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John Shoemaker: 46 Years of Service

John Shoemaker was born in Chillicothe, Ohio in 19 in August of 1956. He went to Waverly High School and the University of Miami before being drafted by the Dodgers in the 35th round of the 1977 MLB Draft. He was also selected in the 6th round of the 1978 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.

He was primarily a second baseman and he played in the Dodger system from 1977-1980 before retiring in 1981 to become a Coach in the Dodger system. He has been with the organization continuously since 1977. Forty-six years.

The Dodgers named him Captain of Player Development in 2015 as recognition of his “continual demonstration of superior teammate behavior.”  This according to Gabe Kapler, who was the Dodgers head of player development at the time.

In his time, he has helped 113 players reach the majors, and he is in a position to help many more.  Kershaw, Karros, the Martinez brothers, Kemp, Bellinger and more have at some point been under his influence.

He has held almost every coaching position available in the Dodgers system over stints with Dodger affiliates in 11 different cities. In short, there is no Dodger team he has not influenced in the last 30 years.

He gets kudos from management and former players alike. Joc Pederson said “He is one of a kind, he is a special guy.”  From AF, “He cares so much about this organization and shows it everyday.”

Now 66 years young, John is going to be managing the Dodgers Class-A Rancho team. Except for a couple of times when he has been an infield instructor or minor league fielding coordinator, he has been managing since 1986. His first few years he was a hitting coach.

Part motivator, part teacher, he excels at nurturing talent wherever possible, be it a blue-chip prospect like Kershaw, who he managed in parts of two seasons at AA Jacksonville, or a 33rd round pick like Steven Cilladi.

You might not know Cilladi, but he is now the bullpen catcher for the Dodgers. He played for Shoemaker at Great Lakes in 2011. Although he only had 29 plate appearances, John noticed his hard work. After one game that season, John gave him a game ball and lauded him in front of his teammates.

Cilladi still has the ball given to him by Shoemaker. Cilladi became a coach at age 25, Shoemaker, a 38th round pick, was coaching in the minors by age 24.

Shoemaker treats his job like it is the most important job in the whole organization. He feels you must do that in order to do it correctly and to impact the organization in a positive way.

He played baseball and basketball at Waverly and was drafted by the Giants in the 26th round in 1974. But he had a basketball scholarship to Miami-Ohio, so he opted to go to college instead.

“If I would have signed with the Giants out of high school, I would have been out of baseball, as my grandmother would say, so fast it would make your head swim. I would not have been ready for pro ball, so I made the right decision.”

His slash line in his four years as a pro was not that bad, .282/.394/.314. But he hit one homer in over 1000 at bats and the writing was on the wall, especially when the Dodgers asked him if he would be interested in coaching.

He wasn’t going to be promoted to AAA, so he took the job as batting coach at Vero Beach at age 24. He was barely older than some of the players. Having multiple coaches at the minor league level was a novelty back then.

“When I went to Clinton in 1977, we had a manager, a player-coach and a pitching coordinator who came around sometimes. At Lodi in 1978, we had a manager and a player-coach, but no pitching coach.”

When he became a coach, multiple coaches were new for the organization.

Stan Wasiak, who managed in the minor leagues for 37 consecutive seasons, was the manager at Vero. But Wasiak had slowed down a lot due to age, so John became the teams Jack-of -all-trades.

He pitched batting practice, hit fungoes, coached first base. It was a chance to learn the ropes at a very young age.

That he got into coaching was not a surprise to former Miami-Ohio teammate, Randy Ayers, a former NBA coach, but what sport he did it in was. “He could have coached basketball and I am surprised he did not.” Ayers was quoted as saying.

Both Ayers and Shoemaker had led Miami to a win against Marquette in the 1978 NCAA tournament. Marquette was the defending champion. Both were drafted by the Bulls but neither played in the NBA.

He is one of those who could boast about being drafted by both baseball and basketball professional teams, but that is not his style. “I have talked with him a lot about basketball, but he plays it down, typical John.” AF said.

Coaching is in his blood, and he credits his father who coached at Waverly High in basketball and baseball. He is all about family. His dad would drive 6-8 hours with him and then drive back.

He is now what is called the Captain of Player Development and wears a C on his uniform. He won the 2015 Mike Coolbaugh award given annually by the Minor Leagues for the coach who has shown outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game, and skill mentoring young players.

Shoemaker still dreams of someday making it to the major leagues, but he would only accept such a job with the Dodgers. He is truly a team player.

A majority of his manager experience has come at Class-A or lower. I for one would like to see his loyalty and service awarded at some point with a promotion to the major league staff. He could continue his great work with the kids on that level. John Shoemaker is an unsung hero of the organization, and it is time that he and guys like Stan Wasiak, get their due.

 

 

John Shoemaker and Dino Ebel

 

 

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Jeff Dominique

Bear, thanks for this. John Shoemaker fills an extremely valuable role for the “kids”. He is an unsung hero in the LAD organization. I have long been an admirer of Shoe, but it wasn’t until a couple of Phillie “oldtimers” who took my son under their wings before I really appreciated what someone like John Shoemaker means to the “kids”. The two Phillie “oldtimers”? Dallas Green and Del Unser.  

Oldbear48

My pleasure. Finding info on coaches in the minors is not always easy.

Badger

He looks like Kevin Costner in the top picture.

Good hire. The players at Rancho will benefit from his presence.

Dionysus

He’s a good’un

Bumsrap

Thanks for your Post today Bear. I enjoyed it.

Did anyone see this article? I like this kind of stuff.

https://theathletic.com/4164755/2023/02/10/mlb-personalized-bats-austin-riley-marrucci-sports?source=user-shared-article

Badger

Yep. I’m a subscriber and scour the Athletic daily.

My first thought was – they will very soon do this without wires.

Jeff Dominique

Thanks for the suggestion. Excellent article. Austin Riley was already an elite hitter. I wonder if this moves him up the spectrum, into Paul Goldschmidt territory.

I really loved the Brandon Nimmo kinetic toe tap comment. This is where baseball conversations are headed. How many of the pre-2000 players even knew about kinetic movement? I doubt that Chipper Jones ever talked about a kinetic toe tap. Now kinetic movement discussions are routine.

Baseball Performance Lab at Marucci Sports HQ in Baton Rouge, LA, was not the first bat fitter and swing analysis technological tool available. While not nearly at the level of BPL, Motion Systems, LLC, is the developer of the industry leading HitTrax Data Capture & Simulation System. It has been around for some time. They now have a home version of their software that utilizes the same core computer vision technology that powers the professional HitTrax model used by MLB organizations. I know about this product because my son looked into it for a baseball academy in September 2018. It is a pretty awesome tool for hitters. I believe they have one for pitchers as well, but not positive.

Dick’s Sporting Goods has a HitTrax Cage in many of their retail outlets. I believe the Cage is free to use. It is a great tool to select the right bat for the player.

Driveline in Seattle is another tool many MLB players take advantage of.

Last edited 1 year ago by Jeff Dominique
Badger

I did a baseball swing for my Biomechanical Anaysis paper as a senior in college. That was in 1978. These things have been analyzed for years.

Jeff Dominique

I am not saying they were not analyzed. I took an advanced Kinesiology class with biomechanical analysis in college (between majors) early 70’s. I am saying most baseball players back then had no clue why there might be a difference between a leg lift and a kinetic toe tap except one worked and one didn’t. I know that it was a sweeping generalization, but times have changed.

Jeff Dominique

Interesting roster prediction from LAD beat writer Juan Toribio. For all of this youth movement discussion that has transpired from Stan Kasten down to Dave Roberts, Toribio predicts exactly one rookie will break camp with the Dodgers…Miguel Vargas. Per Toribio…”When the outfield conversation is brought up, Zimmer and Heyward’s names always comes up, a good indicator of what the Dodgers are thinking.“ Toribio indicated that James Outman will more than likely start the season at AAA to get more consistent ABs.

Not a single mention of Busch, and he believes that the four projected rookie pitchers will all be in OKC to start the year.

We are now 15 days away from the Dodgers first ST game. Our learning process will become more focused at that time.

Badger

Have to admit, I have found it hard to believe that more than 1 rookie will be in the starting lineup for the Dodgers. Timmons presented the starting lineup with 3 rookies a few days ago. I just don’t see it. It’s certainly possible, even likely, more than 3 will see time with the club, but Opening Day? Nope.

Jeff Dominique

Yu Darvish will be paid a $6MM signing bonus and receive a $24MM salary in 2023, per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. He’ll then be paid $15MM in 2024, $20MM in 2025, $15MM in 2026 and $14MM apiece in 2027-28. 

Fred Vogel

From Keith Law:
Fielding percentage is not a measure of defensive ability at all. Just ignore it.
Thoughts?

Jeff Dominique

I read that. It got me back into my defensive metric research mode that I have been working on (seems like forever). I think Keith was referring more to MiLB prospects than MLB players, but I am not positive. Law was referring to a commenter that brought up Miguel Vargas’ poor fielding percentage metrics at 3B. I believe that most of Vargas’ errors were due to throws. I also know that defensive 1B in MiLB are not all that reliable. They are generally hitters that are being hidden (also LF). Not all. But many infielder throwing errors could have been prevented with a better defensive 1B.

Badger

I can’t ignore it.

Last edited 1 year ago by Badger
Oldbear48

Neither can I. It was how fielders were graded for years and now all of a sudden it is not good enough??? I dislike all the geek stats so much I just rarely read them.

Jeff Dominique

It appears that James Outman is headed to OKC as the Dodgers just signed LHH David Peralta for 1 year at $6.5MM.

Singing the Blue

Maybe the Peralta signing is the precursor to a trade which would send out Outman and/or Busch.

Badger

Either that or they just don’t think that much of Outman’s bat.

Bumsrap

The bat can be customized.

This development is less fun.

Badger

Well, both to Pittsburgh does make sense. They would step right into the lineup.

Badger

And they have a different selection of bats in Pittsburgh. Made of old growth Pennsylvania hardwood.

Jeff Dominique

In a ClutchPoints article, before the Peralta acquisition, the authors stated the following:

There are plenty of teams around the league who would love to acquire a player like Outman. The Dodgers could trade him for extra depth or even younger prospects.

If they decide to hold onto him and keep him in the minor leagues for yet another season, his value would diminish purely as a result of his age. Now is the time to trade James Outman.

Outman turns 26 on May 14.

Badger

Adios James.

Bumsrap

Outman’s ceiling is higher than Reynolds but his floor is well below sea level. IMHO

Oldbear48

I have no clue why they signed Peralta. But it does say that they are not really satisfied with the options they presently have on the roster.

Bumsrap

I smell fear. SD is now living in Friedman’s head.

Dionysus

Hogwash

Badger

Hogwash is living in Friedman’s head?

Yeah, I suppose that’s possible.

Jeff Dominique

I got out of my sickbed to report that the Dodgers are in agreement with RHRP Alex Reyes. It is a one year $1.1MM deal with a $3MM option for 2024.

This has the potential of being an outstanding signing. Or they just signed another chronically injured pitcher. He does have closing experience. I do like the gamble.

Fred Vogel

29 saves in ’01. Could be a good signing.

Singing the Blue

This is one signing I was hoping for, especially with the option for 2024.

One thing you may not have seen, Jeff, is on this year’s 1.1 million deal there are another 8.9 million worth of options, just in case he’s the old Reyes this year.

nonicnamebumfan

Reyes’ deal with the Dodgers includes a club option for the 2024 season that is worth $3 million, but the total could ultimately be up to $10 million if the right-hander reaches a number of salary escalators and performance bonuses, which include relief appearances the next two seasons and days on the active roster, a source told MLB.com
It could be worth 10 million after two years. Great move by the Dodgers.
Reyes’ deal with the Dodgers includes a club option for the 2024 season that is worth $3 million, but the total could ultimately be up to $10 million if the right-hander reaches a number of salary escalators and performance bonuses, which include relief appearances the next two seasons and days on the active roster, a source told MLB.com
It could be worth 10 million after two years. Great move by the Dodgers.

Last edited 1 year ago by nonicnamebumfan
nonicnamebumfan

Not sure why that doubled down above, also how do you just comment without replying to someone else?

Fred Vogel

Directly below the main article you should see “Join the Discussion” along with a blue box reading “Post Comment”.

nonicnamebumfan

Much obliged, Fred

Singing the Blue

I’ve now seen those incentives broken out a number of different ways online. Main thing is, they’ve taken a chance on a very good pitcher who has now had TJ and a shoulder operation.

Odds of this working out aren’t spectacular but if it does it will be a great signing. Definitely a worthwhile roll of the dice.

nonicnamebumfan

I agree 100% STB. I just read over on Marks site that the Dodgers signed old friend Ruby De La Rosa. He was traded to Boston in that big swap that brought Adrian Gonzalez ,Beckett, Crawford, and Punto

Last edited 1 year ago by nonicnamebumfan
Jeff Dominique

I of course could be wrong, but I do not see De La Rosa making the ML Roster.

Badger

Neither do I. That list of signings is growing.

Jeff Dominique

I am not going to be able to put up a fresh post tonight. Hopefully I will feel better tomorrow.

OhioDodger

No problem. We will make do. Just take care of yourself… We appreciate all that you do.

Bumsrap

While you are hanging loose, a contest is going on between the Lakers and Dodgers to see how many roster changes in a two week period of time can bemade.

Last edited 1 year ago by Bumsrap

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