 |
Sarbaugh has had an incredible knack for winning in the minors (Photo: Tony Lastoria) |
Sarbaugh named top minor league manager
Recently Baseball America named Triple-A Columbus manager Mike Sarbaugh as their Manager of the Year. In 2010 he led Columbus to a 79-65 record and then he and his team just dominated the playoffs on their way to an International League title and Triple-A National Championship.
Sarbaugh, 43, has been in the Indians system since 1990 when he was picked up after a year with the Milwaukee Brewers. In six minor league seasons from 1989-1994 he hit .265 with 31 homers, 207 RBI, and a .725 OPS in 455 games. After retiring as a player he joined the coaching ranks in 1995 as a coach at High-A Kinston. He served as a coach for Low-A Columbus (GA) in 1996 and 1997, went back to Kinston in 1998 and 1999, and then went to Double-A Akron from 2000 to 2003.
Sarbaugh made his managerial debut in 2004 at short season Single-A Mahoning Valley and went 42-34 there and won the NY-Penn League championship, and then went to Low-A Lake County in 2005 (72-66) and had a winning season though did not make the playoffs. From there he went to Kinston in 2006 (85-64) and won the Carolina League championship, and then returned to Kinston in 2007 (87-52) and lost in the Carolina League championship series. He moved up to Akron in 2008 (80-62) and lost in the Eastern League championship series, and returned to Akron in 2009 (89-53) and won the Eastern League Championship.
All told, in seven seasons as a manager, Sarbaugh has won four league championships and been to the league championship series a total of six times. He owns a career minor league record as a manager of (534-396), and has been instrumental in the development of many players over the past decade.
Having gotten to know Sarbaugh a lot over the years, I can say he is no doubt a winner on and off the field. He not only wins, but has an incredible knack for communicating well with his players and getting the best out of them, something that is easier said than done in this day and age of professional sports.
I'd expect this upcoming season to be Sarbaugh’s last in the minors as another good year should merit his addition to the big league staff in Cleveland as an infield coach and serve as the first/third base coach in 2012. If not, he may opt to explore his options after the season to see if a better opportunity exists elsewhere.
But that appears unlikely as Sarbaugh is a favorite of Farm Director Ross Atkins and a lot of the staff in Cleveland, so hopefully something works out for him next offseason to get him up to the big leagues as part of Manny Acta’s coaching staff.
Brown clears waivers
On Friday the Indians announced that outfielder/first baseman Jordan Brown had cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Columbus. Last week they had designated him for assignment in order to clear space on the 40-man roster to add recently signed outfielder Austin Kearns.
The fact that Brown cleared waivers is not much of a surprise given how late in the offseason we are and how many rosters are full. In addition to that he was a poor fit for many teams because of his limitations defensively.
However, from what I understand the Indians did not even get a nibble of interest for a trade. Considering Brown’s resume with his two batting titles, two MVPs and him being a very good hitter, not to mention two option years remaining, you would think someone would have interest. In the end, from a roster management perspective it turns out the Indians made the right call in removing him, and apparently the Indians had over-stated his value.
This is devastating news for Brown, who now looks like he may be on the verge of another full season in Triple-A, which would be his fourth. In addition to that, he has to be shaking his head wondering what he has to do to get a chance, not to mention the cold feeling of realizing 29 other organizations passed on you as a big league option.
All hope is not lost for Brown. First base and left field are unsettled positions in Cleveland, so he could get a chance in the big leagues with the Indians sometime this season. Former Indian Chris Gimenez went through the same thing last year where he was removed around this time, cleared waivers, went to Columbus, and was back in Cleveland later in the year.
Also, I have gotten to know Brown a lot over the years, and knowing him like I do he is certainly not happy about his situation but will channel that disappointment into his play and should have a strong season this year. He went something very similar in 2009 where he was snubbed in the offseason for a 40-man roster spot and passed over in the Rule 5 Draft, then responded by going out and winning a Triple-A batting title for Columbus in 2009.
Brown will remain property of the Indians in 2011 and if he is not on the 40-man roster at the end of the season he will become a six year minor league free agent and be free to sign with any team.
New Field Coordinator
The Indians announced the hiring of their new minor league field coordinator this week, naming Tom Wiedenbauer to the post. He replaces the departed Dave Hudgens who left the organization a few weeks back to be the New York Mets hitting coach.
Wiedenbauer joins the Indians after spending 35 seasons in the Houston Astros organization where he was a player, coach, manager, instructor, field coordinator and professional scout since being selected by the Astros in the 7th round of the 1976 draft. The last two seasons he served as a professional scout for the Astros, and from 2001-2008 he served as their minor league field coordinator.
As the field coordinator Wiedenbauer ensures that all coordinators and field staff are developing players based on each individual’s strengths and limitations and that those Indians professionals are using effective methods of instruction and learning.
Winter Development Program starts Monday
The Cleveland Indians annual Winter Development Program kicks off tomorrow, Monday January 17th, at Progressive Field.
The participants in the program are outfielder Ezequiel Carrera, right-handed pitcher Chen-Chang Lee, third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, third baseman Jared Goedert, left-handed pitcher Nick Hagadone, outfielder Chad Huffman, second baseman Jason Kipnis, right-handed pitcher Corey Kluber, right-handed pitcher Zach McAllister, left-handed pitcher Matt Packer, right-handed pitcher Vinnie Pestano, second baseman Cord Phelps, right-handed pitcher Bryce Stowell, and right-handed pitcher Alex White.
Since its inception in 1996, the program is mostly for players the Indians believe have a chance to make their major league debuts in 2011, made a late season debut last year, or are a high level prospect recently acquired in a trade. It serves as an introduction for many of the minor league players to the Progressive Field facility, big league coaching staff, and the city itself.
The program runs for two weeks and is split between the Cleveland (Jan 17-22) and Arizona (Jan 23-29) facilities. In Cleveland the players will get a chance to hone their physical, mental and fundamental skills with classroom sessions with various members of the Indians coaching staff, physical conditioning, baseball fundamental work and listening to guest speakers. They will also take part in several extracurricular activities and charity events around the city to get to know the area. In Arizona they will hone their skills on the diamond while continuing to take part in strength and conditioning activities.
Spring invites
Earlier this week the Indians announced that ten of their players from their minor league system have received non-roster invitations to big league spring training. The invites are catcher Juan Apodaca, third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall, outfielder Chad Huffman, second baseman Jason Kipnis, second baseman Cord Phelps, right-handed pitcher Yohan Pino, left-handed pitcher Drew Pomeranz, right-handed pitcher Zach Putnam, right-handed pitcher Bryce Stowell, and right-handed pitcher Alex White.
As a non-rostered player, these players are signed to minor league contracts and are not on a big league 40-man roster. All of these players have almost no chance to make the big league team out of spring training – even Phelps and Kipnis. The reason the Indians invite these players to big league camp is to allow the big league staff an opportunity to get a look at them because they have been identified as possible options they may call up later in the year.
In total the Indians have 19 non-roster invitees at Major League camp. The other nine players are first baseman Jordan Brown, outfielder Travis Buck, catcher Luke Carlin, infielder Adam Everett, right-handed pitcher Justin Germano, infielder Jack Hannahan, right-handed pitcher Doug Mathis, catcher Paul Phillips, and right-handed pitcher Anthony Reyes.
Book Update
The new 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More book is coming along well. As of this writing I have about 110 of the 175+ scouting reports and writeups done for the book. All the other reference material in the book is already done, so once I finish the remaining scouting reports I will start putting the layout together and still hope to send it off to the publisher by the end of the month or beginning of February.
Over the course of the next few weeks I will continue to chime in with quick updates on the new book and its availability in this space. Thanks again for the interest.
Coming Soon: Top 50 Countdown
As you may have noticed with the little countdown clock on the right side of the page, I will begin unveiling my 2011 Top 50 prospects this Friday. From there it will be 50 prospects in 50 days as I will countdown by one each day until we get to #1 by early March.
Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. His latest book the 2010 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is also available for purchase on his site for a special year end closeout sale of $10.00 (including shipping and handling stateside).
Everything on this site is free, but for those interested in making any monetary contributions to help support the stability and growth of this site please click on the "Donate" button below.
0 comments:
Post a Comment