Barons Announce 2004 Staff
Published on January 22, 2004 under Southern League (SL1)
Birmingham Barons News Release
BIRMINGHAM, AL â The Birmingham Barons have announced their coaching staff for the 2004 campaign. Joining the Barons will be new manager Razor Shines and new hitting coach Manny Trillo. Both will combine their efforts, along with returning pitching coach Juan Nieves and trainer Joe Geck, to attempt an unprecedented fifth straight run to the Southern League playoffs.
Shines begins his fourth season with the White Sox and first with the Barons after leading the White Sox Single-A affiliate Winston-Salem Warthogs to the Carolina League Championship in just his second season at the helm. Shines, 46, guided the Warthogs to a 21-game improvement over 2002 (50-90) by racking up a 71-67 record. The championship was his second straight as a manager as the Durham, NC native also won the Arizona Fall League Championship in 2002 with the Peoria Javelinas.
As a player, Shines played 16 professional seasons (1978-93), including 68 games with the Montreal Expos (1993-87). The former infielder posted a career .266 (1,245-for-4,673) average with 134 home runs and 704 RBI in 1,480 minor-league games. The former Expos 18th round draft pick was a member of four championship teams with Triple-A Indianapolis in the late 1980's. "I'm really thrilled about coming to Birmingham and I think it will be a very exciting time", said Shines from his home in Austin, TX. "The fans will see right away that we have some good young talent that will fit right in with the winning tradition that Birmingham and the Barons are used to."
Manny Trillo, 53, begins his first year in the White Sox organization. The former All-Star second baseman is a veteran of 17 Major League seasons with Oakland (1973-74), Chicago Cubs (1975-78, 86-89), Philadelphia (1979-82), Cleveland (1983), Montreal (1983) and San Francisco (1984-85). Trillo, a native of Caripito, Venezuela, had a career .263 (1,562-for-5950) batting average in 1,780 Major League games, won three gold gloves (1979, 81-82), played in four All-Star games (1977, 81-83) and won a World Series Championship with the Phillies in 1980. In that championship season he was named the MVP of the National League Championship Series versus Houston as he batted .381 (8-for-21) with two doubles, a triple, and four RBI.
Juan Nieves, 38, returns for his sixth season with the White Sox organization and his third with the Barons. He pitched three seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers from 1986-88 and threw the only no-hitter in Brewers history on April 15th, 1987 to become the first Puerto Rican to accomplish that feat.
Joe Geck, 33, returns for his fourth season as the Barons trainer. This will be Joe's 12th year in the White Sox organization.
"We are very excited about our 2004 staff", said Barons GM Tony Ensor, "The wealth of Major League experience and tradition of winning that this group of men brings gives us a great opportunity for success here in Birmingham."
Southern League Stories from January 22, 2004
- Barons Announce 2004 Staff - Birmingham Barons
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