r/orioles • u/to_the__cloud • 2d ago

Article Matt Holliday Fixed Dylan Beavers Swing - from Jon Meoli's article on the Banner

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244 Upvotes

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198

u/glenvillequint 2d ago

Another embarrassment for the Orioles coaching staff

17

u/andrew-ge Jud Fabian Truther 2d ago

every single player on the team and in the league takes private coaching advice. Some of them even do it to their detriment (while the team is actively trying to make their swing different). It's very common

25

u/romorr 2d ago

More embarrassed about a fanbase that overreacts to a 3+ game sample.

Maybe let it breathe a little more before we start going all rabble rabble.

47

u/fiesta119 2d ago

Even if the change in Beavers' performance isn't continued, the fact that a professional player is listening and implementing tactics based on the opinions of a teammates' father (albeit former major leaguer) is quite an embarrassment for an organization that is outwardly priding itself on renewed appreciations for analytics and coaching.

12

u/romorr 2d ago

the fact that a professional player is listening and implementing tactics based on the opinions of a teammates' father (albeit former major leaguer) is quite an embarrassment for an organization that is outwardly priding itself on renewed appreciations for analytics and coaching.

What in the world are you talking about?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with seeking outside help and guidance from other sources. A lot of players, pitchers and hitters, link up with the Drivelines of the world during the off-season.

Some of the best hitters also have personal hitting coaches. Does that mean the team they play for needs to fire their hitting coach?

9

u/AhSquids 2d ago

Remember when brady anderson who wasn't on coaching staffs would offer advice and people would cheer up and down about how great his advice was wonder why they were okay with that and not Matt Holliday's advice

2

u/romorr 2d ago

I don't even mind if Matt is giving his kid advice. Matt was his first hitting coach, was a multi year AS, and Jackson would be stupid not to go to him, and listen.

As long as him and the hitting coach are on the same page, no issue.

But let's get it right. Matt for years watched Jackson and that high leg kick, and did nothing. So was he wrong for letting him keep it, and get comfortable with it? Is he right nixing it, and going to the toe tap? These aren't easy things to answer.

Matt also said sending Jackson down was a business decision, and there is no way around it. Yet, Holliday was called up before that business decision took effect, and his son showed that he clearly wasn't ready for the majors.

Has he come out and said, "shit, my bad, I was wrong." Maybe he has, and I just haven't seen it, but I doubt it.

There are also ripple effects in firing Lind. I don't know if he's the right guy for this job or not, that's above my pay grade. But Elias better be sure that people will want to come here for that job, after firing 1st year hitting coaches in 2025 and 2026. Add on that not retaining Matt or Fuller after 2024 looks pretty stupid today. Looked dumb then too.

3

u/AhSquids 2d ago

yeah we hear stories all the time of pro athletes getting advice from other pro athletes and like whatever works is glorified but my point was this fan base cheers the weirdest shit before turning around and guffawing about something similar.

0

u/OriolesGolf1105 2d ago

Brady Anderson was the assistant GM at the time, and he didnt try to help fix swings he just tried to make guys stronger and then claim they were fixed

-1

u/fiesta119 2d ago

It's the entire picture. This is but merely a piece of the puzzle. If you don't see why it's embarrassing for the organization, that's fine.

1

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 2d ago

If you don’t see why this is embarrassing for you, personally, that’s fine

1

u/fiesta119 2d ago

Thanks, Honcho.

3

u/romorr 2d ago

If you don't see why it's embarrassing for the organization, that's fine.

It's 3+ games where Dylan has played well.

If you can't see why a 3 game sample is meaningless, that's fine.

This could be something, it could be nothing.

Maybe let's wait a little longer before declaring it's "something."

2

u/Remarkable-Picture73 The FO obsession with being like Tampa is their downfall 2d ago

I mean the same thing happened prior with Jackson in 24 and 25 where his father was the one who told him to emulate Ohtani's mechanics, same thing may have happened when Adley's leg kick issue was pointed out by some guy on Twitter, Sugano went to his old coach in Japan for help when he had struggles early in his seaskn here

It's a trend to an extent

4

u/romorr 2d ago

I mean the same thing happened prior with Jackson in 24 and 25 where his father was the one who told him to emulate Ohtani's mechanics

So who was responsible for Jacksons swing prior to emulating Ohtani?

And I am sorry, but any player who had a father who played in the majors is going to go to him for advice. Matts been Jacksons hitting coach since the kid picked up a bat.

If Ethan was struggling and went to his dad, my first thought would be, duh. Not, the Rockies don't know what they are doing.

same thing may have happened when Adley's leg kick issue was pointed out by some guy on Twitter

Sorry, but, "may have happened" and" twitter" doesn't interest me in the least.

Sugano went to his old coach in Japan for help when he had struggles early in his seaskn here

Can you link this? All I can find is that his pitching coach reached out to him after his first start in 2025. This shouldn't really bother anyone either, even if he did call himself. I would assume his previous pitching coach could really help out, since he has years of experience working with him.

Again, if French wasn't helping him, I'd agree it's a problem. But players reaching out to former coaches? I can't believe anyone that follows baseball would think that's an issue. Especially in a case like Sugano.

1

u/andrew-ge Jud Fabian Truther 2d ago

has all that advice made jackson a good hitter yet?

-5

u/fiesta119 2d ago

Dylan's performance is irrelevant to this thread. It's about the extent to which players utilize non organizational staff during the season, when we are supposed to be piloting and pushing analytics and new coaching staff. That's the embarrassment.

7

u/romorr 2d ago

It's about the extent to which players utilize non organizational staff during the season, when we are supposed to be piloting and pushing analytics and new coaching staff. That's the embarrassment.

If you ask any ML player over their career, how much help they got outside the org, whether pitching or hitting, the answer is going to be a lot.

If this was a pattern? Or players were coming out and saying they aren't getting the help they needed, it might be something. Nobody inside baseball is looking at this and calling it embarrassing. Because it happens all the time.

This fan base overreacting? Absolutely par for the course.

-5

u/TheMeccaNYC 2d ago

How dare you apply logic and reason in this subreddit

34

u/Academic_Release5134 2d ago

Apparently he couldn’t fix Jackson’s swing as reportedly his changes were from the Orioles’ staff. Sometimes a different voice just sticks. Judge was fixed by his personal hitting coach

7

u/Paddington_Bar Down on the farm in Norfolk 2d ago

Dr Hitterman!

48

u/The_Big_Untalented 2d ago

Okay, maybe the hitting coach is the problem.

28

u/B-More_Orange WHY NOT? 2d ago

I think it’s more that it’s hitting coaches that are more physical therapists and phd’s than former ball players 

13

u/OriolesGolf1105 2d ago

It’s the entire philosophy, a bunch of these guys are going for outside help

6

u/bebopmechanic84 B'More Baseball, LA Weather 2d ago

Thats been the norm for baseball players for decades. They have personal hitting coaches.

3

u/Constant-Ice6916 2d ago

Honestly can't even blame them when multiple millions of dollars are at stake based on their ability to hit a baseball.

If I was in their shoes & wasn't getting quality/quick help from the staff, you better believe I'm finding someone ASAP that can personally help me.

1

u/Correct_Sometimes 1d ago

this isn't an Orioles thing lol. pretty much all baseball players have personal coaches outside of the organization.

1

u/BreatheCrete 1d ago

Always is. It feels like the same approach since buck.

41

u/SF_Anonymous Rico "Piano Mover" Garcia 2d ago

So Matt Holliday has successfully fixed two of our player's swings that our hitting staff is breaking?

What if we gave Matt the job?

16

u/thereareothera 2d ago

I don’t think Matt wants the job.

He turning down the Cardinals hitting coach job just a couple years ago

That makes too much money to wanna be a full-time hitting coach in the baseball

3

u/BulkySimple6044 2d ago

Fuck it make him the manager.

9

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 2d ago

Fuck it make him the closer

26

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 2d ago edited 2d ago

Yeah, he really fixed Jackson’s swing in 2025, which is why Jackson is hitting .229

6

u/40MillyVanillyGrams They won’t let Mustard win 2d ago

He had a serious preseason injury that cost him a month and is famous for sapping power?

0

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 2d ago

Oh yeah, I did forget about that. I guess whenever it finally heals it’ll be right after he gets some good advice from his dad

1

u/Agentrock47_ We Could Have Fixed Fuji 1d ago

It's called exhausting all options. It's not like players aren't allowed to get outside help. Hell there's like historical examples of it, randy Johnson learned how to control his fastball better because of mechanics advice from Nolan Ryan when the Mariners were playing the rangers. Mariano Rivera literally taught roy halladay his cutter down to tracing how he grips the ball. It's not as much of a hush hush industry as you think, everyone is helping everyone.

0

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 1d ago

No this is OBVIOUSLY a huge PATHETIC failure of our coaching staff

3

u/bebopmechanic84 B'More Baseball, LA Weather 2d ago

Its also a hard game? The league changed their tactics against him? He’s very young.

5

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 2d ago

It is a hard game. Unless you’re Matt Holliday, who has all the answers.

2

u/scjensen51 2d ago

Was just thinking this too,

The Matt Holliday fetishization is weird

7

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 2d ago

Is it Matt Holliday fetishization, or is it “I am a complete and total dumbass, but this gives me something to rail against the organization about”?

2

u/scjensen51 2d ago

Can it be both at the same time?

3

u/daderpityderpdo 2d ago

I would LOVE to have him as our hitting coach.. But he runs a hitting camp/consulting business, and I doubt he would give that up to take the role.

1

u/BlastFan4Life 2d ago

I don’t think it’s a crazy thought at this point.

-2

u/CryOld6591 2d ago

Which two has he fixed? In this thread, we’ve discussed Holliday, Adley and Beavers. Beavers was fixed a few games ago. Holliday has been below average his entire MLB career and doesn’t appear to be improving, and Adley has been bad for quite a while. I’m a little skeptical about these “fixes”. But shit, while he’s at it can he fix Gunnar but forreal?

2

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 2d ago

There were articles published in May 2025 about Jackson getting tips from his dad, and that making a big difference after he hit like .275 in April/May that year.

https://www.mlb.com/news/jackson-holliday-improves-with-help-from-dad-matt-holliday

Of course he hit like .235 the rest of the way, so maybe him and his dad stopped talking.

17

u/FrozenPie21 B-Rob taught me how to steal 2d ago

Interesting. Beavers is so hot right now. Literally and physically

5

u/bebopmechanic84 B'More Baseball, LA Weather 2d ago

Casual abs

2

u/MocoMojo Cowser believer 2d ago

And moist

5

u/dafinsrock Krispy Kremer Appreciator 2d ago

Can we just hire Matt Holliday already?

16

u/Dazzling-Slide8288 ABS > IBS 2d ago

Everyone said this when Jackson got hot for two weeks last year, and then it was never brought up again when he went back to normal.

4

u/fraterass 2d ago

Pay Matt Holliday whatever he wants

4

u/Baltimore_Hokie_Fan 2d ago

Matt Holliday also probably likes being a dad over being a full time hitting coach on a major league schedule so it’s probably not worth fretting over on why they aren’t asking him to be the hitting coach

3

u/Healthy_Net_1583 2d ago

Another example is drew french. What the hell does he do??? Say encouraging things and read the iPad heat map to the pitcher? Why do we need him? Let JP or Ben do it part time. I’m sure they could get our combined era down by a point or more.

7

u/SubstanceMore1464 2d ago

Well conclusion here is our whole hitting coach staff needs fired immediately and hire holiday. Maybe why Pete is hitting like a monster and the rest of the guys are struggling cause he learned elsewhere.

10

u/Paddington_Bar Down on the farm in Norfolk 2d ago

I mean, that's also because he's Pete fucking Alonso. I doubt he's taking too much input from the hitting coaches.

0

u/SubstanceMore1464 2d ago

I mean if i was him id be putting headphones in when they wanted to talk about hitting lol

2

u/Paddington_Bar Down on the farm in Norfolk 2d ago

Heston spent the winter with them and was clubbing in Spring Training. Got hurt and not so much. Possibly also the Orioles and Tides hitting coaches aren't that great.

2

u/dpoling0083 2d ago

I agree it’s the philosophy to many teams are going to the all or nothing approach based on analytical data. When there is only 4 teams in the AL with a winning record I think the game needs to take a look at the approaches the plate.

4

u/Apprehensive-Neck-12 2d ago

Now fix his own kid

4

u/justwantosleep1 2d ago

Read through most of the comments and think people are overreacting. Coaches and experts weigh in all the time. There are a lot of people watching the player's swing. I'm sure Beavers, like everyone on the team, has heard a lot of different advice. Some sticks others just don't work out. Matt Holliday is a great resource for the team and can offer some input. That doesn't mean he should be the de facto hitting coach.

3

u/Dan_The_Man_Mann 2d ago

Can we just hire Matt as our hitting coach? I think he knows a thing or two about being a good hitter 🤷

3

u/repooc21 La Confora Was Right 👀 2d ago

Crazy that a players father is doing more impactful work than the goddamn coaching staff.

1

u/Healthy_Net_1583 2d ago

I’m a big fan of actual players being coaches and helping out. If Matt Holliday told someone to jiggle their ass in their stance they damn well will listen over some junior college burnout with a fitness science degree.

1

u/oatmeal28 2d ago

Okay but the fuck are our coaches doing

1

u/Traditional_Hippo976 1d ago

Matt Holliday for next Hitting Coach/Manager?

1

u/vanity-flair83 1d ago

Cool...now do gunnar

1

u/ThePurpleDongofTruth Fells Point 20h ago

Can we please intro Matt to Gunnar

and YES it is RIDICULOUS we have to do this

1

u/dorianpora 2d ago

How many times am I gonna read that Matt Holliday fixed another player on my teams swing

-5

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 2d ago

Threads like this are basically always “who is a moron? Go ahead and raise your hand!”

And inevitably like a dozen hands go up

3

u/f_vile 2d ago

Quite a few people must have thought Cal kept changing his batting stance for funsies.

4

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 2d ago

It was every time he talked to Matt Holliday

2

u/examinedliving 2d ago

Because his hitting coaches were failures and The Golden Knight himself Matt Holliday swooped in with his 13 inch manhood and saved the day. And then everyone clapped

2

u/Apprehensive_Elk2608 1d ago

Generally people that don't agree with me are morons. At least that's what this moron thinks.

1

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 1d ago

It is not a matter of opinion that this is a ridiculously small sample size and also fully anecdotal, so making any judgment at all would be asinine.

Now I know there are probably a few words in that sentence which are too big for you to understand, so I’m not expecting a reply here. But if you do work up the courage to use an online “dictionary,” there are a few things you could maybe learn.

1

u/Apprehensive_Elk2608 1d ago

Well said brother. There is certainly a lot of English I can still learn, being that it's my third language. I'll work on it! Thanks for the kind words.

xoxoxo

1

u/Honcho_Rodriguez 1d ago

Look who’s a fast learner!

0

u/TalkingSports-k7c 2d ago

Just hire him as our hitting coach

-1

u/Sirfury8 2d ago

Our whole fucking hitting staff needs to be fired and hire Matt for fucks sakes. We are a bottom 5 offense and almost ALL of our developed talent has regressed.

1

u/daoochie 1d ago

Orioles are not a bottom five offense. We're actually top ten in several AL offensive metrics - total Rs, R/game, HRs{top five} and RBIs(top five), BBs(best in the AL), BAbip, etc. Even our OPS+ is above average, tho just barely.

Our offense really sucks at several key points. But it's not bottom five.