Wayne Kirby agrees to be Orioles' first base/outfield coach
The Orioles are inching closer to completing their 2011 coaching staff after coming to terms with former big leaguer Wayne Kirby to be the club’s first base coach and outfield instructor.
According to an industry source, Kirby joins hitting coach Jim Presley and bullpen coach Rick Adair as done deals on Buck Showalter’s staff for next year. The club is still in discussion with Mark Connor (pitching coach) and Juan Samuel (third base/outfielders) and has not officially reached agreements with either, the source said.
Former Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu is considered the leading candidate to be Showalter’s bench coach, but there is still a possibility he could be hired this offseason as a big league manager. The New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates have not yet named new skippers.
Kirby, 46, has never coached in the majors but played professionally for 18 seasons, including eight in the big leagues for the Cleveland Indians, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets. He has spent the past five seasons as the minor league outfield/base-running coordinator for the Texas Rangers after four seasons in the Indians’ player development system.
When Kirby joined the Rangers’ organization, Showalter was Texas’ big league manager. Kirby also likely will coach base running for the Orioles. The Williamsburg, Va., native stole 44 bases in his big league career, including 17 (out of 22 chances) in 1993 while with the Indians.
The Orioles begin their three-day organizational meetings in Arizona on Thursday morning after an organizational dinner Wednesday night. Presley and Adair will be in Phoenix, and there’s a possibility Kirby also will join them before the meetings adjourn Saturday.
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Comments
I guess it's a moot point now, but is there any word about whether the Orioles contacted Davey Lopes? He seemed like he would've been a great fit if he were interested, given his success with the Phillies and the number of young Orioles with some speed who could use some work on baserunning and stealing.
Posted by: Vuff | November 3, 2010 3:31 PM
Who will be the Orioles hitting coach since Crowley will be tutoring Orioles minor leagers? Is the emphasis going to be on hitting the long ball rather than making good contact? Are our batters going to be as patient as the Yankee or Rays batters?
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Response from Steve Gould:
Light4Orioles, Jim Presley has agreed to become the Orioles' hitting coach. You can read more about him here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bs-sp-orioles-coaches-1030-20101029,0,135597.story
Posted by: Light4Orioles | November 3, 2010 4:42 PM
"stole 44 bases in his big league career..." Wow! So many and in only 18 seasons?
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eight big league seasons, seven of which were part-time
Posted by: jongermany | November 4, 2010 2:24 AM
wow! great signing...a base running coach with a whopping total of 44 career steals! maybe we can get a hitting coach with a lifetime average below the mendoza line and a pitching coach with a career 5.00 ERA
davey lopes ot billy rip would have been better hires
Posted by: Ben | November 4, 2010 6:46 AM
Wayne Kirby is a native of Tabb, VA! And we are very proud of him!!!
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He must have been born in a Williamsburg hospital, because that's what is listed as his birthplace. but, yes, Kirby is a proud graduate of Tabb High.
Posted by: Susan E Gray | November 4, 2010 9:25 AM
Ben -
Since when does a guy have to have been a good player to be a good coach?
Rudy Jaramillo is widely regarded as the best hitting coach in baseball, and he never played in the majors.
I know Earl Weaver never played in the majors. Did he even play in the minors?
What about Bobby Cox? Baseball Reference tells me that he put up a .619 OPS in 628 at bats with the Yankees.
And heck, you even mentioned Billy Ripken, whose career line (.247/.294/.318) is even worse than Kirby's (.254/.309/.345). Talk about contradicting yourself.
Posted by: not brooks | November 4, 2010 2:54 PM
Yes, Wayne is from Tabb and yes, we are all proud of him! I may have to watch some baseball now...
Posted by: KESHA AFRIKA | January 3, 2011 4:27 AM