach received a lot more votes that year.

[The_Hater]

Was a monster in the early to mid 80's stealing bases -- much more efficient than Henderson.

SB-CS

71-11
78-16
90-14
75-10
70-9
70-9
50-5

Hopefully, he will start to receive the media push from Canadians for the HOF that he deserves.

I think that Raines will go in eventually as his HOF voting record through 5 years trending the right way has been but it's criminal how under appreciated his career is being viewed.

I looked up his record and it appears that he's just shy of those benchmarks the voters like on all the counting stats. Just short of 3000 hits. Short of 200 HRs . Short of a .300 avg. Add all that with playing his career under the radar in Montreal and he gets overlooked. Still, he has to be considered one of the top 5 leadoff men of all time.

[JN]

May 2, 1987 - His first game of the season, the hated powerful Mets, the NBC Saturday Game of the Week, Vin Scully... awesome. He would lead a very modest Expos team into contention for the division title until the final 10 days of the season.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4UclkYmr7g[/youtube]

[Shaazzam]

May 2, 1987 - His first game of the season, the hated powerful Mets, the NBC Saturday Game of the Week, Vin Scully... awesome. He would lead a very modest Expos team into contention for the division title until the final 10 days of the season.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4UclkYmr7g[/youtube]

Completely OT:

Since this was a grand slam to win the game in '87 it reminded me of one of my all time favorite games. Listened to it on the radio in bed when i was a kid.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes ... 6290.shtml

I was a Yanks fan once Rickey got traded there from the A's.

[Skin Blues]

May 2, 1987 - His first game of the season, the hated powerful Mets, the NBC Saturday Game of the Week, Vin Scully... awesome. He would lead a very modest Expos team into contention for the division title until the final 10 days of the season.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4UclkYmr7g[/youtube]

He hit the game winning homerun the following day as well against the Mets. Not a bad opening weekend. And not only were they his first two games of the season, but he had no spring training either, and was thrown into the game on May 2nd when everybody had already been playing regular season games for a month. The reason he was off for so long was because MLB owners colluded to not offer him a contract. This was because he turned down an extension from Montreal in 1986. Not offered a contract after leading the majors in AVG and OBP and stole 70 bases. He (and a few other players) were paid reparations quite a few years later.

[JN]

May 2, 1987 - His first game of the season, the hated powerful Mets, the NBC Saturday Game of the Week, Vin Scully... awesome. He would lead a very modest Expos team into contention for the division title until the final 10 days of the season.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4UclkYmr7g[/youtube]

He hit the game winning homerun the following day as well against the Mets. Not a bad opening weekend. And not only were they his first two games of the season, but he had no spring training either, and was thrown into the game on May 2nd when everybody had already been playing regular season games for a month. The reason he was off for so long was because MLB owners colluded to not offer him a contract. This was because he turned down an extension from Montreal in 1986. Not offered a contract after leading the majors in AVG and OBP and stole 70 bases. He (and a few other players) were paid reparations quite a few years later.

Your are correct on the contract part and the collusion - he wasn't offered arbitration, and the rules in the day was that he had to wait until May 1 to sign with the same team. I believe that rule has now changed.