Cubs Minor League Staffs

[Chris]

Cubs announce minor league managers and staff

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

 

The Chicago Cubs today announced its minor league managers and coaching staff for the 2007 season, which includes three new managers.

 

At Triple-A Iowa, Buddy Bailey will manage the club after serving as the Cubs catching and baserunning coordinator in 2006. Prior to his time with the Cubs, Bailey worked in Boston’s organization (1991-2004) and Atlanta’s organization (1982-1990). The former catcher previously managed at the Triple-A level with Pawtucket (1992-1996, 2002-2004) and served as Boston’s Big League bench coach in 2000. Bailey’s staff will consist of former Cubs pitcher Mike Harkey as pitching coach and Von Joshua as hitting coach, the same post he held in 2006. Bob Grimes will handle athletic training duties for the fourth straight season in his second stint in the Cubs organization.

 

Pat Listach will manage the Tennessee Smokies and guide a club at the Double-A level for the second straight season after leading West Tenn to a 75-65 mark in 2006. The 1992 American League Rookie of the Year was Triple-A Iowa’s hitting coach from 2001-2005. Listach spent six seasons in the Majors with Milwaukee (1992-1996) and Houston (1997). Listach’s staff includes Dennis Lewallyn, who spent the previous 12 seasons in Arizona’s minor league operations, as pitching coach. Barbaro Garbey is the club’s hitting coach after handling the same responsibility with Single-A Peoria in 2006 while Matt Johnson returns as the team’s athletic trainer.

 

Former Cubs catcher Jody Davis will manage Single-A Daytona after leading Single-A Peoria to the first-half Western Division championship in 2006 with a 41-28 mark. The club finished the season 75-64 overall in Davis’ managerial debut. Davis, who played with Chicago from 1981-1988, will be joined by Rich Bombard, who will handle pitching coach duties after holding the same position with Single-A Peoria last season. Former 13-year Major League veteran Richie Zisk returns as the club’s hitting coach for the second-straight season while Steve Melendez enters his 22nd year in the Cubs organization as Daytona’s athletic trainer.

 

The managerial position at Single-A Peoria is undecided. David Rosario will handle pitching coach duties after guiding Single-A Boise’s pitching staff last season while Kevin Green will be the team’s hitting coach, a similar duty he had with Rookie League-Mesa last season. Nick Frangella enters his third season in the Cubs organization as Peoria’s athletic trainer.

 

Tom Beyers will manage Single-A Boise after handling hitting coach duties for Double-A West Tenn last season. A former outfielder, Beyers spent the 2004 season as Boise’s manager and was named the Northwest League Manager of the Year after leading the Hawks to the league title. Assisting Beyers will be the team’s pitching coach Tom Pratt, a member of the organization since 1999. Franklin Font, who played in the Cubs minor league system from 1996-1999, will handle hitting coach duties. An athletic trainer for the club has not been announced.

 

At Rookie League-Mesa, Ricardo Medina will make his managerial debut after spending the past eight seasons as a hitting coach in various levels of the Cubs organization. In 2006, as Single-A Boise’s hitting coach, he helped the Hawks lead the Northwest League in team batting with a .268 average. Joining Medina will be Rick Tronerud, who will enter his seventh consecutive season as the club’s pitching coach. Former Major Leaguer Carmelo Martinez will be the club’s hitting coach after serving as Mesa’s manager last season. An athletic trainer for the club has not been announced.

 

Here’s a look at the Cubs minor league coaching staff:

 

AFFILIATE MANAGER PITCHING COACH HITTING COACH ATHLETIC TRAINER

 

Iowa (AAA) Buddy Bailey Mike Harkey Von Joshua Bob Grimes

 

Tennessee (AA) Pat Listach Dennis Lewallyn Barbaro Garbey Matt Johnson

 

Daytona (A) Jody Davis Rich Bombard Richie Zisk Steve Melendez

 

Peoria (A) TBA David Rosario Kevin Green Nick Frangella

 

Boise (Short A) Tom Beyers Tom Pratt Franklin Font TBA

 

Mesa (Rookie) Ricardo Medina Rick Tronerud Carmelo Martinez TBA

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Good stuff, Chris. Thanks!

 

David Rosario will handle pitching coach duties after guiding Single-A Boise’s pitching staff last season...

 

A lot of credit goes to Rosario for fixing Mark Pawelek's mechanics after Mark ended up in the Boise pen and when he started again, he was doing much better. Nice to see Rosario follow Pawelek up a level. Supposedly Jeff Samardzija also had nice words for Rosario.

[TruffleShuffle]

Why the hell did everyone change their names? Should I just turn into Bob then?

[UK1679666180]

Congrats to Davis on the promotion, him and Zisk is quite the makings of a quality staff out in Daytona. I thought Davis did very well in his 1st year, I'm glad the Cubs thought so as well.

[Brian]

I wonder if Davis is being groomed to be ready to take over when Lou is done?

[UK1679666180]

I wonder if Davis is being groomed to be ready to take over when Lou is done?

 

It's quite a long ways from Daytona to the majors for a manager. To me, the best manager in the MWL was Walbeck with West Michigan.

[NCCubFan]

To me, the best manager in the MWL was Walbeck with West Michigan.

Interestingly, another former Cubs' catcher (albeit only for a cup of coffee).