New Ulm Sports Central - Preserving and Sharing New Ulm Area Sports History

Posted by: Joe Christensen under Farm System, Ron Gardenhire, Twins management
Updated: October 22, 2012 - 11:30 AM

The Minnesota Twins today filled their three major league coaching vacancies, naming Terry Steinbach their new bench coach, Tom Brunansky their new hitting coach and Bobby Cuellar their new bullpen coach.

Joe Vavra will remain on Ron Gardenhire’s staff as the third base coach, Scott Ullger will be the first base coach, and as announced earlier this month, Rick Anderson will remain the pitching coach.

Brunansky and Cuellar were expected choices for the Twins, but the one surprise was Steinbach coming back into a coaching role, as it was widely speculated that the Twins would promote Class AAA manager Gene Glynn to their big league staff.

Steinbach, a New Ulm native who caught in the majors from 1986 through 1999, will be the bench coach and catching instructor, Ullger will oversee outfield instruction and Vavra will oversee infield instruction

Steinbach thrilled to be named bench coach for Twins
Jim Bastian - Journal Sports Writer October 25, 2012

Former New Ulmite Terry Steinbach said that he feels being named the new Minnesota Twins bench coach "is a great opportunity for me and gives me the opportunity to give things back to the game of baseball."
Steinbach was hired as the Twins' new bench coach after the organization did some remodeling in some on-field coaching positions.
"After the Twins' shake-up, there were a few phone calls that I got from (Twins General Manager) Terry Ryan about if I was interested (in the bench coaching position)," he said. "I went home and talked it over with my wife Mary. We felt that it was something that we wanted to explore. I went through the interview process and waited until they made their decision."
Every baseball fan knows the duties of a pitching or hitting coach. But what exactly are the responsibilities of a bench coach?
"The bench coaches job - and it is different from team to team - but in a nutshell I am going to be Gardy's sounding board," Steinbach said. "He may be thinking about making a move and he would ask me what I think about it. He may also have me do some research about what a certain hitter hit off of this pitcher - should we bring in this pitcher to come in to face this particular hitter. I am kind of a sounding board for the manager.I can kind of strategize with the manager during the course of the game."
He said that he will have additional on-field duties.
"I will throw batting practice and possibly do line-ups," he said.
Steinbach will also work with the Twins' catchers.
"I am really excited about doing that and working on game-calling. I will work in conjunction with (Twins' pitching coach) Rick Anderson and coming up with a real good game plan so that pitching and catching we can improve in both of those areas."
Steinbach knows that one of the problems this season for the Twins was the pitching. But he sees some bright spots on the horizon for Minnesota fans.

"We were inconsistent in the starting pitching - we did not get deep into the games with that and we had to go to the bullpen way to early," Steinbach added. "That is not healthy for anybody."
Steinbach said that there were some positives from last year in catcher Joe Mauer, who contended for the batting title, and Justin Morneau making it through an entire season healthy.
"Glen Perkins came out of the bullpen as a closer and that is positive," he said. "We got to see some of the young position players like (Pedro) Florimon at shortstop. There are positive things within the organization."
He said that the next month or two Twins fans will see how things are going to shake out.
"We want to get back on the winning track. We want to put a productive team on the field."