They set single season records in 2009 for runs scored, extra-base hits, walks, home runs and on-base percentage, and still, there was something missing from the Tampa Bay Rays offense that scored three or fewer runs 71 times.
That something was an inability to drive home runners from third base with less than two outs.
It is called “situational hitting,” and it was something Rays manager Joe Maddon addressed when he first interviewed Derek Shelton.
And it is something Shelton will address throughout the 2010 season now that he has been hired as the Rays hitting coach, replacing Steve Henderson, who was let go after the season.
“I think with the group of hitters we have here and the way these guys can hit here, it’s going to be something we’ll be able to start drilling from Day 1 of spring training,” Shelton said Wednesday during a conference call. “It will definitely be a focus from the first time we get in the cage and continue to work through it and get in the season and go from there. I think with the caliber of hitters we have here I think they can really do a good job with it.”
Shelton, 39, had been the hitting coach with the Cleveland Indians from June 4, 2005 until he was fired Oct. 1. In that time, the Indians ranked second in doubles, third in on-base percentage, fifth in the major leagues in runs scored, sixth in slugging percentage, seventh in batting and 10th in home runs. Until this past season, the Indians hitters ranked eighth or better in the majors in runs scored.
“I believe he is the kind of coach who can create a hitting program that will benefit the organization, both at the minor league and major league levels,” said Maddon in a statement released by the team. “In our conversations, I found that we share the same philosophy on a number of different areas. He was very clear and concise on his intentions, and in the end it was an easy decision.”
Shelton lives in Wesley Chapel with his wife and their two children. He had a brief two-year career in the Yankees organization in the early 1990s as a catcher until an elbow injury sent him into coaching.
While Shelton said drew interest from other teams, the chance to work close to home and work with Evan Longoria, Carlos Peña, Jason Bartlett, Carl Crawford, Ben Zobrist and B.J. Upton made his decision to accept the Rays offer an easy one.
“It’s exciting,” Shelton said. “When this job became available and I was able to sit down with Joe and (vice president of baseball Andrew Friedman) and talk about it, I think any hitting coach who likes hitting and looks at this lineup, you’re thinking, ‘This is awesome.’ I’m very excited to be around the caliber that we have. And I’m very excited to be able to work with them. There are some talented guys here.”
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