BBTF's Notes in a Minor Key Discussion

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Minor League Hirings

The Yankees have hired ex-Reds manager Dave Miley to manage their AAA Columbus franchise. Neil Allen, who was with the big team in 2005, returns to AAA to be the pitching coach, and Kevin Long and Frank Howard also return as coaches.

Arizona has promoted Mike Rizzo to VP of scouting operations and hired A.J. Hinch to manage their minor league operations.

The Braves promoted Brian Snitker to manage their AAA Richmond franchise in 2006, and hired Jeff Blauser to replace Snitker at Mississippi. Blauser has been a roving instructor in Atlanta’s minor league system for the past three years; this is his first managing gig in the minors. Snitker has managed at every level in the Braves’ system. The Braves also swapped their A-ball managers, with Rocket Wheeler going to Myrtle Beach and Randy Ingle to Rome.

The Blue Jays moved minor league pitching coach Rick Langford from A Dunedin to AAA Syracuse, and hired former Mets’ minor league manager Doug Davis to skipper their AA New Hampshire franchise.

The Phillies have hired P.J. Forbes to manage AA Reading, replacing Steve Swisher. John Russell, who was most recently on Lloyd McClendon’s coaching staff in Pittsburgh and who was thought to be their manager-in-waiting at one point, will handle the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre team for the Phils.

Mike Emeigh Posted: November 29, 2005 at 08:37 AM | 20 comment(s)
Related News: Minor Leagues, Arizona, Atlanta, NY Yankees, Philadelphia, Toronto

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1. Greg Schuler Posted: November 29, 2005 at 10:20 AM (#1751092)

From the agate pages:

SAN DIEGO PADRES-Named Will Sinon trainer for Portland of the PCL, Glenn Abbott pitching coach, Arnie Beyeler hitting coach and Greg Harrel trainer for Mobile of the Southern League, Steve Webber pitching coach for Lake Elsinore of the California League, Tom Bradley pitching coach for Fort Wayne of the Midwest League, and Doug Dascenzo manager and Joe Ferguson hitting coach for Eugene of the Northwest League.

2. MM1f Posted: November 29, 2005 at 10:25 AM (#1751100)

Rocket Wheeler is teh ####, you must see him in action if you can

3. Mike Emeigh Posted: November 29, 2005 at 10:29 AM (#1751105)

Rocket Wheeler is teh ####, you must see him in action if you can

I've seen the Rocketman, and I agree. Jayhawk Owens of Chattanooga can light up a game, too.

-- MWE

4. TOLAXOR Posted: November 29, 2005 at 10:31 AM (#1751106)

SO THE REDS HIRE THE CLIPPERS MANAGER (BUCKY NO LONGER F'ING DENT) AND THE CLIPPERS HIRE THE REDS MANAGER...

NEAT!!!!!

5. 1k5v3L Posted: November 29, 2005 at 11:05 AM (#1751168)

More on AZ's moves:

blink?

The team also announced that Mike Rizzo was promoted to a vice president's position. He will take on a greater role in the organization while continuing to run the amateur draft, which he has done for the past six years.

I love the fact that the Dbacks are keeping Rizzo. Kudos, Josh Byrnes.

6. Hey, it's what Johan uses (Matt) Posted: November 29, 2005 at 11:21 AM (#1751197)

Jayhawk Owens of Chattanooga can light up a game, too.

You mean this Jayhawk Owens?

That's awesome! I used to always pluck him from free agency in Ken Griffey's Major League Baseball.

7. Mike Emeigh Posted: November 29, 2005 at 11:47 AM (#1751264)

You mean this Jayhawk Owens?

Yep.

-- MWE

8. MM1f Posted: November 29, 2005 at 02:46 PM (#1751655)

The best part is Rocket going from chewing out some umps to smiling and walking down the fence giving little kids Bazooka bubble gum from this bucket.

Oh in another minor league news Bill Evers, 3 time IL champ w the Bulls and 30 year minor league vet, got a big league bench coach job w the DRays. ITs about damn time, im glad for him. if anyone deserves it its him

9. MM1f Posted: November 29, 2005 at 02:47 PM (#1751656)

"Oh in another minor league news "

In OTHER minor league news i mean.

10. Mike Emeigh Posted: November 29, 2005 at 03:15 PM (#1751721)

Oh in another minor league news Bill Evers, 3 time IL champ w the Bulls and 30 year minor league vet, got a big league bench coach job w the DRays.

I know it's a well deserved promotion, but I think Evers is one of those guys whose best niche is as a minor league manager, rather than on a major league bench. He's incredibly patient and an excellent teacher, and those traits are more valuable in the player development program than on the major league team.

Dino Ebel, another long-time minor league manager, was promoted to the Angels as the 3B coach, with former 3B coach Ron Roenicke taking over Maddon's job as bench coach.

-- MWE

11. Mike Emeigh Posted: November 29, 2005 at 03:30 PM (#1751754)

And one more note:

Pittsburgh hired Bobby Cuellar away from the Twins' organization to be Jim Tracy's bullpen coach. With Cuellar's departure, Stu Cliburn moves from AA New Britain to AAA Rochester as pitching coach, recently hired Gary Lucas takes over for the Rock Cats, and Eric Rasmussen, who was earlier reassigned to Minnesota's GCL team, will return to the Miracle for his 10th season.

-- MWE

12. Harold Reynolds: An Erotic Life (AG#1F) Posted: November 29, 2005 at 03:55 PM (#1751810)

Arizona hired A.J. Hinch as manager of minor league opreations and Jerry DiPoto as director of scouting.

13. Bicycle RepairMan Posted: November 29, 2005 at 04:17 PM (#1751849)

I agree that Rocket Wheeler seems to be the next best thing in managerial terms :)
With the braves' minor league moves, they took apart their AAA coaching staff too, moving to scout for the major league club and roving instructor.

I asked this before, and I am not clear on this. What is the hierarchy in minor league organizations? Is a roving isntructor a promotion or a demotion? and a scout for the major league club?

14. Hey, it's what Johan uses (Matt) Posted: November 29, 2005 at 04:57 PM (#1751914)

Arizona hired A.J. Hinch as manager of minor league opreations and Jerry DiPoto as director of scouting.

Okay, now I feel old.

15. Mike Emeigh Posted: November 29, 2005 at 05:22 PM (#1751975)

What is the hierarchy in minor league organizations?

I'm not sure there is one - I think it depends on the organization. I'm not sure that moving from a roving instructor to a management/coaching spot, or vice versa, is necessarily either a promotion or demotion; sometimes it's the result of a desire to try someone in different roles to see what works best, sometimes it's to take advantage of a particular skill that you need in a particular spot at a particular time, and sometimes it's a recognition that where you currently have the person just isn't working. And on occasion it's personal preference - someone either wants to go on the road, or come off the road.

-- MWE

16. kevin Posted: November 29, 2005 at 08:53 PM (#1752375)

I hope Eric Duncan doesn't need a Laz-Y-Boy.

17. Jim Wisinski Posted: November 29, 2005 at 11:31 PM (#1752472)

I know it's a well deserved promotion, but I think Evers is one of those guys whose best niche is as a minor league manager, rather than on a major league bench. He's incredibly patient and an excellent teacher, and those traits are more valuable in the player development program than on the major league team.

That may be correct, though at least he's getting the promotion with a team that will get the most use out of his skills since player development is going to be a big part of the Rays even at the major league level.

In other Rays news, they hired Jimy Williams as a special instructor as part of an attempt to create a uniform approach throughout their player development system.

http://rays.tbo.com/rays/MGBYF5CLMGE.html

18. The Politics of Torre: How the HOF Really Works Posted: November 29, 2005 at 11:45 PM (#1752477)

Pittsburgh hired Bobby Cuellar away from the Twins' organization to be Jim Tracy's bullpen coach. With Cuellar's departure, Stu Cliburn moves from AA New Britain to AAA Rochester as pitching coach, recently hired Gary Lucas takes over for the Rock Cats, and Eric Rasmussen, who was earlier reassigned to Minnesota's GCL team, will return to the Miracle for his 10th season.

-- MWE

If I had an RC Cola, I think that his brother Stan got promoted to Rochester as well. They were both in New Britaoin for a while. A twin coaching staff in the Twins org.

19. Mike Emeigh Posted: November 30, 2005 at 09:34 AM (#1752688)

In other Rays news, they hired Jimy Williams as a special instructor as part of an attempt to create a uniform approach throughout their player development system.

The Rays also hired John Tamargo to replace Evers at Durham. Tamargo managed at Brevard County in Milwaukee's organization last year, and also has extensive managerial experience in the Mets' organization.

-- MWE

20. Der Komminsk-sar Posted: December 02, 2005 at 11:41 PM (#1757727)

One of my favorite minor league instructors, Tim Ireland, will manage AAA-Oklahoma this year. In '05,
he was Texas's roving baserunning and bunting instructor, the previous two years he was their AA manager. Texas also landed former pitcher/goofball Charley Kerfeld as a special assistant to the GM - he's gotten props for his scouting of the indy leagues in the past.

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Minor League Hirings

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