This week, I had the opportunity to talk to Pittsburgh Pirates’ third base coach Mike Rabelo and ask him a few questions.
Rabelo was drafted in the fourth round of the 2001 MLB draft by the Detroit Tigers. He played the catcher position. Over the next five years, Rabelo worked his way through the Tigers farm system. He made his MLB debut in September of 2006.
Rabelo continued playing with the Tigers in 2007. However, before the 2008 season, he was dealt to the Miami Marlins in the Miguel Cabrera trade.
In 2009, the Marlins granted Rabelo free agency. In 2010, he signed a minor league contract with the Tigers. Shortly after, Rabelo was released and ended his playing days. But, Rabelo stayed active with the Tigers. He started coaching in the Tigers farm system. Over the next 10 years, Rabelo was the manager of the Tigers Class A, Low-A, and Double-A squads. In 2020, he was hired as a hitting coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. In 2021, the Pirates promoted Rabelo to third-base coach.
I talked to Pittsburgh Pirates third base coach Mike Rabelo about his experiences as a coach in the majors. Here is the interview.
Q1: The baseball coaching hierarchy is very interesting. You have been a manager at the minor league level and a third-base coach at the MLB level. Why do you prefer (and many coaches) prefer to be at the major league level at a lower position rather than at the minor league level at a high position? Do all coaches prefer this? What are the pros and cons of each?
A1: The major leagues are the highest level of baseball. As a kid, you dream of playing at this level in front of thousands of fans. I was very fortunate to achieve this and now I get to do it as a coach. There is no other place any coach would rather be than in the Show! As far as pros and cons, there are zero cons to playing or working in the big leagues.
Q2: Baseball has made more attempts to modernize the game in recent years. How does baseball achieve the balance of modernization while keeping the history of the sport?
A2: We are in a different spot right now with “let the kids play” and “respecting the unwritten rules.” I think baseball should be a show similar to the NFL, but I can see how some coaches and players would push back on some of the new stuff. Right now it also seems the focus is speeding up the game and player safety. I know a lot of players and coaches like some of the rules and others do not. I know COVID-19 did not help some of this. i.e. extra-innings, roster constraints.
Q3: What did you do between the end of your playing career and the start of your coaching career? Did you try to get picked up by another team?
A3: I had a massive knee surgery that led to the end of my playing days. When I woke up from surgery, I called the farm director with the Detroit Tigers and started coaching a couple of weeks later. I had some calls to try and come back and still play but I was done mentally and physically.
Q4: What does a typical practice session look like as the third base coach?
A4: Practice in the big leagues is tailored to each and every player. I work with the catchers. Every day is different. Some days we will catch off the machine and other days we will block balls or throw to the bases. A lot of video is being used on a daily basis.
Q5: What do you do in preparation for an upcoming game/series?
A5: As far as coaching third, I look at the opposing teams’ defense before we play them. Who can throw? Who can’t throw? Who runs well? We are combing through an enormous amount of data and video trying to find out certain things about our opponents.
Q6: Is it frustrating when your team is losing because you can only do so much as a third base coach?
A6: It is frustrating to lose no matter what coaching position you may hold.
Q7: A lot of times, from a fan’s perspective, the third base coach has one job: send the runner and hold the runner at appropriate times. When you have a bad send or a bad hold, what is the vibe around the dugout, around the players, and the manager?
A7: Most of the time when you send a runner it is a calculated risk. Sometimes you have to challenge the other team to make a play. Other times you are rolling the dice and taking an aggressive shot.
Q8: Have you ever held a player and he went anyway? Do you feel like it’s right to get mad at the player for going through your sign? How do you deal with that situation?
A8: Yes I have held a runner and he ran through the stop sign. This happens from time to time. I always joke with them and tell them that “they better be safe!”
Q9: What is the best moment of your career (coaching and/or playing)?
A9: Getting called up to the big leagues as a player and getting called up to the big leagues as a coach.
Q10: What has been the most challenging moment of your career (coaching and/or playing)?
A10: Every day is a challenge. There is no level higher than here. Attention to detail is a must!