2008 Coaching Thread -- Latest: Offseason Mixed Martial Arts for Dabney

[Mass Haas]

First, a link to the prior coaching thread which covered the 2006 and 2007 seasons:

 

2006-2007 Coaching Thread Archive

Now the 2008 thread begins with this, link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.dailymail.com/...4/Power-manager-promoted/

 

Power manager promoted

Jack Bogaczyk

Charleston Daily Mail Sports Editor

 

Mike Guerrero, who managed the West Virginia Power to the South Atlantic League Championship Series this past baseball season, is advancing a level in the Milwaukee Brewers' farm system.

Guerrero, who spent the last two seasons as Power manager, said he is moving in 2008 to Brevard County in the high Class A Florida State League. Also climbing in the Brewer chain is Power hitting coach Corey Hart, who will join Guerrero with the Manatees.

"The environment here, the people who run the ballclub, the fans, the people in the city, they make you feel great; it's going to be hard to leave Charleston," Guerrero said. "My family moved here and we had a great time, people were so nice. We built some great relationships.

"Then, it's just like it is with the players. You want to move up. To be promoted is just part of the job. If I didn't get promoted, I wouldn't be sad, but it's nice to know the Brewers really appreciate what we've done here."

Guerrero, 39, said the new Power manager will be Jeff Isom, who managed Helena (Mont.) to the playoffs in the short-season Pioneer League this past season.

At a step below West Virginia in the Brewers' farm system, it was Isom's first year with Milwaukee after six-plus seasons managing in independent leagues.

Guerrero said veteran pitching coach John Curtis is scheduled return to Charleston for a third straight season with the Power. Guerrero said he was uncertain who would be named the new Power hitting coach.

Brewers minor league administrators did not return repeated phone calls seeking comment on the West Virginia managerial and coaching moves.

In two West Virginia seasons, Guerrero posted a 156-116 record (.574), and became the first manager in Charleston's 21 SAL seasons to turn in four straight half-seasons of at least .500 ball.

In those 21 years, only Dave Miley, who guided the 1991 Charleston Wheelers to a 92-50 record (.648), had a better winning percentage as a manager than Guerrero. Miley worked here only that one season, when the club also fell in the SAL finals.

"The main thing is to work with players to help them get better," Guerrero said. "You want to win; that's part of it, but mainly, you want to teach people to play the right way. I think we did that. We had a great year."

The Power won the first-half Northern Division title with a 48-20 record before finishing 34-34 in the second half. West Virginia reached the SAL Championship Series by topping Hickory 2-1 in the best-of-three Northern pennant series, then fell in three straight games to Columbus for the title.

Guerrero's two half seasons in 2006 produced second-place Northern Division finishes, at 39-30 and 35-32.

Guerrero, a Dominican Republic native who reached as high as Class AAA as an infielder, is 553-394 (.584) in 13 seasons as a minor league manager.

Hart, who played for the 1999 Charleston Alley Cats, returned to the capital city to help the Power to a franchise-record and league-leading .281 team batting average.

Hart worked with not only the franchise's first SAL batting champ in first baseman Andrew LeFave (.345), but also outfielder Stephen Chapman, who set a club record for homers in a season (24). Third baseman Taylor Green (.327) ranked fourth in the SAL in hitting and was the Power's lone SAL postseason All-Star Team selection.

Isom, 35, managed Helena to a 48-28 overall record last summer, second in the Pioneer League. Helena won the North Division first half, and then fell in the playoffs first round.

Isom got the Brewers' job late, being hired last Feb. 26 after Helena Manager Johnny Narron -- a former Power hitting coach -- moved to Cincinnati to work on the Reds' staff with his brother, Manager Jerry Narron (who was fired at midseason).

Isom, a Pullman, Wash., native, was an All-Big Ten Conference pitcher at Purdue in 1993, and the left-hander was an 18th-round draft pick by Pittsburgh. He pitched three seasons in the Pirates' and San Diego systems in Class A ball (10-13, 3.45 ERA, mostly in relief). Included in those years was 13 games at Augusta in the SAL in 1994.

He moved to the independent leagues, eventually becoming a player-coach in 2000 at Fargo-Moorhead in the Northern League for Manager Doug Simunic, a Charleston native and resident and former Charlies' catcher.

Isom became a manager at midseason 2000 at Canton (Ohio) in the Frontier League, then moved with the club to Washington (Pa.). He was FL Manager of the Year in 2002 with the Wild Things. After another season there, Isom moved to the Northern League, spending two seasons at Joliet. He returned to the Frontier League, in 2006 at Traverse City.

His career managerial record is 367-293 (.556).

 

***

 

Note from Jim (Mass Haas): No word on the status of John Tamargo and other 2007 Manatees' staff, or whether this is all tied in to the possible re-assignments of Don Money and/or Frank Kremblas. We do know the Brewers are traditionally quiet on these individual assignments, and prefer to publish a system-wide press release later in the off-season when all spots are finalized. The Brewers (at least in the past) have been among the last of all organizations to issue such a release each off-season.

[wvpowerblkwel]

Anybody know if there is any possibility of Johnny Narron returning to the Brewers system, say WV, since his stint with the reds has drawn to a close? He seemed like a really class guy that was well respected by the guys his first trip here!

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071031&content_id=2289843&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

[dadofandrew]

If Narron returned, it'd probably be as an assistant to Doug.

[Mass Haas]

Nashville Site:

Kremblas, Coaching Staff To Return In 2008

[Mass Haas]

The Huntsville Times reports that Rich Sauveur, the Stars' pitching coach the past three years, will be the new pitching coach at AAA Pawtucket for the Red Sox.

 

http://www.al.com/sports/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/sports/1194185741123680.xml&coll=1

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.al.com/stars/huntsvilletimes/index.ssf?/base/sports/1196418175306380.xml&coll=1

 

Money returning to Stars in '08

Manager slotted to spend fourth season in Double-A Huntsville

By MARK McCARTER

Huntsville Times Sports Staff markcolumn@aol.com

 

Don Money, the first Stars manager in 20 years to guide his team to the Southern League championship series in consecutive seasons, will return as the Huntsville manager in 2008.

 

Money, 60, named Manager of the Year in the league last season, will be in his fourth year with the Stars. He is a former major league infielder with Philadelphia and Milwaukee and is enshrined in the Brewers' "Walk of Fame."

 

"I'm not disappointed to be coming back," Money said, "because the organization is basically on a roll. Nashville has won a couple of pennants, and in Huntsville we've been doing some good things, so I'm happy to be back."

 

He'll be joined by a new pitching coach, Chris Hook, a 39-year-old native of Florence, Ky., who was with that city's entry in the independent Frontier League last season. He replaces Rich Sauveur, who joined Boston's Triple-A club in Pawtucket, R.I.

 

Sandy Guerrero, a Huntsville resident, returns as hitting coach and David Yeager of Athens will serve as trainer.

 

Hook pitched in 55 games as a reliever with the San Francisco Giants in 1995-96. He came up through the Cincinnati Reds' organization after his career at Northern Kentucky University, and was with the Reds' Southern League affiliate in Chattanooga in 1993.

 

He was also in the Angels, Astros and Padres organizations.

 

He later became involved with a baseball Web site called "At the Yard" and a magazine by the same name. He spent five years as the Florence Freedom pitching coach, but as an independent team, there was no major league affiliate.

 

He contacted Brad Del Barba, a Brewers scout who had helped Jeff Isom move from the Frontier League to become the manager of Milwaukee's rookie league team in Helena. That led to meetings with Milwaukee officials. "I wanted to get in a situation where I could eventually help pitchers get to the big leagues, so I started looking to affiliated ball," Hook said.

 

The Stars went 60-79 in 2005, Money's first season. In 2006, the club sat 35-63 on July 22. The Stars won 32 of their next 40 to reach the Southern League playoffs. After sweeping Chattanooga in the first round, they were bounced by Montgomery in the finals.

 

Last year, Huntsville was 75-62, winning the Southern League North title in both halves. The Stars knocked out Tennessee in the first round and lost to Montgomery in the finals.

[Mass Haas]

Link:

 

Interesting interview article with former Stars' Pitching Coach Rich Sauveur from the Huntsville site -- enjoy!

 

Yovani Gallardo, who was promoted to the Stars in June of 2006 and who is now pitching in the big leagues with the Brewers "will be the stud everyone thinks he will be. 25 years from now I can say 'I coached a Hall of Famer'."

 

http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

 

[Mass Haas]

FYI - The Brewers will be sending out a press release Monday the 10th formally announcing their various minor league coaching staffs -- something to look for...

[Mass Haas]

West Virginia Power Press Release:

TO: All Media

 

 

FROM: Andy Barch, Director of Media Relations

West Virginia Power

 

 

RE: 2008 Coaching Staff

ISOM, LETT AND CURTIS TO LEAD POWER IN 2008

 

 

Charleston, WV (December 10, 2007) - For the first time since 2005, a new face will lead the Power on the field as Jeff Isom, who led the Helena Brewers to a first half championship in the Pioneer League in 2007 has been named the Power manager for the 2008 season.

 

Isom, 35, takes over for Mike Guerrero who had a very successful two year run with the Power, going 156-116 and managed the franchise to its first appearance in the South Atlantic League Championship since 1992. Last year was Isom's first year in the Brewers system. Under his guidance, the Helena Brewers went 48-28 and captured the first half title in the Pioneer League's Northern Division.

 

Prior to joining the Brewers in 2007, Isom spent six years managing in Independent ball. In 2006 he guided the Traverse City Beach Bums to a 57-39 record. Isom spent three years in the minors as a pitcher in the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates organizations from 1993-95. He was selected by the Pirates in the 13^th round of the 1993 draft out of Purdue. He had a record of 10-12 with a 3.45 ERA over his three year career in the minor leagues.

 

West Virginia resident, and manager of the 1990 South Atlantic League Champion Charleston Wheelers Jim Lett will serve as the Power hitting coach. Lett, 56, served as the bench coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates for the past two seasons (2006-07). Prior to his stint with Pittsburgh, Lett spent five seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers, serving as the team's bench coach in 2005 after four seasons as the bullpen coach (2001-04). He was also a part of the Toronto Blue Jays organization from 1997-2000 including three seasons as the bench coach. He spent the 2000 season as Toronto's Assistant Director of Player Development.

 

Lett has worked in professional baseball as a player, coach, manager and front office executive for the last 33 years, having spent 24 of those years within the Cincinnati Reds organization from 1973-1996. He began his career as a player with Bradenton in the Reds minor league system in '73 and batted .256 with six home runs and 110 RBI in three minor league seasons. Following his playing career, he began coaching with the Reds as a Minor League manager from 1977-1985. In two separate stints, he served as Cincinnati's Bench Coach (1986-89, 1996). He managed again in the minors in 1990, coached for the Nashville Sounds (1991-92) and was the organization's Minor League Field Coordinator (1993-95). Lett graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1973 with a degree in Geography. He was selected to the All-Southeastern Conference baseball team in 1971 and also was a quarterback on the Wildcats football team. He and is wife, Diane, reside in Winfield, West Virginia. They have two children, daughter, Meridith and son, James Craig.

 

John Curtis will return for his fourth season as the pitching coach of the Power. Curtis has been the pitching coach for the club since the affiliation change and the move to the new ballpark in 2005.

 

John Curtis enjoyed a 15-year career in Major League Baseball. He pitched for a total of five different teams. His big league career began in 1970 with the Boston Red Sox, the team who drafted him in the first round of the 1968 Supplemental Draft. Curtis was with the Red Sox until 1973. He began a 3-year run with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1974 and was primarily a starter with the Cards until he left for San Francisco in 1977. John was with the Giants until the 1980 season when he began his first of two stints with the San Diego Padres. After two years in San Diego, John left for his first go around with the California Angels in 1982. John played in California during the 1982 season and found his way back to San Diego that same year, only to return to California for the final two years of his career.

 

Curtis went 89-97, had a 3.96 ERA, recorded 14 shutouts, 42 complete games and pitched 1,641 innings in his career. He was out of baseball from 1984 until 2000 when he served as the pitching coach for Long Beach, CA in the Western Baseball League until 2002. This will be his sixth season with Milwaukee.

 

Jeremy Herniman will return as the head athletic trainer. Last year was Herniman's first with the Power, and his first in the Brewers' organization. Herniman was the athletic trainers for the Kalamazoo Kings of the Frontier League in 2006.

 

[Mass Haas]

Brewer Press Release, with "new" items below, link for full release:

http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20071211&content_id=2322758&vkey=pr_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil

The Brewers have also made several additional coaching changes throughout the minor league system. Amongst these changes, Ken Berry will serve as the Outfield and Baserunning Coordinator, replacing Mark Little. Berry spent last season as the Hitting Coach at Class High A - Brevard County. Prior to joining the Manatees coaching staff, Berry spent eight seasons coaching in the Mets Minor League system. He owns a career .255 batting average with 58 home runs and 343 RBI in 1,383 Major League games between Chicago-AL, Los Angeles-AL, Cleveland and Milwaukee.

In other changes, Mike Guerrero has been promoted to Manager at Class High A - Brevard County after serving the same role with Single A - West Virginia last season. The 2008 season will be his 14th season has a manager in the Brewers organization. His previous managerial positions include four seasons at Rookie - Arizona and seven seasons at the helm of the Dominican Brewers from 1995-02. He has compiled a 500-387 lifetime managerial record.

Guerrero replaces former Brevard County Manager John Tamargo, who managed the Manatees for two seasons (2005 and 2007). Corey D. Hart will serve as the hitting instructor at Brevard County, filling the void left by Ken Berry. Hart started his coaching path as the hitting coach for Single-A West Virginia two seasons ago. He spent 11 professional seasons as a player with Kansas City, New York-NL, and Milwaukee.

Rene Gonzales will manage the Helena Brewers in 2008. Last season, he was the manager for the Arizona Brewers in his first season in the Brewers organization. Arizona recorded a 19-37 overall record in 2007. Tony Diggs, the Brewers Assistant Director - Player Development/Training Center, will also manage the Rookie - Arizona squad this upcoming season.

In other moves, Tom Reynolds has been promoted to Strength & Conditioning Specialist with Triple-A Nashville after spending last season with the Huntsville Stars. Eric McMahon will serve as Huntsville's Strength and Conditioning Specialist after serving the same position with the Helena Brewers a year ago.

Jake Marx has been promoted to a full-time Strength & Conditioning Specialist position based in Arizona. In this role, he will handle the daily strength and conditioning duties for all programs conducted at the Brewers Development Center in Maryvale. He will also serve as the Strength & Conditioning Specialist for the Helena Brewers during their short season. Marx spent the 2007 season with the Brevard County Manatees.

The 2008 Minor League staff follows:

COORDINATORS
Field Coord. & Catching Instructor - Charlie Greene
Hitting Coordinator - Mike Lum
Pitching Coordinator - Jim Rooney
Infield Coordinator - Garth Iorg
Outfield and Baserunning - Ken Berry
Training Coordinator - Frank Neville
Physical Therapist - Ken Patterson
Strength & Conditioning - Jeff Mester

NASHVILLE SOUNDS (AAA)
Manager - Frank Kremblas
Hitting Coach - Harry Spilman
Pitching Coach - Stan Kyles
Trainer - Jeff Paxson
Strength & Conditioning Specialist - Tom Reynolds

HUNTSVILLE STARS (AA)
Manager - Don Money
Hitting Coach - Sandy Guerrero
Pitching Coach - Chris Hook
Trainer - Dave Yeager
Strength & Conditioning Specialist - Eric McMahon

BREVARD COUNTY MANATEES (A)
Manager - Mike Guerrero
Hitting Coach - Corey Hart
Pitching Coach - Fred Dabney
Trainer - Tommy Craig
Strength & Conditioning Specialist - TBD

WEST VIRGINIA POWER (A)
Manager - Jeff Isom
Hitting Coach - Jim Lett
Pitching Coach - John Curtis
Trainer - Jeremy Herniman
Strength & Conditioning Specialist - TBD

HELENA BREWERS ®
Manager - Rene Gonzales
Hitting Coach - Norberto Martin
Pitching Coach - Aris Tirado
Trainer - Aaron Hoback
Strength & Conditioning Specialist - Jake Marx

ARIZONA BREWERS ®
Manager - Tony Diggs
Hitting Coach - Angel Echevarria
Pitching Coach - Jose Nunez
Trainer - Jimmy Gentry
Strength & Conditioning Specialist - Jake Marx

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://www.dailymail.com/Sports/200712110153

 

Winfield's Lett returns home to coach baseball

Former Dodger, Pirate assistant named to Power staff

by Tom Aluise

Daily Mail sportswriter

Jim Lett is coming home to coach baseball ... again.

Winfield's Lett returns home to coach baseball

http://www.dailymail.com/images/thumbs/jimlett1_D69123165959.jpg http://www.dailymail.com/images/graphics/zoom.gif

..

The 56-year-old Winfield native, who has enjoyed a long and successful career in professional baseball, is the Class A West Virginia Power's new hitting coach.

The Power's parent organization, Milwaukee, planned to announce Lett's hiring today, along with all of its other minor league assignments for the 2008 season.

Lett will work in Charleston for new Power Manager Jeff Isom, who managed Helena (Mont.) to the playoffs in the short-season Pioneer League this past season. John Curtis will remain as the Power's pitching coach.

"This will be my 35th year in pro ball and my second one at home," said Lett, who has maintained a residence in Winfield during the offseason for his entire baseball career.

Area baseball fans probably remember Lett's previous stop in the Kanawha Valley. As manager of the 1990 Charleston Wheelers, Lett guided the Cincinnati Reds' farm team to an 83-66 record and the South Atlantic League title.

It was the city's first professional baseball crown since the 1977 Charleston Charlies' Class AAA International League championship and remains the only title won since baseball returned to the city in 1987 following a three-year absence.

Among Lett's players in 1990 was current San Diego Padre closer Trevor Hoffman, a future Hall of Famer. Hoffman is Major League baseball's all-time saves leader with 524.

As a Wheeler, Hoffman played shortstop. The Reds converted him to a pitcher following the season after Lett suggested the move.

"You have a guy who's an everyday shortstop and he becomes a Hall of Fame pitcher. What are the chances of that happening?" Lett said.

Lett, who was a star athlete at Winfield High and later played football and baseball at the University of Kentucky, returns home after spending the past two seasons as a bench coach for since-fired Pittsburgh Pirate manager Jim Tracy.

Before that, Lett was a Los Angeles Dodgers coach for five seasons. Lett also has coached at the Major League level with the Reds and Blue Jays.

He has a total of 15 years experience on Major League staffs but never has and never will look down on the minor leagues. Lett said jumping back down to the minors wouldn't be a problem.

"It's never been a big adjustment for me," Lett said. "I know where I started and where I came from."

Before starting his coaching career, Lett played in the Cincinnati Reds' farm system from 1973-75, advancing to Class AA. His managerial career began in 1977 in the Sally League where he coached the Reds' Class A team at Shelby, N.C.

Lett said Milwaukee contacted him two weeks ago about the opening in Charleston. He had been looking for work since the Pirates cut ties with Tracy.

"This just seemed like a better fit for me at this time," Lett said. "I've known a few people in the (Brewers) organization. They have a good minor league system."

Returning home, of course, was a factor, too.

"That was a big part of the decision," Lett said. "There were a few offers from other organizations but that meant I would have had to go quite a distance from home. I decided I would come back to my home turf."

Lett said he hasn't changed much as a coach in the 17 years he's been away from Charleston.

"I'm the same guy," he said. "I'm probably a little less vocal now. You have to understand, too, there's a difference between being a coach and being a manager."

While Lett maybe hasn't changed much, baseball certainly has a new look since he last managed here.

The team plays in a new stadium on city's east end. Lett grew up watching baseball at Watt Powell Park before he eventually managed there.

"I've driven by it a couple of times," Lett said of Appalachian Power Park. "It looks like a really nice place."

As for a timetable for his career, Lett said he's not ready to move into his Winfield home year-round quite yet.

"At this point in my career I'm just going to take it year by year," Lett said. "I'm fortunate. I'm in good health and I enjoy what I'm doing. As long as I'm enjoying what I'm doing, I'll stay with it. When I'm not enthused about going to the ball park, then it will be time to shut 'er down."

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

http://dailymail.com/Sports/200712120190

 

Isom moving up managerial ladder

New West Virginia Power manager excited about opportunity

by Jack Bogaczyk

Charleston Daily Mail Sports Editor

Jeff Isom doesn't know much about Charleston, although his baseball managerial philosophy is rooted in the Kanawha Valley.

Isom, the new West Virginia Power skipper, morphed from player to coach under Charleston resident Doug Simunic, a three-time Northern League Manager of the Year who will begin his 13th season at Fargo-Moorhead in the independent league this spring.

"I learned an awful lot about coaching and managing from Doug," Isom said in a phone interview Tuesday from his Lafayette, Ind., home. "I played for him, and then he allowed me to become a player-coach (in 2000).

"That's where I learned most of what I know about being a manager. Doug taught me how to deal with certain situations. There's no doubt he put me in position to have success, because I learned so much about managing from him."

The Milwaukee Brewers officially named Isom as the Power manager on Tuesday, although the move was first reported in the Daily Mail six weeks ago when Mike Guerrero, the Power manager the past two seasons, revealed he was moving up to Brevard County in the high Class A Florida State League.

Isom, a 1993 All-Big Ten Conference pitcher at Purdue, managed Helena in the short-season Pioneer League to a 48-28 record and playoff berth last season. It was his first year in the Brewers' system and in Major League-affiliated baseball after success in the independent leagues.

"Jeff has moved up very quickly in the Milwaukee system," said Simunic, a former catcher for the last Charleston Charlies' teams (1982 and '83), from his South Hills home Tuesday. "He played and coached for me, and then not long after he became a coach he went off to manage (at Canton, Ohio) in the Frontier League."

Simunic said that in the time he and Isom worked together at Fargo-Moorhead, "I just tried to teach Jeff how to treat people, how to approach the game level-headed.

"You can't go out on the field hot-headed and be able to teach. If you've got to reprimand a player, you do it in the office. You treat players with respect, and you in turn expect them to treat you with respect."

Isom, 35, said working in the affiliated minor leagues is different than in the independent leagues because the manager doesn't spend time procuring players. That's done by Major League clubs' farm administrators.

"In independent ball, you win any way you can," said Isom, who has a seven-year career managerial record of 367-293 (.556) at five stops. "You turn over the roster a lot, and you're always looking for the best players to help win games.

"Going to Helena (and a first experience managing in a farm system), I had to tweak a lot. There are two things you want to do in affiliated baseball. Of course you want to win, but you want to develop players, too.

"That's why you're there. You want a player to be better by the end of the season than he was at the start. In independent ball, it's what you can do for me now. In affiliated ball, it's what can you do for me in four or five years."

Isom was an 18th-round draft pick by Pittsburgh in '93, and pitched three years in the Pirates' and San Diego systems, mostly in Class A ball. The left-hander went 10-13 with a 3.45 ERA (mostly in relief) for his affiliated-league career. Then, when released, he went to independent ball, where he eventually landed with Simunic's club.

In the Power, he takes over a club that posted four South Atlantic League half-seasons of at least .500 ball under Guerrero, a first for the 21-year old SAL franchise under one manager. The 2007 Power reached the SAL championship series, losing to Columbus (Ga.) in a three-game sweep.

"I would imagine a high number of players will be making the transition from Helena to West Virginia with me," Isom said. "We had pretty good success in Helena, and there's no reason we can't continue the success in West Virginia."

[Mass Haas]

From Brevard County:

 

The Brevard County Manatees would like to welcome Nick Miller to the

Manatees Coaching Staff. Nick will replace Jake Marx as the 'Tees' Strength

and Conditioning Coach this season. Jake was promoted to handle Extended

Spring Training and the Helena Brewers teams this year.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

It feels like home for Curtis

Power pitching coach takes up residence in Charleston

By Mike Whiteford

Charleston Gazette Staff writer

Sometimes when buying groceries or making a purchase around town, John Curtis pulls out a credit card and his California driver's license.

The California license seems to catch people's attention.

"People say, 'Oh, you're visiting?' and I say, 'No, I've moved here,' and the first thing they say is 'Why?' '' Curtis said Tuesday afternoon, standing in front of the home dugout at Appalachian Power Park.

Curtis, who is beginning his fourth season as West Virginia Power pitching coach, is happy to relate the many reasons he and his wife decided to move from California to Charleston and, if all goes well, will remain here for years to come.

In the off-season, they bought a condo at Imperial Towers in South Ruffner, where their patio overlooks the Kanawha River, and he sampled the area's fresh-water fishing spots, venturing out to Paint Creek, the Lower Gauley and Marmet Locks.

The 60-year-old Curtis pitched for 15 seasons in the Majors and lived in Boston, St. Louis, San Francisco, San Diego and Anaheim and has worked as a minor-league and college pitching coach in California.

More than anything else, he said, West Virginia's people have converted him to a full-time Charleston resident.

"The first thing is the kindness and generosity of the people here,'' he said. "We'd lived in California for many years, and it was rare there that you really got to know your neighbors very well, and here perfect strangers are opening themselves up to us and helping out people who are new to this area. And the other thing is the fans here at the ballpark. There are gestures that were just wonderful.''

He was especially delighted that a fan once brought him a jar of homemade apple butter.

When he first arrived here in 2005, Curtis immediately liked what he saw but didn't expect to change his year-round residence.

"It was such a welcome change for us,'' he said. "My wife is a native Los Angelino, and when she came here I thought we'll see what it's like and then go back to California, but she just fell in love with it here.''

Being assigned to work as pitching coach in Charleston apparently came at the right time.

"We had been looking for a place that we felt our souls would belong,'' he said. "And we started to fall in love with it here. I hope it's a relationship that I can continue. I've cherished the time I've had here.''

Photo link

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Hook's failings of yesteryear yielding success with Stars

Huntsville pitchers credit new coach with sound counsel

By BRAD SHEPARD

For The Huntsville Times

 

When Chris Hook talks, Huntsville Stars pitcher David Welch listens.

 

After all, what better person to advise Welch than a former pitcher who used moxy to make up for what he lacked in velocity?

 

"He was a pitcher who was similar to all of us - not a flame-thrower - and he still was able to get out big-leaguers," Welch said of Huntsville's first-year pitching coach. "It makes us all realize we can.

 

"When you're struggling, it's almost like he takes it personally. He'll sit you down and say, 'OK, let's work on this.' "

 

Welch needed some tweaking this season. Before settling in as the Stars' ace, Welch's tendency to overthrow led to high pitch counts and clogged basepaths.

 

Hook settled him down, and Welch tossed a no-hitter June 2.

 

Since then, Welch has stayed hot and is currently 10-1 with a 3.50 earned run average.

 

"Without a doubt, I give a lot of the credit to him," Welch said. "From the way we all have pitched at the start of the year till now, it's got to be attributed to someone, and he's the guy who should get the credit."

 

Hook, 39, made his major league debut in 1995 with San Francisco. He pitched in the Giants' bullpen that season and part of the next before getting demoted. He subsequently bounced around in the Padres, Angels and Astros systems before retiring in 1998 after a second stint in the Giants organization.

 

While in the minors, Hook lost his command and, with it, his hopes of returning to the majors. It was difficult at the time, but Hook said his struggles helped cultivate a more-rounded approach to coaching.

 

"I can always look back and draw experience because I didn't always have success," said Hook, who was 5-2 with a 5.89 ERA in 55 major-league appearances. "I had some success at the pro level, but I had a lot of failures in my career, too. I think that has helped me in my coaching career."

 

Hook felt the desire to coach before his playing career ended. During his second tour of duty with the Giants, he served as a mentor and friend to current major league reliever Scott Linebrink, among others. He tutored Freddy Garcia while with the Astros.

 

When Hook got the opportunity to become the pitching coach at his hometown alma mater, Northern Kentucky University, he jumped at the opportunity.

 

"I couldn't be off the field for long," he said.

 

Three years of coaching for NKU led to five years as the pitching coach of the Frontier League's Florence Freedom. But no matter how much work Hook put into pitcher development, he rarely felt rewarded as countless players gave up baseball to pursue other career opportunities.

 

Hook dabbled in several baseball professions himself - writing about the game for several years on an Internet site that spawned At the Yard magazine.

 

With his independent league frustrations growing and the magazine folded, the Stars' pitching coach vacancy surfaced. Hook knew a jump like that could be difficult on his wife, Toni, and sons Christian, 10, and Brennan, 5, back in Florence, Ky.

 

"It was a family decision to apply for the opening," Hook said. "It was, 'If this is what I think I'm good at, then let's take a gamble.' I put my name in the hat, and luckily I got it."

 

Hook's new boss said the transition from independent ball to Double-A has been seamless.

 

"I think he's done a great job," Stars manager Don Money said. "I think the pitchers have responded to him well, and he's very knowledgeable in talking about all of the small things that go wrong and connecting them."

 

Stars reliever David Johnson will vouch for that. Before going on the disabled list in early June, Johnson was a mess mechanically, with an ERAof 7.43.

 

While he was injured, Johnson sat down with Hook, watching film and dissecting his throwing motion. Hook spotted that Johnson's delivery was too quick, and his arm was late coming through, taking away sharpness from his pitches - especially his curveball.

 

It was a little thing that made a big difference. Since returning, Johnson has allowed one run in 15 1/3 innings, lowering his ERA to 4.70.

 

"Any time something is going wrong, he knows what you're doing wrong, and that's what you want from your pitching coach," Johnson said.

 

"He's really helped get me back on track."

[Mass Haas]

Huntsville Manager Don Money Interview Transcript at BrewCrewBall (Part One)

[Mass Haas]

Part Two with Don Money also fantastic (Escobar, Salome, much more)

I never knew that the Brewer coaches were asked to fill out reports on all the opponents as well for posiible future trades -- it makes sense to me now, obviously, I just always pictured the pro scouting staff handling that in its entirety. Goes to show that guys like Money do a lot more than just rolling out the bats and calling for the occasional hit-and-run...

[TheCrew07]

I love Don Money, excellent interview.

[Mass Haas]

I really like how forthright the coaches have been in these BrewCrewBall interviews -- if a fastball is only average, then it's described as only average.

Jeff Sackmann and his contributors at BCB have been an awesome addition to the blogosphere and in particular the minor league info we can link to here -- kudos to all!

BCB Interview with West Virginia Pitching Coach John Curtis

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

Winfield native enjoys teaching Power players

by Michael Dailey

Charleston Daily Mail sports writer

 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- For the past three and half decades, Jim Lett has enjoyed the highs and endured the lows associated with life as a professional baseball player, coach and front office executive.

 

A 1969 Winfield (W.V.) High graduate, Lett began his professional playing career in the Cincinnati Reds' organization in 1973.

 

After three minor league seasons, Lett joined the coaching ranks in 1977 and has been involved with coaching and player development ever since. He has worked for the Reds, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates.

 

But living out his dream also came with a price.

 

During that span, Lett's only summer at home came in 1990, when he managed the Charleston Wheelers to the South Atlantic League title.

 

That's what made the opportunity to join the Milwaukee Brewers' organization as the West Virginia Power's hitting coach one that was just too good to pass up.

 

"It's a situation where I've been in the game for 35 years now and 1990 was the only year that I was able to stay at home," said Lett, who resides in Winfield with his wife, Diane. "I just thought that this was a good time to get back closer to home.

 

"After seven straight years in the big leagues, I needed a break and some time to just recharge myself. I've been able to get back with my family and friends, and I'm able to take care of some things that needed done. It's really worked out well for everybody."

 

Both on and off the field.

 

Under Lett's guidance, West Virginia once again sits atop the SAL team hitting standings. After leading the league in team batting average in 2006 (.277) and 2007 (.281), the Power is setting the pace at .276 after 127 games.

 

"The kids have done a great job," Lett said before West Virginia's 10-6 loss to the Asheville Tourists on Tuesday evening at Appalachian Power Park. "They've really worked hard at it and we have a good program here for them.

 

"They're aggressive hitters that aren't afraid to try something different and experiment a little. Each one of the guys has done something a little different this year, and each one of them has had some success doing it. It's been a very productive year for us thus far."

 

After the loss to Asheville (32-26), West Virginia (39-19) leads Lakewood (36-21) by 2 1/2 games in the Northern Division standings.

 

Lett is quick to credit his hitters for their success at the plate this season, but Power players are equally willing to share the credit with their hitting coach.

 

"He brings a lot of knowledge to us," said catcher Eric Fryer, who leads the league with a .346 batting average. "We're a young group, with a lot of us in only our second year of pro ball.

 

"With him being around the game for so long, he's seen it all. He knows what pitchers have, what they're going to try to do and how they're going to try to get you out."

 

Fryer especially has benefited from Lett's in-game coaching and adjustments.

 

"If we go through the (batting) order and we haven't done very well, he'll come over and tell us what to expect the next time around," Fryer said. "And sure enough, the pitcher is trying to do what he told us to look for. He just has a lot of knowledge about what pitchers are going to do to get us out.

 

"It's really a big asset for us to have him as a hitting coach. He's seen it all before and he knows what we're capable of doing. He really pushes us to do the best we can do and to become the best players we can be."

 

Lett's vast experience at the Major League level also gives added credibility to what he's trying to relay to Power batters.

 

"He's been around and he's been to the big leagues, so everything he tells us, we know that he knows what he's talking about," said outfielder Caleb Gindl, who ranks ninth in the league with a .298 average. "He knows a lot about the game, and, as a former player, he understands the daily struggles that players go through.

 

"With his career, he has a lot of credibility, and you definitely want to take in as much as you can from him. He's watched more baseball games than any of us have, that's for sure."

 

It's not just hitting knowledge the players seek from Lett. They also like to hear stories about his years as a Major League coach and executive.

 

"The guys are more concerned with things like how hard a Roger Clemens or a Randy Johnson throw or how far guys like (Gary) Sheffield and (Jose) Canseco can hit the ball," Lett said. "Things like that amuse them. They like to hear stories like that, and I like to tell them.

 

"But the thing that I'm trying to get across to them is what it's like to play and be a professional. I try to show them how to conduct themselves and how to handle themselves. They're going to have to learn things like that if they make it to the big leagues. I'm just trying to get them headed in that direction."

 

Lett also knows that his role as a father figure to players early in their playing careers is an equally important task.

 

"I've been at this level as a player, and a lot of these guys are coming in here after having a good college or high school career," said Lett.

 

"Eventually they're going to go through rough spots when they realize that playing baseball isn't as easy as it looks.

 

"When they doubt themselves, you have to be able to pump them up and tell them that everything is going to be OK and that if they just hang in there and keep working, it will all work out."

[battlekow]

'Tees find success

Development remains priority

BY JIM CAWLEY • FLORIDA TODAY • September 1, 2008

Players come first.

http://www.floridatoday.com/gcicommonfiles/sr/graphics/common/adlabel_horz.gif As badly as Brevard County Manatees manager Mike Guerrero wanted to win this season, he did not want to do it at the expense of his players. He never faltered from his -- and the organization's -- plan of teaching and developing talent as the top priority.

Fact No. 1: The Manatees did not make the playoffs in 2008. Fact No. 2: A lot of players got a lot better.

"Don't get me wrong -- development and winning go together," Guerrero said. "You want to go out there and win every game you can. But I have to ask myself, 'Am I here for the kids, or am I here for myself?' I get paid to help the players."

Guerrero further drove home his point.

"If I want to win, I talk to the (Milwaukee Brewers) general manager: 'Hey, send me Prince Fielder or Rickie Weeks.' "

Brevard County wrapped up its season Sunday with a 4-0 loss at St. Lucie. After finishing the first half of the season with a 35-34 record (second in the Florida State League East Division), the Manatees ended the second half with a 31-38 mark, 101/2 games behind first place Daytona.

FSL East Division champs in 2007, the Manatees endured a number of roster changes this season, particularly in the second half. Many of those moves featured players moving up to Double-A Huntsville.

"We played pretty well," Brevard County GM Kyle Smith said. "We had a lot of guys lost to call-ups . . . so Mike did a good job."

Pitchers were high on the list of promotions. Starters Jeremy Jeffress, Donovan Hand, Alexandre Periard and closer Omar Aguilar all got the call to Huntsville. Stars hurlers Mike Jones and Robert Hinton also played for the Manatees this season.

Huntsville outfielder Lorenzo Cain spent significant time with Brevard County in 2008, as did catcher Martin Maldonado.

"It's always gratifying when you have players who have been through this team, and now they're in the upper levels and they're doing well," Guerrero said. "You feel good because you did your job to get them better."

As for current Manatees players, Taylor Green was the most consistent and productive. The All-Star third baseman batted .289 with team highs in home runs (15), RBIs (73), walks (61) and on-base percentage (.382).

"He grew so much from last year to this year. He now knows how the game is played at an upper level," said Guerrero, who managed Green last season for the Low Class A West Virginia Power. "It's a great feeling when you can see a kid grow and be successful. He had a great season."

In all likelihood, Manatees fans have seen the last of Green playing at Space Coast Stadium.

"I learned a lot about the daily grind -- especially in this weather," Green said. "And mental focus, just trying to keep yourself prepared through all of the rain delays. It helped me out a lot, I think, for the future."

The future appears bright for Brent Brewer. After struggling initially at the plate and in the field, the Manatees shortstop -- who was promoted from West Virginia in June -- settled in nicely. He raised his average to .251 with 17 doubles, while stealing 15 bases.

Jonathan Lucroy, another June call-up for the Manatees, showed little doubt he's a force to be reckoned with. The 6-foot, 195-pound catcher stepped right into the No. 3 spot in the order, batting .292 with 10 homers and 44 RBIs in 64 games.

Starters Chris Cody (4-5, 1.83 ERA) and Bobby Bramhall (5-4, 2.51), and relievers Casey Baron (4-2, 3.45) and Mike McClendon (7-6, 4.19) were among Brevard County's top pitchers throughout the season.

If Guerrero returns as Manatees manager next season, which is something he has expressed an interest in doing, look for him to stay true to his main goal -- player development.

"The way he can relate to younger people . . . He's an authoritative figure, but he's very calm with the players," Smith said. "He knows what he wants and expects from these guys. And in reality, he got a lot out of them this year."

http://cmsimg.floridatoday.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=A9&Date=20080901&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=809010322&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=318&Border=0

Brevard County Manatees manager Mike Guerrero

found success in player development this season,

with several players moving up in the organization.

(Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY)

[battlekow]

Brewers dismiss Triple-A manager

Kremblas told he wouldn't be considered for Major League job

By Adam McCalvy / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- The Brewers dismissed Triple-A manager Frank Kremblas earlier this week after a 59-81 season, the first in Kremblas' four years in Nashville that the team did not win a division title.

Kremblas was told that Brewers officials didn't see him getting an opportunity to coach in the big leagues, so they decided to let him seek that opportunity elsewhere. The team does not plan to make a formal announcement until next week, assistant general manager Gord Ash said, but Kremblas was told early so he could begin his search immediately.

According to a former Nashville player now with the Brewers, hitting coach Harry Spilman also was let go. Pitching coach Stan Kyles has been told his job is safe, the player said.

"I appreciated the opportunity," said Kremblas, who got the news directly from Ash. "What else am I going to say? Honestly, I am not upset. But it was news to me."

Ash said the team had not made a decision on Kremblas' replacement. One candidate would be Double-A manager and former Brewers All-Star Don Money, who replaced Kremblas at Double-A Huntsville in 2005.

Kremblas said he already has "his resume out there," and has a meeting scheduled with one of the Brewers' National League Central rivals scheduled for next week.

It's an impressive resume. Kremblas started managing in Montreal's farm system in 1998 and joined Milwaukee in 2000, when he took over at Class A Mudville after the All-Star break. He moved up to Class A High Desert in 2001, then to Huntsville in '02 and Nashville in '05.

In Kremblas' eight full seasons as one of Milwaukee's Minor League managers, his teams posted losing records twice. He led Huntsville to the 2003 Southern League Championship series, when won the Triple-A championship in '05.

"Pretty much every guy in here has played for Frank at some point," said Sounds and now Brewers outfielder Tony Gwynn, Jr., pointing at players like Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, J.J. Hardy, Rickie Weeks and Manny Parra. "He has been inspirational to all of us, so you really hate to see him go."

Hart may have played for Kremblas the longest, parts of four seasons.

"It's surprising that he would be let go after one bad season," Hart said. "He's a great manager, a great baseball guy."

Kremblas was passed over for openings on Milwaukee's Major League coaching staff in each of the last two offseasons. Kremblas was the strongest internal candidate after the Brewers parted ways with third-base coach Nick Leyva following the 2007 season, but the team instead made the last-minute decision to hire Ted Simmons to be the bench coach, and moved Dale Sveum back to third base.

Kremblas was also a candidate for the third-base coaching vacancy after the 2006 season. But when the Brewers decided to promote from within to name Jim Skaalen hitting coach and Ed Sedar to coach first base, they tabbed Leyva at third because he had Major League managerial experience.

That left Kremblas managing in a tough situation in Nashville, where political wrangling killed the team's plans to build a new stadium.

"It's not a good place to go to the yard and play baseball, that's for sure," Gwynn said. "They finally built us a makeshift clubhouse behind the wall in the outfield, but you look at the numbers and we were way better on the road than at home. By far.

"But Frank's best strength is managing personalities and making players forget about their surroundings and just play. He was huge for me from that standpoint, understanding the mental part of the game. I come from a baseball background, and he was big for me. I'm sure most of the younger guys in here would tell you the same thing."

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2008/09/13/jPsChoqb.jpg

 

After three straight division titles under

Frank Kremblas, Nashville finished 59-81

this year. (Nashville Sounds)

[sbrylski]

Wow, surprising, but make sense if they want to promote Money along with Salome and Gamel to AAA next season, maybe Brantley too.

[Mass Haas]

Link while active, text follows:

 

A real changeup

Manatees pitching coach captures grappling title in fun, dangerous sport

BY JIM CAWLEY

FLORIDA TODAY

 

Depending on the situation, Brevard County Manatees pitching coach Fred Dabney might put his arm around a player, back away from him or get in his face.

 

But that's nothing compared to what he might do to an opponent.

 

Making the unusual transition from the diamond to the ring in the offseason, Dabney, who turned 41 on Nov. 20, entered and won the first mixed martial arts-style event of his career on Oct. 25. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound lefthander claimed the intermediate heavyweight division title at a North American Grappling Association (NAGA) event at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton.

 

"People think I'm kind of crazy that my fun is trying to tap people out and submit people," said Dabney, whose two tournament wins came by way of a triangle choke submission, a type of figure-four chokehold created by encircling the opponent's head and one of his arms with your legs.

 

For Dabney's boss, Milwaukee Brewers farm director Reid Nichols, it's more a concern for his employee's well-being.

 

"Fred's a very active person and he needs an outlet -- this grappling thing helps him keep things in check," said Nichols, who played eight major-league seasons with the Red Sox, White Sox and Expos. "I'm glad he's found something he likes to do. I just hope he's doing everything he can to make sure he's safe."

 

It was Dabney's opponents who needed protection at the NAGA event. The first match against Kevin Ritter began as "a struggle of strength and will," according to Dabney. With the score 0-0 and heading deep into the five-minute round, the match turned when Dabney was able to maneuver from the guard position and finish with the triangle choke.

 

The title match lasted only about a minute. Dabney landed a flying arm bar against Rob Akyan, who then muscled out of it. But that set up Akyan for Dabney's submission of choice.

 

"I was really surprised," said Dabney, who was forced to bypass the beginner division because he's a blue belt in Jiu-Jitsu.

 

Dabney currently trains four to five times a week at SRQ Jiu-Jitsu in Sarasota, about a 1/2-hour drive from his offseason home in Venice. He had no previous wrestling experience and is limited to training during baseball's short offseason.

 

Still, his success didn't surprise SRQ owner John Kennedy, a retired police officer and Jiu-Jitsu black belt who has worked with Dabney for about a year.

 

"I knew he'd do well -- other people believed he would, too," Kennedy said of Dabney. "And now he's back in the gym, and he's better because he's got his confidence."

 

That confidence, along with experience, are characteristics Dabney displays daily at the ballpark. A pitching coach in Brevard County since 2005, Dabney pitched 3 1/2 years at the Triple-A level with the White Sox, Indians and Cubs. He also played in Taiwan for one season.

 

"That's the best thing -- his experiences have led him to be a great teacher," said Manatees lefthander Bobby Bramhall, who had a team-high 106 strikeouts last season. "You understand his message and his teaching."

 

Though Bramhall (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) is giving up about 5 inches and 60 pounds to Dabney, the 23-year-old hurler claims the intimidation factor doesn't really come into play.

 

"It could," Bramhall said. "But if you know Fred . . . he's more of a communicator; he's a listener. At the same time, he gets real fired up. I think he handles it in a way that's best for each player."

 

Dabney admits he treats players differently, using varying methods of motivation. But there's one universal rule for anyone who wants to pitch on his staff -- be on time.

 

"I'm tough," Dabney said. "There's a few rules I don't sway on -- like being late. If they're late, they know they're going to be seeing me.

 

And there are plenty of emotions attached to that burly frame.

 

"I'm very, very emotional," Dabney said. "Sometimes it gets me into trouble with the umpires. But I didn't get thrown out of a game this year -- and that's the first time in my career."

 

Dabney's next ring appearance could come on Jan. 24-25 at the NAGA World Cup, which also is being held at Florida Atlantic. If he decides to enter that event, it will have to be in the advanced division, Kennedy said, due to his victories at the intermediate level.

 

After that, it would be quite some time before Dabney's next potential bout, as spring training begins in February.

 

"It's just a hobby," Dabney said of his fighting career. "I love coaching -- that's my first passion. I love being on the field. This is just something to pass the time and keep me active. It's my personality. I'm not afraid to mix it up."

 

Fred Dabney, bottom below, the pitching coach for the Brevard County Manatees during the summer, trains four to five days a week with John Gettle at SRQ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Sarasota. (Photo by Kharli Rose, for FLORIDA TODAY)

 

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[Mass Haas]

Roving pitching coordinator Jim Rooney is moving to the amateur scouting department, as Adam McCalvy details here.