NewsMeulens gets right to work for Giants
New hitting coach spending offseason working with players
By Chris Haft / MLB.com
11/12/09 8:50 PM EST
SAN FRANCISCO -- By the beginning of Spring Training, Hensley Meulens will remain a first-year hitting coach. But he really won't be a new one. Meulens intends to familiarize himself, face-to-face and eyeball-to-swing, with as many Giants as possible during the offseason. That way, once the Giants open camp in Scottsdale, Ariz., he can work intensively with players and skirt the preliminaries. Meulens, named to succeed Carney Lansford on Nov. 2, already has started familiarizing himself with players. This week, he has conducted tutorials for John Bowker, Travis Ishikawa, Nate Schierholtz and Minor League prospect Brett Pill in the indoor batting cage at AT&T Park. "We don't have to waste time in Spring Training with the getting-to-know-each-other part," Ishikawa said. No hitting coach can stimulate an offense by himself. But an effective coach can influence a team's approach at the plate. Meulens, 42, sounded acutely aware of the challenge he faces in trying to help stimulate the Giants, who ranked 13th in the National League in scoring, 14th in slugging percentage and last in on-base percentage during 2009. "We have a lot of work to do to better the offense," Meulens said. "It's better to get started now instead of waiting until Spring Training to work on some things." Meulens reasoned that planting his message with hitters during the offseason will enable them to focus on what they need to practice the most. For example, it was no accident that Bowker and Schierholtz were part of Meulens' first group. He wanted to preach solid habits to them before they left to play for Bravos de Margarita in the Venezuelan Winter League. "I want to make sure they're efficient with the work they do," Meulens said. Meulens' next stop will be a follow-up visit to Venezuela to see Bowker, Pill and infielder Jesus Guzman, who's playing there for Caracas. Then Meulens will proceed to Puerto Rico, where Schierholtz and Kevin Frandsen will be playing for Gigantes de Carolina. Later in the offseason, Meulens plans to check in with Eugenio Velez in the Dominican Republic. He'll also visit Edgar Renteria once he recovers from his shoulder and elbow injuries, as well as Aaron Rowand and Freddy Sanchez. Meulens won't hesitate to correct a hitter's flaws, but he'd rather emphasize his strengths. This week at AT&T, to assist him with either endeavor, he filmed each hitter on a digital camera. Afterward, they reviewed swings together. Ishikawa appreciated the immediate visual feedback."There are always times when what you're feeling and doing are two different things," he said.
While there's nothing new about studying film, Meulens hopes that it can provide fresh perspectives. "You can show them what they're doing," Meulens said. "It's actually a backup to what you're telling them. I use the video to show them when they're doing something right. You want to reiterate the positive thoughts and good things."Chris Haft is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
