KNBR San Francisco Giants Reporter Kerry Crowley on Coaching Changes, 2018 Season

The San Francisco Giants made some surprising coaching moves so far this offseason, leaving fans to question–why?

First, the Giants began making moves by shuffling key members of their coaching staff, who have been instrumental in their three recent championships.

Longtime pitching coach Dave Righetti has been moved to special assistant to the general manager Bobby Evans. Mark Gardener, the bullpen coach, is now in a special assignment role and will help evaluate pitchers.

On the offensive side, hitting coach Hensley Muelens is now the bench coach, possibly being groomed as a replacement for manager Bruce Bochy, and bench coach Ron Wotus is now the third base coach, with Phil Nevin gone from the team.

But the Giants filled the big voids right after the World Series.

Former Oakland A’s pitching coach Curt Young will now assume the role for the Giants. And Houston Astros assistant hitting coach Alonzo Powell, a San Francisco native, is now the Giants’ hitting coach. The Astros are fresh off a World Series win and boasted the best offense in baseball.

So the question is…why change a coaching staff that produced three World Series titles in five years?

KNBR Giants Reporter Kerry Crowley joined Around the Foghorn’s Vince Cestone to provide some answers.

Note: This interview was conducted before Powell and Young were hired.

Q: Before we get started on the Giants coaching changes, tell me a little bit about your thoughts on the World Series so far. I know we were texting back and forth thinking that Kershaw was going to dominate on Sunday (Game 5).

A: Yeah, I was really surprised that Kershaw didn’t pitch all too well, especially given that the Dodgers were 100-1 in starts he had had four runs of support, so that really came as a surprise. But I really think it shows how strong the Houston Astros are as far as a hitting club, and just having watched the Giants so much this season, it really stands out to me that the teams around baseball are so different than we have here in San Francisco, and for the Giants to ultimately make it to the World Series again, it’s going to take a big roster overhaul.