2010 Coaching Thread -- Latest: Darnell Coles' Umpiring Stint

[battlekow]

Via Adam McCalvy, Don Money will return as Nashville's manager; Sandy Guerrero will also be back as hitting coach, and Rich Gale was hired as the pitching coach. From Wikipedia:

 

In a seven-season [Major League] career, Gale posted a 55-56 record with 518 strikeouts and a 4.54 ERA in 195 appearances. including 144 starts, 21 complete games, five shutouts, 13 games finished, two saves, and 970.0 innings of work. A good-hitting pitcher who occasionally pinch-hit, he collected a .150 batting average (9-for-68) with two home runs, two doubles, six runs, and five RBI.

Following his Major League career, Gale played in the Japan Central League for the 1985 Hanshin Tigers, who won their first-ever Japan Series with Gale pitching the winning game. He later played with the Fort Myers Sun Sox of the Senior Professional Baseball Association (1989-1990) and for Triple-A Pawtucket (1991). After his playing retirement he worked as a pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox (1992-1993), Double-A Carolina Mudcats (2006) and Triple-A Albuquerque Isotopes (2007). In 2006 he earned honorable mention for the New Hampshire Athlete of the Century.

 

[Mass Haas]

Sounds site with additional details

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville's 2009 batting coach gets a major league gig with old friend Jim Riggleman --

 

The Nationals have officially named their 2010 field staff, retaining Steve McCatty (pitching coach), Rick Eckstein (hitting coach), and Pat Listach (3B coach) while adding John McLaren (bench coach), Dan Radison (1B coach), and Jim Lett (bullpen coach).

 

Lett, 58, will draw on 15 seasons of Major League coaching experience, 11 spent as a bench coach with the Reds, Blue Jays, Dodgers and Pirates. He served as Dodgers bullpen coach from 2001-04, where he worked alongside Riggleman, who was Jim Tracy's bench coach at the time.

Lett joins the Nationals after spending the previous two years coaching in Milwaukee's minor-league system. Lett has worked in professional baseball for each of the last 35 seasons as a player, coach, manager or front-office executive. Lett is also a highly respected catching instructor.

I never realized Lett was prized as a catching coach -- might explain som of Jonathan Lucroy's defensive success this past season.

[Mass Haas]

Timber Rattler Press Release from Chris Mehring:

FIELD STAFF SET FOR WISCONSIN TIMBER RATTLERS 2010 CAMPAIGN

GRAND CHUTE, WI - The Milwaukee Brewers have announced the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers coaches and support staff for the upcoming 2010 season. Manager Jeff Isom returns for his second season at the helm of the Midwest League affiliate of the Brewers. Also returning to the coaching staff are pitching coach Chris Hook and hitting coach Matt Erickson.

 

Isom becomes the fifth Timber Rattlers manager to return for a second consecutive season in the Fox Valley. Wisconsin finished the 2009 season with a record of 58-81. The 2010 season will be the fourth year for Isom in the Milwaukee organization. He is the ninth manager in Rattlers' history. Including seven seasons as a manager in the independent leagues, Isom has a career record of 520-462.

 

Hook, who is in his third season with the Brewers, is a former Major League pitcher with the San Francisco Giants in 1995 and 1996. Last season, the Timber Rattlers pitching staff compiled a 4.34ERA and 1,076 strikeouts.

 

Erickson, who played for the Brewers in 2004, is in his second season as a coach in the Milwaukee organization. The Appleton native retired as a player after the 2008 season.

 

Jeff Paxson will be taking over the duties of athletic trainer Aaron Hoback. Paxson has previous Midwest League experience with a stint as the trainer of the Beloit Snappers from 1994-1997. He has been with the Brewers since 1994, has won the Trainer of the Year Award in three different leagues, and was the trainer for Nashville, the AAA affiliate of Milwaukee, from 2005 through 2009.

 

Strength and conditioning coach Jake Marx, a native of Menasha, returns in that role with the Rattlers for the second straight season. The graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is entering his fifth season with the Brewers' organization.

 

Wisconsin's 2010 season opens on Thursday, April 8 when the Timber Rattlers host the Kane County Cougars at 6:35 PM. Fans may purchase season and holiday ticket packages for 2010 in one of the following ways: Over the phone at (920) 733-4152, through the internet at www.timberrattlers.com, and in person at the Time Warner Cable Field box office.

[DHonks]

I assume Paxson returns to the Midwest league either by choice or to be nearer family or the Brewers. Otherwise, that'd seem a big demotion

[Mass Haas]

Helena Press Release from Nick Bowsher, Asst, GM with the H-Crew:

Milwaukee Brewers Name Coaching Staff for Helena

 

The Milwaukee Brewers have announced their Player Development staff for the 2010 season. The Helena Brewers will have a new manager this upcoming year. Joe Ayrault will take over the helm for his first year in Helena and with the Milwaukee Brewers.

 

"Joe is a solid baseball man that has a heart for the young player," said Reid Nichols, Director of Player Development for the Milwaukee Brewers. "He is a quality person and teacher. We are fortunate to add him to our staff."

 

Ayrault managed in the Reds organization at Class-A Sarasota for the past three seasons (2007-09). Prior to that, he served as Sarasota's hitting coach in 2006 and handled the same duties for the Rookie GCL Reds from 2004-05. He also spent three seasons in the Rangers organization, where he served as a coach with the Rookie GCL Rangers (2001), Class-A Savannah (2002) and Class-A Stockton (2003). The former catcher spent his entire playing career in the Braves organization from 1990-97. He made his only Major League appearances in 1996, also making the postseason roster that year.

 

"I'm really looking forward to coming to Montana," said Ayrault. "I'm a baseball man foremost, but I have a love for hunting, fishing and the outdoors. This coming summer I will be in baseball heaven."

 

In 2007, his first season managing as a professional and in his hometown of Sarasota, he led the SaraReds to the Florida State League playoffs with an 81-59 (.579) record. Only 14 teams in all of minor league baseball had better records that year.

 

Pitching coach Elvin Nina and hitting coach Ned Yost IV will be returning to Helena for another season.

 

Nina enters his second season in the Brewers organization as pitching coach at Helena. Nina spent 10 seasons playing professional baseball as a pitcher with five different organizations, from 1997-2006. He began his playing career in Oakland's minor league system after being drafted by the Athletics in the 17th round of the 1997 First-Year Player Draft. He also played in the minors with the Angels, Dodgers, Royals and Diamondbacks before finishing his career in the independent Atlantic Baseball League.

 

Yost returns as a coach in Helena for his second season after beginning his coaching career as an assistant coach with the club in 2008.

 

Yost played in the Brewers minor league system as an infielder for three seasons (2005-07) and batted .268. He signed as a non-drafted free agent out of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in 2005 and made his professional debut with the Helena Brewers as the starting first baseman.

 

Opening day for the Brewers is Monday, June 21st against the Missoula Osprey.

[Mass Haas]

And so the Rene Gonzales era ends in Helena, we know some of our season ticket friends in Montana will be anxious to see if the team is more focused and disciplined going forward.

[Mass Haas]

You can tell the Brewers believe so adamantly about keeping their "waves" of players together when they really click, thus making this move, and having their manager jump up a level with them --

 

Link while active, text follows:

 

Brevard Manatees, Huntsville Stars swap managers

BY MARK DECOTIS

FLORIDA TODAY

 

The Brevard County Manatees and Hunstville Stars have swapped managers.

 

Mike Guerrero, who led the advanced Class A Manatees to the first round of the Florida State League playoffs last season, moves up to the Class AA Hunstville Stars. Bob Miscik, who took the Stars to the postseason, moves to the Manatees. Both teams are affiliates of Major League Baseballs Milwaukee Brewers.

 

Miscik, a baseball lifer, had a nine-year playing career as an infielder in the minor leagues from 1980-1988 and a long and varied career as a coach, minor league coordinator and manager.

 

He began his post-playing career in the Baltimore Orioles organization as a coach in 1990. He managed in the Orioles chain from 1991 to 1996. Miscik also was the Texas Rangers Minor League Field Coordinator from 1997 to 2003 and the Rangers Player Development Coordinator in 2004.

 

He also spent part of 2000 managing the Charlotte Rangers and was then the Cincinnati Reds assistant Minor League Field Coordinator in 2005-2006. He also spent time teaching science in the Venice, Fla., school system.

 

Guerrero, who spent eight years in the minors as a player and has managed since 2004, served two seasons as the Manatees manager. He came to Brevard from the West Virginia Power of the South Atlantic League. The Power lost in the league finals in 2007.

 

Guerrero said he looks back on his time in Brevard, where his teams played an up-tempo brand of baseball and had, statistically, the finest season in franchise history in 2009, fondly.

 

"I think it was one of the best experiences in baseball," he said. "The Florida State League, in my professional opinion, is probably the best league in baseball so far. The majority of the players in this league, they face a really good level of competition. The quantity of prospects you see is pretty good.

 

"As for Huntsville, which represents a step up in the quality of maturity of the players: Baseball as you go higher, players get better, baseball just gets better, its gets a little faster," he said. "Everyone needs to make adjustments."

 

Another new addition to the Manatees is coach Dwayne Hosey. He played 13 professional seasons as an outfielder, including parts of two seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1995-96). Hosey served as hitting coach for Cedar Rapids (Angels) in 2001 before making a comeback with the independent Bridgeport Bluefish in 2002.

 

Pitching coach Fred Dabney (sixth season), athletic trainer Tommy Craig (fourth season) and strength and conditioning specialist Chris Gavranic (second season) return to Brevard County.

[Mass Haas]

In Arizona (Maryvale), Tony Diggs will manage the rookie Brewers for his third season.

[Mass Haas]

A much more complete update and summary is here from Tom H. at the J-S.

 

New hitting coach for Huntsville Al LeBeouf, will be in a key spot with that group of 2009 Manatees.

 

Old friend Nestor Corredor, who attempted to become a pitcher after several years in the system catching, will manage the new DSL Brewers squad.

 

Two new coordinators as Tom notes as well.

[Mass Haas]

Here's more details from MLB.com, particularly on coordinators Darnell Coles and Reggie Williams.

 

Veteran coaches Mike Lum and Ken Berry are apparently gone from the organization, also don't see Brevard hitting coach Corey D. Hart.

[TheCrew07]

Interesting day. I wonder how Miscik feels about this... is this just a temporary demotion as a coach on the rise gets bumped past (Guerrero seems to have quite a bit of helium) or is it something else? I thought Miscik did alright with what he had last season, injuries derailed the season of 2 players that would have been the foundation of that team with Lucroy n Cain and Green, and the Huntsville staff was in the bottom third of league in nearly every statistical category, yet they made the playoffs riding veteran minor league position players. Welch was arguably the best starting pitcher on that staff once Cody got the bump, and no offense intended to David or LouisEly, but he's not exactly projectable, he's a pitchability guy who's going to have earn it at every level.

[Mass Haas]

Interesting day. I wonder how Miscik feels about this... is this just a temporary demotion as a coach on the rise gets bumped past (Guerrero seems to have quite a bit of helium) or is it something else?

Bob Miscik is heading home to Florida, was out of baseball for a couple of years prior to '09, and is most likely fine with this. The key here appears to be keeping Mike Guerrero with the core of the next wave of top prospects as they move from high-A to AA.

[dadofandrew]

I would think Guerrero may be on the fast track due to his Spanish speaking ability alone, never mind what else he brings. Without Castro, you have to wonder if they have a coach who is fluent.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Jeff Isom, Matt Erickson, Chris Hook back as Wisconsin Timber Rattlers coaches in 2010

By Brett Christopherson

Post-Crescent staff writer

 

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 2010 field staff won't look much different than the group that was pegged to assume the reins in 2009.

Assigned by the Milwaukee Brewers to return to the Rattlers dugout for a second consecutive season are manager Jeff Isom, hitting coach and Appleton native Matt Erickson and pitching coach Chris Hook.

The Brewers revealed on Tuesday their entire 2010 player development staff, which encompassed all six of their minor league affiliates, their Dominican Summer League squad and various roving coordinator positions.

Wisconsin is entering the second year of a four-year player development pact that will station Milwaukee's Low-A level talent in Grand Chute through 2012.

"I've had the itch (to get the season going) for a while," Isom said when reached at his Attica, Ind., residence. "Once the new year comes around, you really want to get out there. Looking at my backyard now, you've got snow on the ground, and it's hard to imagine the (upcoming) baseball season - it's about three months away.

"But I'm excited about getting it going. There's a lot of optimism about the season this year."

The 37-year-old Isom is entering his fourth season as a Brewers minor league manager. He skippered the Rattlers to a 58-81 mark a year ago and led the West Virginia Power - the Brewers' previous Low-A affiliate - to a spot in the South Atlantic League Championship Series in 2008.

Isom also guided the rookie level Helena (Mont.) Brewers to a Pioneer League playoff berth in 2007.

While anxious to eventually ascend his coaching career, Isom said he was pleased to learn his 2010 assignment called for a return visit to the Rattlers, citing an enthusiastic fan base that last season established a single-season home attendance record of 253,240, as well as the promise for a better on-field showing.

"With the attendance record and looking at the team we could have this year, it should be exciting," Isom said. "You would like to move up, but within the Brewers organization, there haven't been a whole lot of managerial moves. So if I have to be somewhere, it might as well be Appleton. I enjoyed every minute of last season."

Erickson, 34, graduated from Appleton West and went on to play in 11 professional seasons as an infielder. He appeared in four big league games with Milwaukee in 2004 and continues to reside in Appleton.

"I'm definitely excited," said Erickson, who made his professional coaching debut with the Rattlers. "Obviously, not only being involved in the game, but being involved with it at home, where it's familiar. … Really, at this time, I don't have a great aspiration of climbing the ladder. I'm enjoying my time here at home and coaching."

Erickson agreed that working again with Isom and Hook should bring continuity and stability to a key spot within an organization since the Low-A level is often the first full season rung for a minor leaguer.

The three also coached together in last fall's instructional league in Arizona, with Erickson serving as the Brewers manager during league games.

Both Isom and Erickson expect many of the players they tutored during those instructional league sessions to begin their 2010 seasons at Wisconsin.

"There's familiarity there," Erickson said of the coaches. "We know how each other works and what to expect from each other. Anytime there's consistency in the coaching staff, it will promote consistency with the kids. … As far as from an athletic standpoint, the group we had in the fall instructional league was quite athletic. If we can teach them the game and teach them situations where they can best use their athletic ability, hopefully, it all comes together."

Hook, 41, is a former major league hurler who combined to make 55 relief appearances with the San Francisco Giants in 1995 and '96. He'll be entering his third season as a Brewers minor league pitching coach.

Also back for a second season with the Rattlers is strength and conditioning coach Jake Marx, a Menasha native who is set to begin his fifth season in the Brewers system.

Trainer Jeff Paxson, who has been with Milwaukee since 1994 and served as the trainer at Triple-A Nashville the previous five seasons, completes the Rattlers staff.

[Mass Haas]

An informative Q&A session with Rattlers' Manager Jeff Isom conducted by Chris Mehring at the Wisonsin site.

Nice work, Chris (and Jeff)!

[Mass Haas]

In AA Jacksonville (Marlins) will be hitting coach Corey D. Hart, who worked in the same capacity with the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers) the last two seasons.

[Mass Haas]

Chris Mehring asking excellent questions (as usual) as the Interrogator -- Timber Rattlers' Pitching Coach Chris Hook is the Interrogatee.

[TheCrew07]

Hook is now the third person from the organization this winter to speak in glowing terms of Frederickson's progress during instructs. I want so desperately to believe in him, but part of me is also wondering if it might be a bit of organizational spin, we'll know soon enough I guess...

 

Hook also referred to Nieves as a command guy, which pretty much confirms that I wasn't crazy when I was writing down the stalker readings over the player's shoulders at 85-87. I wonder where the national prospect guys get their information from as I don't expect them to be perfect with so many prospects across baseball, but velocity seems like a pretty easy measurable to nail down.

 

As far as an organizational philosophy towards pitching goes, I hope they don't get hung up on the measurables too much and still select some players here and there that can pitch, regardless of their size or body type.

[TooLiveBrew]

EDIT: Please see here. Responded to something in TheCrew07's post about pitching, & didn't want to hijack this thread.

[Mass Haas]

Here's a shout out to Kristina Serafin, a college student in Helena and Helena Brewers intern. No player detail here, but any Q&A session makes for idle reading until the fun begins this spring.

 

Here she chats with Ned Yost IV.

[Mass Haas]

Adam McCalvy chats with Don Money -- praise for Iribarren, Axford, and Butler (and Escobar, naturally).

[Mass Haas]

Getting To Know... New Manager Joe Ayrault -- Helena Site

[Mass Haas]

Kind of a unique way to link an audio interview, but new Huntsville broadcaster Chad Anderson spoke with new Stars Manager Mike Guerrero.

 

Here's hoping that Chad will figure out a way to post his pre-game interviews in 2010, maybe not click-by-click questions, though.

[Mass Haas]

On this page, you'll find a 20-minute video interview Stephen Smith conducted with Brevard County Manager Bob Miscik -- the two reflect on Miscik's pro career and baseball background, and then they discuss specific Manatees (RHP's Michael Fiers and Nick Green, OK Kentrail Davis, 1B/OF Brock Kjeldgaard) beginning just after the 11:00 minute mark.