Scranton, Trenton set their staffs
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Dec 22, 2008 
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Received these two releases today, one from Scranton and the other from Trenton:
The New York Yankees have announced the 2009 Triple-A field staff and it contains some familiar names as well as some new faces. Dave Miley, who led the Yankees to the 2008 Governors’ Cup returns as manager along with hitting coach Butch Wynegar and trainer Darren London. Scott Aldred is the Yankees new pitching coach replacing Rafael Chaves, who has taken a position with the Los Angeles Dodgers as the organizations minor league pitching coordinator. Aaron Ledesma is Scranton/Wilkes-Barre’s new infield coach taking over for Alvaro Espinosa whose contract was not renewed by New York. Lee Tressel will join the staff in 2009 as strength and conditioning coach.
Miley, enters his fourth season guiding the Yankees’ Triple-A club, the first with the Columbus Clippers (2006) and the previous two with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Prior to joining the Yankees, Miley spent 26 seasons in the Cincinnati Reds’ organization, including three seasons (2003-2005) as the big league manager in Cincinnati.
Under Miley’s guidance, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre has posted the best record (172-115) in the International League over the past two seasons, including winning the 2008 Governors’ Cup as league champions. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre tied Louisville for the IL’s best record in 2008 at 88-56, becoming just the fifth franchise in the International League’s 125 year history to post the league’s top mark in at least three consecutive seasons. In his inaugural season with SWB, Miley led the club to a league best 84-59 record and a berth in the International League Governors’ Cup Playoffs and was named the International League Manager of the Year.
Wynegar will be in his third season with the Yankees. Prior to joining Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he spent four seasons as the Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach and played 13 seasons with the Twins, Yankees and Angels.
Under his guidance, the 2008 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees placed in the top six in the IL in several team offensive categories including runs, hits, homers, RBI’s and BB. In 2007 with Wynegar at the helm, the Yankees led the International League in runs scored.
Aldred begins his fourth year as a professional coach in the Yankees minor league system and his first as pitching coach with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 2008, Aldred’s Trenton Thunder pitching staff led the Eastern League in ERA (3.13) for the second consecutive year on route to the league title. In his debut season as a coach in 2006, he guided the Single-A Charleston pitching staff to the second-best ERA in the South Atlantic League (3.20).
Originally drafted and signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1987, he made his Major League debut with the Tigers in 1990. Aldred appeared in 229 games over an 11-year Major League career, posting a 20-39 record with a 6.02 ERA with six different teams.
Ledesma will be in his first season with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and his second in professional coaching after serving as hitting coach for the single-A Tampa Yankees in 2008. Originally a second round selection by the New York Mets in the 1990 Amateur Draft, he made his Major League debut with the Mets in 1995. Ledesma hit .296 with 38 doubles, 4 triples 2 HR and 76 RBI appearing in 284 big league games over five seasons with the Mets, Baltimore, Tampa Bay and Colorado.
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The Trenton Thunder, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, have announced that Tony Franklin will be back for his third season as Manager. He will have a trio of new coaches join his staff including former Major Leaguers Tommy Phelps (Pitching Coach) and Frank Menechino (Hitting Coach) and former Eastern Leaguer Vic Valencia (Coach). Returning to the Thunder dugout will be Trainer Tim Lentych for his second season with Trenton.
Franklin has guided the Thunder to back-to-back Eastern League Championships, which are the first two titles in franchise history. The Thunder finished the regular season with the best record in the Eastern League (86-54) for the second straight season. Trenton defeated the Portland Sea Dogs (Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox) in the Northern Division Championship Series (3-0), and the Akron Aeros (Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians) in the Eastern League Championship Series (3-1).
Tommy Phelps will embark on his first season as a pitching coach. In 2008, he was the Yankees Minor League Rehabilitation Pitching Coach. Phelps is a former Major League pitcher, and also has spent time in the Yankees Minor League System. He pitched for the Florida Marlins in 2003 and 2004. During 2003, he went 3-2 with a 4.00 ERA in 27 games (seven starts) for Florida and was part of a Marlins team that won the World Series over the Yankees. He pitched in 29 games for Milwaukee in 2005. He went 7-4 with a 4.45 ERA in 2006 with Columbus (Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees). Phelps was originally an 8th round pick by Montreal in the 1992 draft.
Frank Menechino will be Trenton’s new hitting coach. This will be his first coaching position. Menechino played for the Oakland Athletics (1999-2003), and the Toronto Blue Jays (2004-2005). Menechino had his best season with the Athletics in 2001. He hit .242 in a career-high 139 games with 12 home runs and 60 RBI. Menechino spent some time in the Yankees Minor League System with Columbus (Triple-A) in 2006. During 2008, he played professionally in Italy.
Vic Valencia will join the staff as a coach. He played in the Yankees Minor League System from 1995-2000. During 1999 and 2000, he spent time with Norwich (Double-A). In 1999, he hit 22 home runs and contributed with 72 RBI for the Navigators. He also played in the Eastern League with Akron (2003-04) and New Hampshire (2004).
ah, I remember Menechino having a big hit or two against Mo for some reason. he’s from Staten Island, so perhaps he’s going to work for his favorite childhood team
Holiday Greeting from our friend Manny
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn.....22/ramirez
Re: Sweeny says Rowand:
09:$8M, 10:$12M, 11:$12M, 12:$12M
Ages: 31, 32, 33, 34
A clear upgrade over Melky/Gardner.
His defense and mental makeup are a plus.
He’s capable of playing CF in 2008 and LF when Jackson is ready.
He’s not exactly young but not too old for a ballplayer.
Cost in a trade? I’m not exactly sure.
Melky Cabrera, Juan Miranda and Jose Veras?
Exclusiva y confirmado; Manny firmará por tres años y 75 millones con los Yanquis
Manny Ramírez
Manny Ramírez
Aunque el gerente general de los Yanquis, Brian Cashman ha desestimado un primer reporte de que firmará por tres años y 75 milones de dólares a Manny Ramírez, la fuente de Impactodeportivo.com.do ratificó este lunes en la tarde que el negocio va.
Según la fuente de Impactodeportivo.com.do, Ramírez es una necesidad para el equipo.
El motivo?.
Jason Giambi y Bobby Abreu que representaban cerca de 50 jonrones y 200 remolcadas entre los dos, ya no regresan y Hideki Matsui y Jorge Posada tuvieron problemas de salud en el 2008.
Además Robinson Canó viene de un año por debajo.
Eso obliga a los Yanquis a buscar otro bate duro que ayude a Alex Rodríguez, y ese es Manny Ramírez.
Manny está en Brasil en este momento y a su regreso, inmediatamente irá a la conferencia de prensa.
El negocio va.
http://www.impactodeportivo.co.....ormat=html
can anyone translate that for me?
Hal says not true …
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....8209.story
frankie the yankee gets a job, good to hear
“Breaking News and Confirmed: Manny Ramirez to sign for 3 yrs. 75 million w/ the Yankees
Although the general manager of the Yankees, Brian Cashman has dismissed a the first report of signing Manny Ramirez for three years and 75 milion dollars the source of Impactodeportivo.com.do confirmed Monday afternoon that the negotiations are a go.
According to the source of Impactodeportivo.com.do, Ramirez is a need for the team.
The reasons ?.
Jason Giambi and Bobby Abreu, represented nearly 50 home runs and 200 Runs between the two, and will not return and Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada had health problems in 2008.
Also Robinson Canó comes off a bad year.
That forces the Yankees to look for another bat to help Alex Rodriguez, and it’s Manny Ramírez.
Manny is in Brazil at this moment and when he returns he immediately will go to a press conference.
The negotiations are a go.”
The writer of this article sounds pretty sure about this, especially to write a story the next day confirming it and even siting where Manny is and what he plans to do. We’ll find out as of 12 PM Andrew Marchant on ESPN Radio dubunked Buster Olney’s report of the Yankees not offering Manny an offer, he even said they are negotiating w/ his camp. We’ll see.
But here’s the twist and turn to the story Hal saids ???
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....8209.story
I say someone is lying and I’m not going to be quick to take Hal or Cash at thier word. Something is fishy.
“Re: Rowand’s contract
09:$8M, 10:$12M, 11:$12M, 12:$12M
Cost in a trade? I’m not sure.
Melky Cabrera, Juan Miranda and Jose Veras?”
Giants have only Rowand, with Bengie Molina batting cleanup, plus an aging Randy Winn as their only legitimate hitters. Why would they trade Rowand for that package?
We should have known that Hal is too cheap to sign Manny or Tex
Really long for the days of George making sure we got the players we wanted and needed at any cost.
If it were true, Cash and Hal would not flat out deny it. They would just say no comment or not return calls. The fact they are actually debunking it shows that is isin’t true.
Oh well, there goes that dream
“Contrary to reports out of the Dominican Republic, the Yankees are not on the verge of signing Manny Ramirez.
“If we are, I don’t know about it,” Yankees co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner told Newsday Monday in shooting down the report by ImpactoDeportivo.com.”
Hal did say that the Yankees sent him a fruit basket for Christmas.
I tend to belive Hal and Cashman. My spanish is not that good – who is the source of the story that the DR newspaper is reporting?
I’ll wait until Boras’ camp denies it.
Cashman is very discrete when it comes to negotiations, he would never tip his hand. He never even confirmed the CC signing until the press conference.
What interesting about that kat o’brien article is that she is also confirming what Olney reported over the weekend – that the yankees had made some kind of offer to Teixeira prior to the winter meetings and then retracted it when they heard what his demands are:
“The Yankees did make at least a soft contract offer to Teixeira prior to the winter meetings, a source confirmed. It’s not known how much that offer was for, but when agent Scott Boras told the Yankees the kind of years and average annual value he was seeking (significantly more than the Yankees were offering), the team pulled the offer and told Boras it couldn’t meet those demands…
Boras contacted Cashman Friday to see if the Yankees wanted to make another offer for Teixeira, but they have not jumped back in. Said Steinbrenner: “We haven’t come to a decision yet on that. It’s obviously a big commitment.”
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....8209.story
Re: Rowand price vs. Cameron price
If Cameron cost Melky, why would Rowand cost much more than Melky, Veras and Miranda? Rowand’s owed 44 mil while Cameron is owed 10. Both give similar production.
“I tend to belive Hal and Cashman.”
Yep, if someone that looks like Christopher Reeves speaks, you believe him
CB and GB7
I just came on to the computer for the first time today.
Not sure what their motive might be but all those posts earlier that used my name were not mine.
Does it make me famous now that I have an imposter?
The Dominican Website must have a good source if they are persistent with this report again today. They are not backing away even though they will lose a ton of credibility if they strike out on this. Right now, its about 60-40 in terms of them nailing their projections.
Do they get their info from Manny directly?
“I’d rather see Gabe Kaplan out there”
cofused.
is this the Mr Kaplan, from North By Northwest ?
Why do people want Aaron Rowand?
Rowand was BELOW league average for CF both as a hitter and fielder.
He was 2 runs worse at the plate and 10 runs worse as a fielder than league average.
And he’s making a lot of money to be less than average.
If you wanted less than average just keep Gardner.
It’s remarkable. Mike Cameron was ABOVE league average offensively and defensively and people don’t like him at all.
Rowand was BELOW league average offensively and defensively and people want to trade 3-4 players for him.
per Manny/the DR newspaper:
did Boras leak the story??
maybe this is his way of appying additional motive for Boston to sign Texeria?
ray,
congrats! you’re famous. you might be our first sox fan impersonated.
That DR website has hit on everything they reported except Batolo Colon. They hit on Luis Castillo, Dotel, Marte and had the Braves in on Frucal before anyone else (though they did get the offer wrong).
As others have said, why would the guy continue to push this story if it isin’t true? He’s only going to hurt his reputation (and he apparently has a very good one in Latin America).
“Do they get their info from Manny directly?”
I would not trust Manny as a source even for his own contract. This is the guy who didn’t even know which knee was hurting him when the Red Sox sent him for an MRI.
“tend to belive Hal and Cashman. My spanish is not that good”
Brandon did translate the story, but in a nutshell:
Manny leaks to press-”Yanquis gonna give me 75 mil! I talk to Le General-Cash and he say we want you to replace Abreu and Giambi. I say, show me el dinero, and he say consider it done. Merry Christmas.
Manny is a nutcase… wouldn’t shock me if Manny told this guy directly to leak the story in order to spark up the bidding again.
I think it would be a huge mistake not to sign Tex. Firstly, 1st base has been a huge problem for several years now and it would be nice to lock that position up for the length of CC’s contract. Cano will only improve at 2nd base and in a few years Jeter will be replaced by a young guy from SWB. Then all that needs to be fixed is left and center field. With Tex in the lineup, it is ok to have a good defensive prospect such as Melky out there and in left field, Damon will suffice for the time being as he is a good leadoff hitter.
Tex just looks like he would round out the lineup nicely and if you think money is an issue, don’t be so naive. This is the Yankees we are talking about…
Regarding the minor league coaches, it struck me as somewhat odd the yankees would go with “rookie” pitching and hitting coaches at the AA level, given the yankees have invested alot (in the players) in their system seems a bit risky?? I understand people need to break in at some point somewhere, but it was noted that mennochino had NEVER coached before. I would have though there would be some process to bring these guys along, you know, first as a guest instructor, spring training coach, etc., then a full time job. I guess the Yanks have full faith in these guys…
Newsday is the biggest buzz-kill ever. They do it every single day.
CB-
Would like to hear your opinions on either Skip Schumaker or Rich Ankiel of the Cardinals as a replacement in CF. Interestingly Ankiel had 4 assists and 8 errors while playing the OF, and Schumaker, while hitting .300, hit lefties poorly. Would either, especially for the money involved be worth a trade for?
“but it was noted that mennochino had NEVER coached before. ”
Yeah, but he DID play in Italy last year.
Yankees avoided arbitration with Chien-Ming Wang a signed him for one year and 5 Million!
“As others have said, why would the guy continue to push this story if it isin’t true? ”
He has a bad source. Or a source that is trying to spin a story.
That happens all the time to people in the press all over the world.
This sounds to me like he’s getting the story from someone in Manny’s camp and they are simply lying to him. But he’s believing them anyway because he knows that person knows manny.
Too many stories being leaked right now about manny and the yankees all at once after that story came out last week that manny was considering retiring.
All these leaks seems like they are trying to create the impression that Manny is in demand by someone instead of the stories about how he has no offers in hand which is what most writers were writing about him before.
The Yankees and Chien-Ming Wang went to arbitration before last season, but they avoided the process today by agreeing to a one-year, $5 million contract for 2009.
Wang, 28, made $4 million in 2008 when a arbitrator picked that figure over Wang’s request for $4.6 million.
http://www.nj.com/yankees/inde.....g_arb.html
ray (sox fan)
December 22nd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
CB and GB7
I just came on to the computer for the first time today.
Not sure what their motive might be but all those posts earlier that used my name were not mine.
Does it make me famous now that I have an imposter?
————————————————————
Infamous, maybe. You’ve always been a suspicous character.
Alvaro Espinosa?!
Maybe he can go on the road and do comedy with Bobby Meacham.
“but it was noted that mennochino had NEVER coached before. ”
“Yeah, but he DID play in Italy last year.”
And he stayed at a Holiday Inn!
The Yankees could be denying it because they are trying to drive Tex’s price up. Think about it. If the Yankees say they are about to sign Manny, then the Sox don’t see us as a threat to Tex. If instead they think we might jump them for Tex, they may spend more to get him. In turn, we then sign Manny once Tex is done (which could be any day).
What was Wang thinking? $5 million? I’d say we made out really well on this one.
“Would like to hear your opinions on either Skip Schumaker or Rich Ankiel of the Cardinals as a replacement in CF.”
Don’t like either of them too much.
Ankiel is simply not a CF. He’s awful in CF. He’s a corner of who is playing out of position. He’s very bad defensively and his defense eats away most of his offensive value.
Doesn’t hit lefties well at all and gets hurt all of the time.
Schumaker I’m also not buying as a true CF. He’s really a LF who has spent time in CF. Unless he’s playing CF however, Schumaker’s bat is light for a corner spot.
And both of them would cost more than they are actually worth in trades as they are young and perceived to be better than they are.
I’d like to see the Yankees put about a couple hundred thousand more into minor league coaching at the lower levels especially. The A ball leagues really need more initial coaching to smooth out the rough edges of the college and especially the high school and international kids coming in.
guys… we are not increasring payroll. cashman said he wanted the payroll to be lower than last year. we are having trouble selling luxury boxes because of the economy. we have already put $243 million into the team this offseason. plus swisher and the arbitration salaries and we near that limit right now
only moves we might make is pettite or maybe cameron.
“guys… we are not increasring payroll. cashman said he wanted the payroll to be lower than last year. we are having trouble selling luxury boxes because of the economy. we have already put $243 million into the team this offseason. plus swisher and the arbitration salaries and we near that limit right now
only moves we might make is pettite or maybe cameron.”
I’m pretty happy with how the team is constructed right now. I’ll take good pitching over good hitting 10 out of 10 times. Its gonna be a real treat to turn on the tv next year and not have to see the likes of Darrel Rasner and/or Sidney Ponson.
I think the offense as currently constitued (whilst probably not as strong as Boston) is still pretty good. I expect them to be on the winning side of 4-3 games more often than not.
Yankee Trader – How much money do we have to spend?
Rowand sucks.
The Yanks are hoping Tex picks them, but Boras wants them to take Manny instead. For whatever reason, Boras wants Tex on the Sox. That’s why the Yanks are being so non-commital. They are hoping Tex takes a stand, and won’t commit to either slugger until they’ve ruled that out.
We’ll this is interesting. From Kat O’Brien’s blog:
“I’m told the Yankees want to keep payroll about what it was in 2008. ”
Everything we’ve heard up to know was that the yankees were planning on cutting pay roll.
If they are planning on leaving the payroll at $200-210M then that opens up a number of different moves. And should that be the case then I think they’d most likely add some kind of bat.
O’Brien has good sources with the yankees. She’s the one Hal speaks to in the press and often breaks stories (she had the story about cash going to SF to talk to CC).
This is the first time I remember anyone reporting the team saying they would stay at 2008 payroll.
She also mentioned the team was thinking about Pat Burrell and Giambi.
They are going to add a bat. Who that will be is unclear but you can tell that they are still not comfortable with the offense.
sorry here’s the link:
http://weblogs.newsday.com/spo.....ignin.html
“I think the offense as currently constitued (whilst probably not as strong as Boston) is still pretty good. I expect them to be on the winning side of 4-3 games more often than not.”
I agree with your sentiment. Also, we can underestimate the impact CC and AJ will have on the offense. I’m of the belief that the hitters were pressing last year because they knew Ponson/Rasner/Pavano/Geise/Kennedy were on the hill. A balanced team will always be better than an all-hit, no pitch team.
I wouldn’t mind bringing back Giambi for another year. He still proves LH power and OBP to our lineup
Swisher to right
Damon to Center
Nady to left
Giambi at 1st
There’s now a report floating around that the Sox and Tex have just agreed to a deal in principle. If true…
Here comes the Manny era.
CB
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:11 pm
We’ll this is interesting. From Kat O’Brien’s blog:
“I’m told the Yankees want to keep payroll about what it was in 2008. ”
Everything we’ve heard up to know was that the yankees were planning on cutting pay roll.
If they are planning on leaving the payroll at $200-210M then that opens up a number of different moves. And should that be the case then I think they’d most likely add some kind of bat.
O’Brien has good sources with the yankees. She’s the one Hal speaks to in the press and often breaks stories (she had the story about cash going to SF to talk to CC).
This is the first time I remember anyone reporting the team saying they would stay at 2008 payroll.
She also mentioned the team was thinking about Pat Burrell and Giambi.
They are going to add a bat. Who that will be is unclear but you can tell that they are still not comfortable with the offense.
————————————————————
That would certainly open up the possibility of a better possibility than Burrell and Giambi, I would think. I think I had it added up to 170 mil on this payroll.
Sorry…too many possibilities in that last post.
Vinny – Gabe Kaplan is an actor/comedian best known for being Mr. Kotter in Welcome Back, Kotter. It’s a show from the seventies.
Phil
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
There’s now a report floating around that the Sox and Tex have just agreed to a deal in principle. If true…
Here comes the Manny era.
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Yes, but, everyone knows that Peter gammons was in the egg nog a little too much, again today. The Sons Of Bill Simmons is really a realiable source, too.
Burrell or Giambi ?
yuck.
if given a choice of the 3, I would rather have Manny.
Mr Exceptional: thank you for the word. Didn’t realize his character’s name was almost the same as his own.
vinny-b (Rocco Baldelli for CF)
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Burrell or Giambi ?
yuck.
if given a choice of the 3, I would rather have Manny.
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All in all, I’d rather be in Philadelphia.
Phil
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
There’s now a report floating around that the Sox and Tex have just agreed to a deal in principle. If true…
Here comes the Manny era.
—-
Whats the source on this?
“Burrell or Giambi ?
yuck.
if given a choice of the 3, I would rather have Manny.
”
still no love for Dunn?
Ed: no, brother
don’t like his numbers, with men on base. In addition to the strikeouts
YankeeRay
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Phil
December 22nd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
There’s now a report floating around that the Sox and Tex have just agreed to a deal in principle. If true…
Here comes the Manny era.
——
Whats the source on this?
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The Sons Of Bill Simmons site
It’s much too early for the Yankees to indicate that there is any real interest in Manny since to do so would play right into Boras’ hands. Thus what has been mentioned as to a deal is “poppycock”.
We’ll see much of the same (nothing, other than proclamations from assorted Yankee brass as to how great a hitter Manny is) as the weeks pass with nary a team showing an interest. Then, when Manny and Boras really are left with little or no options, the Yankees will make their move….on their terms.
Unless, of course, there is some tacit “understanding” between the parties along the lines of a “quid pro quo” with the Yankees already having done much of what has been asked. I’ll leave to your imagination what that could be.
Yankees signed Wang to 1 year 5 million dollar deal.
Per ESPN 1050.