Rays name minor league staffs
The Rays named their minor league on-field staffs and coordinators for the 2008 season today. There aren’t many new faces in the minor league system, but former Rays third baseman Jared Sandberg will join the organization and serve as a coach for the Rays' short-season Class A team in Hudson Valley as part of a new staff there.
Matt Quatraro, who spent the past two seasons managing Hudson Valley and was the first Rays minor leaguer to join the organization’s coaching ranks in 2004, will manage Class A Columbus. Tampa native and former Rays outfielder Ozzie Timmons, who coached at Hudson Valley last season, will join Quatraro in Columbus.
Joe Alvarez, formerly a hitting coach in the Phillies organization, will be the new manager at Hudson Valley.
Joe Morrison, who managed Columbusto a South Atlantic League title, will manager the Rays’ high-Class A entry in Vero Beachand Joe Szekely, who managed Vero last season, will manager the Rays’ rookie league team in Princeton, W.V.
Here are the staffs and coordinators for next season: Minor League Coordinators Field Coordinator: Jim Hoff Pitching Coordinator: Dick Bosman Hitting Coordinator: Steve Livesey Outfield/Baserunning Coordinator: Skeeter Barnes Catching Coordinator: Jamie Nelson Rehabilitation and Athletic Training Coordinator: Nick Paparesta Assistant Athletic Training Coordinator: Chris Tomashoff Strength and Conditioning Coordinator: Trung Cao Equipment Manager: Tim McKechney
Durham Manager Charlie Montoyo Pitching Coach Xavier Hernandez Coach Gary Gaetti Trainer Mark Vinson
Montgomery Manager Billy Gardner, Jr. Pitching Coach Neil Allen Coach Ben Oglivie Trainer Jimmy Southard
Vero Beach Manager Jim Morrison Pitching Coach R.C. Lichtenstein Coach Brady Williams Trainer Joel Smith
Columbus Manager Matt Quatraro Pitching Coach Bill Moloney Coach Ozzie Timmons Trainer Nick Medina
Hudson Valley Manager Joe Alvarez Pitching Coach Rafael Montalvo Coach Jared Sandberg Coach Michael Johns Trainer Jeff Dill
Princeton Manager Joe Szekely Pitching Coach Marty DeMerritt Coach Rafael Deleon Coach Hector Torres Trainer TBD
Follow the Rays through spring training and the season with Marc Topkin, Joe Smith and the Times sports staff. We invite your participation in the comments area.
Off topic, but this is hilarious. A Mitchell Report Draft! Ha...good stuff.
http://mlbfleecefactor.com/2007/12/11/the-mitchell-report-draft/
Posted by: ed | December 11, 2007 at 11:20 PM
Is the Vero Beach manager Jim Morrison who played for the White Sox and Pirates or Joe Morrison?
Posted by: Clark | December 12, 2007 at 09:50 AM
Oh, I get it. I thought when they said "minor league staffs", they were referring to the team the rays were putting on the field in '08. Ya know, because they're worse than most teams' AAA club.
Posted by: rays are a joke | December 12, 2007 at 04:35 PM