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Development Developments

Edgy DC Feb 23 2007 10:08 AM Edited 6 time(s), most recently on Feb 23 2007 09:21 PM

A lot of appointments in the development staff were announced yesterday. Minor League Field Coordinator: Luis Aguayo. (Edgar Alfonzo had been in this role the last three seasons, but is returning to manage the 'Clones.) Here's a shot of Aguayo managing in the Pioneer League in 2004, congratulating the mountainous Bobby Mosby after a tremendous home run. Minor League Outfield and Baserunning Coordinator: Sonny Jackson. Here's Sonny back in the day as multi-tooled bespectacled young shortstop signing for juvenile Astro fans. Binghamton Mets Manager Mako Oliveras. Mako had a cool job back in the late eighties, managing the Miami Marlins, who were an independent minor league team that competed against affiliated minor league teams. Plus, he was a mako managing marlins. Here he is managing in the Rays system. Manager, Gulf Coast Mets: Juan Lopez. This could be anybody. Or, at least, anybody named Juan Lopez. The Mets site lists a Juan Lopez as a Mets coach in 2002-2003 ( http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/nym/history/coaches.jsp ) but the UMDB doesn't acknowledge him. I think he was the batting practice pitcher. I'm going to assume this guys is the Juan Lopez who was recentely batting coach at Kingsport. I think Jose Reyes has praised the work they did together. Batting Coach, Gulf Coast Mets: Tom McCraw. It's a long way down to rookie ball for former Mets batting coach McCraw. He was a well respected coach during an ill-respected Mets era, 1992-1996. His claim to fame as a player was being one of the few guys who was considered to have been succesfully tutored by Ted Williams, during a one-year stop with the Senators. Interestingly, he did awful that year, but his career subsequently rebounded and he played for four more years. Maybe Williams told him to stop swinging such a toothpick of a bat. Trainer, Gulf Coast Mets, Adam Hindes. Strength Coach, Gulf Coast Mets: Nick Wright. Coach, Savannah Sang Gnats: Mike Hart. I don't think he's the Mike Hart from the regrettable Oriole white helmet day. I think he's the one that recently worked with the Harrisburg Senators: If so, this'll be his 22nd year as a minor league coach or manager. Strength Coach, Savannah Sand Gnats: Orlando Crance. Orlando was an honors student. Coach, Dominican Mets: Luis Rojas: He's hard to isolate, as there are likely a half dozen Juis Rojases from the Dominican working at some level in major and minor league ball. Dominican Academy Coordinator: Pablo Cruz: Pablo's was the first LP Johnny Dickshot ever acquired. Venezuelan Academy Coordinator: Mario Gonzalez. They have a Venezuelan academy? I'm wondering if the Mets even know which Mario Gonzalez they hired. Strength Coach, Brooklyn Cyclones: Doug Griswold. Here's his family wishing him luck with the Mets. Strength Coach, Kingsport Mets: Jacob Henderson. I got nothing. Hopefully, the Clones will re-hire Guadalupe Jabalera from their 2006 staff.

seawolf17 Feb 23 2007 10:11 AM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 23 2007 10:14 AM

Cool recap. (Fix your links, though.) That Bobby Mosby is ENORMOUS. Yowza. edit: Mosby last year, at 24 years old in his second year of single-A ball (after three-plus seasons in the Rookie league): .237/.307/.412, with 12 home runs in 291 AB. (He had 19 HR in 255 AB in the rookie league in 04, and 9 in 179 AB in '03.) The caveat: 91 Ks in those 291 AB.

Johnny Dickshot Feb 23 2007 10:13 AM

Nice. I actually acquired this record though:

Edgy DC Feb 23 2007 10:19 AM

Yuck. They featured that same giant trademark on every album cover?

Johnny Dickshot Feb 23 2007 10:20 AM

No, but maybe it was a good idea:

Edgy DC Feb 23 2007 10:25 AM

I think the minute you got that album, Tim Hardaway hated you. Mako talks a good game Oliveras takes pleasure in teaching young players how to win. By KEVIN KELLY, Times Staff Writer © St. Petersburg Times published March 1, 2002 ST. PETERSBURG -- The whistles almost always are followed by rapid-fire chatter. Want to find Mako Oliveras on the baseball field? Just listen. "I enjoy working with young kids," he said. "I like to show them that I'm there to help and I'm their friend. "It's a matter of working together. There's no use yelling at each other. They know they've got to do something, that we've got to follow instructions and I'm here to help." Oliveras' outlook, attitude and philosophy are but some of the reasons why the Rays asked him to manage their Double-A affiliate in Orlando this season. "I know his abilities well," said Cam Bonifay, Rays director of player personnel. "He's very energetic, very positive and demands respect from his players. His knowledge of the game is very well respected." The 45-year-old, who spent the past three seasons as a coach on Bill Evers' staff at Triple-A Durham, was more than willing to help the organization he joined in 1999. "I enjoy working with young kids," said Oliveras, who lives in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, during the offseason. "They asked me what I felt about managing the Orlando club, and whatever they want me to do I will be more than glad to do it. "I feel great, elated that they trust me to try and make those players better." Oliveras has major-league coaching experience -- spending time with the Cubs from 1995-97 and Angels in 1994 -- but also is familiar with managing in the minors. His first managerial job came with Class-A Midland of the Texas League in 1987, where he spent three seasons before working as manager for Triple-A Edmonton of the Pacific Coast League from 1990-1992. Edmonton won the PCL's Northern Division title in 1990. Oliveras then took over Vancouver in the PCL for one season (1993) before moving to Class-A Kinston of the Carolina League in 1998. All told, Oliveras has a 577-538 record and .517 winning percentage as a minor-league manager. "I'm a true believer that every day there is something to learn from kids," he said. 'And I've been lucky when it comes to baseball, having been around people that have helped me become the baseball man that I am." Throwing rocks in a neighborhood sandlot in 1959 landed Oliveras on a team that advanced to the Little League World Series by winning the Latin American championship. "To go to Williamsport, I will never forget that," he said. "It was a great experience my first year." Now in his 22nd season in professional baseball, Oliveras appears content with his place in the game. "Anybody would love the chance to manage in the majors," he said. "But right now my goal is to do a great job. The feeling of getting up there is long gone. I'm happy just being in baseball." Don't believe him? Just listen.

Edgy DC Feb 23 2007 10:39 AM

His name may be Alfonzo, but he isn't Fonzie. But Lupe is back. Fonzie back at Cyclones helm By Thomas Tracy 02/22/2007 As they gear up for their “lucky number” seventh season in Coney Island, the Brooklyn Cyclones are bringing along one of the charms from their inaugural season. Officials from the Cyclones camp announced that Edgar “Fonzie” Alfonzo, the team’s first manager, will be barking orders from the dugout in June when the ’07 Cyclones take on their longtime rival, the Staten Island Yankees. “I have amazing memories of my time in Brooklyn, and I can’t wait to get back there for another season,” said Alfonzo, who’s spent the past three seasons as the New York Mets’ Minor League Infield Coordinator, working with the organization’s prospects at every level of the organization. “Being a part of that first year was something very special. Having a team in Brooklyn again meant a lot to the community, and it meant a lot to the players and coaches, too,” he said. Under Alfonzo’s tutelage, the Cyclones’ first season was a victorious one. After capping off a 55-25 record, Alfonzo’s Cyclones were favored in the 2001 McNamara Championships. But after beating the Williamsport Crosscutters in the first game, the championship series was tragically cut short as the city reeled from the September 11 terrorist attacks. The Cyclones and the Crosscutters were ultimately named “co-champions.” Alfonzo was named Baseball America’s 2001 Short-Season Manager of the Year. Although they’ve been in three other playoffs – most recently in a wild card slot in the 2006 season — the Cyclones never grabbed hold of that brass ring again. That could change with Alfonzo at the helm, said Cyclones General Manager Steve Cohen. “We are extremely excited to have Fonzie back in Brooklyn,” said Cohen. “He is a proven winner and leader, who has shown a knack for success in the unique environment of KeySpan Park.” When asked what he remembered most about his time with the 2001 Cyclones, Alfonzo didn’t hesitate in responding. “The fans,” he said. “They’re different from anywhere else. They gave us support, and they gave us energy. They really helped that team, and I know they’ll do the same thing this year.” Alfonzo played for 12 years in the minor leagues with the Anaheim Angels and Baltimore Orioles organizations and also played in the Mexican and Taiwan leagues. His best season came in 1994 for Bowie (AA) of the Eastern League when he hit .309 with 35 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 73 RBI and 13 stolen bases. Alfonzo, 39, also has family ties throughout the organization. His younger brother, Edgardo, was an All-Star infielder for the Mets who played at Shea from 1995-2002. Another younger brother, Robert, is an international scout for the Mets. Alfonzo’s oldest son, also named Edgar, is a Mets’ minor leaguer who spent parts of 2004 and 2005 pitching for the Cyclones. Helping Alfonzo mold the 2007 Cyclones will be pitching coach Hector Berrios, coach Guadalupe Jabalera and trainer Matt Hunter. The team’s hitting coach has yet to be announced. The team’s first game of 2007 will be at KeySpan Park on June 19.

Edgy DC Feb 23 2007 09:31 PM

Dan Murray, who played in one game as a Met, before getting traded for Glendon Rusch, jumps from Kingsport to St. Lucie to be Tim Teufel's pitching coach. Murray is also a pioneer in a Mets program that's overdue to professional baseball. Minoring in E-learning Some Mets prospects Take a swing at a degree By Diane Cole Posted Sunday, October 8, 2006 When the New York Mets drafted pitching prospect Dan Murray in 1995, he had yet to finish his college degree at San Diego State University. Living the baseball dream, as minor leaguers call it, he pitched his way up from rookie league to AAA and, for parts of the 1999 and 2000 seasons, even earned a spot on the Major League rosters of the Mets and the Kansas City Royals. But he never earned his degree. Now a pitching coach for the Mets' rookie league team in Kingsport, Tenn., Murray is closing in on that other dream-his bachelor's degree-through a program jointly organized two years ago by the New York Mets and Drexel University that puts a new swing on E-learning. "I don't want any future opportunities closed off to me," in or out of baseball, for lack of a college degree, Murray explains. Finding off-the-field time for a traditional in-classroom curriculum would have been trickier than stealing home for Murray and other players in the program. For one thing, the long baseball season-which keeps players and coaches on the road from spring training through summer and into early fall-doesn't mesh with the traditional academic calendar. Fall classes already have started by the time the stadium gates close for the winter, and just as spring semester gets going, so does spring training. And then, in the short off-season, minor-league players-who may earn as little as $1,100 for each month they play-usually need to juggle the demands of a second job, especially if they also have a family to support. A natural fit. Enter Richard Astro, the Drexel University English professor who proposed the online option as a way for players to continue an education even as they pursue their lives in baseball. With their tight schedules, players' ability to structure their own virtual classroom time was essential, Astro perceived. Murray, married and the father of a young daughter, couldn't agree more. "This is a blessing," he says from his off-season home in Prairie Village, Kan. "It's going to benefit me and my family for the future, and that's a huge, huge deal." So far, more than 20 players have taken courses or are signed up to begin soon. About a dozen will get degrees from Drexel; others will apply the credits to schools where they've already done coursework. Astro-who also serves as the chief academic officer of the National Consortium for Academics and Sports, an organization that promotes education and service programs by athletes-teaches two classes, one in baseball and literature (the reading list features Bernard Malamud's The Natural and W. P. Kinsella's Shoeless Joe), the other on sports and social issues (online discussions will focus on Jackie Robinson's legacy, the Berlin and Munich Olympics, and the role of the contemporary sports hero, among other topics). Boston Red Sox radio announcer Joe Castiglione is slated to teach a course in sports broadcasting next year. Six additional courses in what Drexel President Constantine Papadakis calls "the sports learning curriculum" are in the planning stages and will address sports and media, sports technology, the economics of sports, and minorities and sports. Although the courses will be designed and scheduled specifically for Mets players, who will get priority in registering for them, they will also be open to other Drexel E-learning students, he said. He also hopes the Mets program will serve as a model for other teams and universities to help players further their education. "The Mets have been pioneering in this," he said. Ten percent. "What we're really trying to do is prepare professional baseball players for careers that are open to them after they're finished playing," Astro says. "Minor leaguers may play professional baseball for one year or 10 years, but less than 10 percent make it to the big leagues, and even if they do it's uncertain how long they'll last there." That reality motivates aspiring catcher Sean McCraw, 20, who put in one year at San Jacinto Junior College in Texas before being drafted by the Mets in 2005. "No matter where baseball takes me, whether I make millions or never get to the Majors, I want to have an education to fall back on," he says. Nineteen-year-old Josh Thole, also a catcher and McCraw's teammate on the rookie league Kingsport Mets, agrees: "Your career is so short, and you never know what can happen. One injury could end it." Thole had just graduated from high school in Breese, Ill., when the Mets drafted him in 2005, and he is taking his very first college courses through the program. Most of the E-learning takes place during the off-season, but during the regular season, player-students take part in community programs such as speaking to students at local schools and clubs. As a result of Kingsport Mets players speaking to the local Junior Achievement group, says Kingsport General Manager Roman Stout, "the kids in the community are now identifying and getting to know our team, and that helps popularize the game on the local level." Major or minor, that sounds like a big league, winning strategy, all around.