News broke from Mexico City today - The Aztecs' pitching coach Steve Hoffman has parted ways with the organization in what is being called by some sources a 'mutual decision'. Others, however, paint a different picture.
Hoffman was on the last year of his contract, a lame duck coach in an organization that usually prides itself on retention. Talks between the two sides at the end of 2046 were brief and, by some descriptions, terse at best. Both sides said the right things and were resolved to, at the very least, see out Hoffman's contract through 2047. Talks early in the season gained no traction and it became very clear as the year went on that Hoffman's time in the Aztec dugout was ticking down.
"You could see it in the way he talked to everyone, his relationships within the staff weren't good and there didn't seem to be any particular desire on his (Hoffman's) part to work towards improving them. You could really see it with Dave. The better he pitched, the more Hoffman shunned him. Not sure what happened there, but it was like a relationship between a step parent and a kid that neither one wants."
That quote is from a source within the team, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. So what could make a man like Hoffman, revered in the organization for his work both as a player and as a coach, go sour that quickly? Another source close to the team and Hoffman had an idea:
"After Sam retired abruptly last season, you could see that Steve thought the job was his to lose. You could see he wanted it. The org seemed to want him as well. But after the interviews went through, they went in another direction. I feel for Steve, I do. He's worked hard there for alot of years but you can't just burn a bridge like that on the way out. Definitely bad optics for guys looking at him for other jobs."
The Aztec front office, for its part, seems to be ready to move along after Hoffman's departure. Aztec GM Fred Holmes released a statement after Hoffman's exit was announced, thanking him for his "decades of hard work" and his "peerless quality as a baseball professional", the typical sterile corporate jargon, and also said the organization will undergo a "tireless search to identify the right candidate to continue to nuture our growing staff".
What that means could be anyone's guess. They have two other coaches at AAA in Roberto Gomez, who has been lurking in the minors waiting forever, and Enrique Gomez, another team legend, who would both seem to be prime candidates for the same spot, of which there is only one available. Will the Aztecs create more friction by choosing one, causing them to lose the other? Will they again opt for an outside hire, seemingly continuing to alienate the highly qualified and respected candidates already in their organziation? Time will tell here, but with Corfield winning the Nebraska and a number of young pitchers hungry to grab a big league roster spot, they'd better get it right.
2047.6: Hoffman's Exodus
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2047.6: Hoffman's Exodus
Fred Holmes
General Manager
Mexico City Aztecs - BBA
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General Manager
Mexico City Aztecs - BBA
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JL Sun Belt Champs - 2035, 2036, 2038
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Re: 2047.6: Hoffman's Exodus
Don't Hassle the Hoff
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(Sorry I gotta get to 2664 posts)
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Re: 2047.6: Hoffman's Exodus
Ha, nice.jiminyhopkins wrote: ↑Mon Aug 09, 2021 3:43 pmDon't Hassle the Hoff
(Sorry I gotta get to 2664 posts)
Fred Holmes
General Manager
Mexico City Aztecs - BBA
BBA Champs - 2052
JL Champs - 2027, 2052
JL MW Champs - 2022, 2023, 2024, 2027
JL Sun Belt Champs - 2035, 2036, 2038
JL Frontier Champs - 2051, 2052
JL Manager of the Year - 2023, 2024, 2026, 2052
General Manager
Mexico City Aztecs - BBA
BBA Champs - 2052
JL Champs - 2027, 2052
JL MW Champs - 2022, 2023, 2024, 2027
JL Sun Belt Champs - 2035, 2036, 2038
JL Frontier Champs - 2051, 2052
JL Manager of the Year - 2023, 2024, 2026, 2052
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