Bowa to remain with Dodgers

Hello, everybody. It's been a couple of days, but I've been busy and there hasn't been much to talk about. I figured I'd break my silence to talk about...the third base coach vacancy.

The Dodgers announced yesterday that Larry Bowa will remain in that role next year. That obviously rules out any return to the Yankees.

It would have been nice to see Bowa back with the Yankees to hopefully give Robinson Cano the kick in the butt he needs.

The next best choice would be Willie Randolph, but I doubt that will happen.

Bring back Willie

It's time for Bobby Meacham to take a hike. Alex Rodriguez was out at home by at least 10 feet in the first inning.

The announcers are saying how great Ryan Sweeney's throw to the plate was. The fact is, however, that Rodriguez should not have been sent in the first place. The Yankees had a nice two-out rally going, and to see it end on the basepaths is awful.

Willie Randolph, aside from Larry Bowa, was the best third base coach in recent years. Time to bring him back, if he's willing to take the job.

Crasnick not worried about Cano's slow start

ESPN's Jerry Crasnick mentioned Robinson Cano in his "Starting 9" column centered around the season's slow starters.

Here's what he had to say about the Yankees' second baseman:

When Joe Torre compared Cano to Rod Carew in 2005, he wasn't necessarily predicting multiple batting titles. But Cano's fluid stroke, quick hands and mature approach have made a lot of baseball people believe there'll be at least one or two in his long-term future.

In the meantime, he's not immune to the occasional slump. Cano starts with his weight on his front foot, then gradually rocks back and loads as the pitcher begins his delivery. If the process is slightly off kilter, the consequences can be profound.

"He's such a rhythm and timing hitter, and his timing is a little bit off right now," said an American League scout. "I think it's just a case of, 'Wait until April is over.'"

Cano is hitting .139 with runners on base, and manager Joe Girardi recently gave him a day off against Tampa Bay. After Cano produced a game-winning pinch-hit homer, hitting coach Kevin Long observed that it might be just the thing to get him jump-started. Not yet.

Concern level: 2. Hey, he's still a decent bet to be hitting .300 by the All-Star break.

Going into tonight's game, Cano is batting .172 with one home run and five RBI. His OBP sits at an unhealthy .212 and he is slugging a dismal .247.

Cano is very frustrating to many Yankee fans. He has all the talent in the world, but he is prone to lapses both at the plate and in the field (especially when he isn't hitting). Larry Bowa, the Yankees' former third base coach, seemed to have Cano's ear, but he fled to Los Angeles with Joe Torre.

He will turn things around, but this negative pattern has developed over the last two seasons.

Mattingly and Bowa to join Torre in LA

Joe Torre announced at his press conference that former Yankee coaches Don Mattingly and Larry Bowa will be joining his coaching staff in Los Angeles.

Joe Girardi has already named his coaching staff, so this doesn't come as a surprise. Bowa was rumored to join Seattle's staff earlier this month, but I guess that can be put to rest.

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Girardi's coaching staff

From Tyler Kepner:

Tony Peña, the other candidate interviewed last week, will remain with the Yankees as the first-base coach, and the hitting coach Kevin Long is close to signing a three-year, $1 million deal.

Three newcomers are expected to join the staff: Dave Eiland as the pitching coach, Mike Harkey as the bullpen coach, and Bobby Meacham as the third-base coach.

Rob Thomson, a special assignment coach, will inherit Mattingly’s job as the bench coach. The Yankees had offered to let Mattingly stay in that position, but he turned down the job. (The New York Times)

Larry Bowa was likely headed to Seattle, but Peter Abraham suggests he may follow Joe Torre to Los Angeles.

I really don't have any complaints about the staff. Pena, Long and Thomson have done a good job with the Yankees in their tenures. Eiland has experience working with the younger arms, so I'm happy to see him get the job. I don't know much about Meacham or Harkey, but I do know that they both worked with Girardi in Florida.