Bush Returns For An Encore Performance
January 6, 2010 - Texas League (TL1)
Midland RockHounds News Release
The man who will guide the RockHounds in the 2010 Texas League season has a very tough "act to follow." His own.
Darren Bush will return to manage the RockHounds in 2010, after leading the club to the 2009 Texas League championship and earning the league's Manager of the Year honor in the process.
"Bushy" will be joined by hitting coach Webster Garrison, pitching coach Scott Emerson and Athletic Trainer Justin Whitehouse, as the entire field staff from the RockHounds' Texas League championship club returns intact.
The Oakland A's today announced field staff assignments for all six of the club's minor league affiliates (see separate release). The RockHounds have been Oakland's Double-A affiliate since 1999.
DARREN BUSH - MANAGER
In his first season at the Double-A level, "Bushy" guided the RockHounds to the Texas League's best overall record (78-62). After finishing two games behind San Antonio in the first half pennant race, the 'Hounds captured the second half with a 41-29 record, and defeated the Missions, 3-games-to-1, in the division championship series. The 'Hounds then defeated the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (again, 3-games-to-1) to win their second league crown in five seasons.
The league title was the second in-a-row for Bush, who led the Stockton Ports (Oakland's advanced Single-A affiliate) to the California League championship in 2008.
Darren became the fourth Texas League Manager of the Year in franchise history, joining Jim Saul (Cubs, 1978), Don Long (Angels, 1991) and Von Hayes (RockHounds, 2005).
Bush joined the Oakland organization in 2005, serving as Stockton's hitting coach for two seasons (2005-06) before being named manager of the Ports in 2007. He enters his fourth season as a manager in the A's organization having earned two championship rings in his first three years.
Before joining the A's, Darren played and managed in the independent ranks and also spent three minor league seasons with the San Diego (1999-2000) and Philadelphia (2001) organizations.
WEBSTER GARRISON - HITTING COACH
The 2010 season will be the 12th year in the RockHounds / Oakland A's era, and "Webby" will have been part of nine of those teams. After serving as player-coach on the inaugural club in 1999, Webster has served as both RockHounds hitting coach (2000, 2005-07 & 2009) and manager (2004 and 2008). He was the hitting coach for both championship clubs (2005 & 2009) and the '06 playoff team, and his 2008 RockHounds team went 75-65, ninth best record in franchise history.
SCOTT EMERSON - PITCHING COACH
"Emo" enters his eighth season with Oakland and his fourth as RockHounds pitching coach. In the the last two seasons, alone, Scott has helped develop Major Leaguers Vince Mazzaro (who was also the franchise's first-ever Texas League Pitcher of the Year, 2008), Brett Anderson, Trevor Cahill, Josh Outman and 2009 American League Rookie of the Year and All-Star Andrew Bailey. Last season, "Emo" was instrumental in Graham Godfrey's outstanding TL all-star campaign.
JUSTIN WHITEHOUSE - ATHLETIC TRAINER
"Whitey" returns for his third season with the RockHounds and his tenth in the A's organization. Justin previously spent five seasons (2003-07) with the Kane County Cougars (Geneva, Illinois), Oakland's Single-A affiliate, and was named Midwest League Athletic Trainer of the Year in his final season there. Justin and his wife, Susan, moved to the Permian Basin when "Whitey" was promoted to the Double-A RockHounds. Along with daughter Cassie, they have made Midland their off-season home as well.
Texas League Stories from January 6, 2010
- Gideon To Return As Drillers Manager - Tulsa Drillers
- Bush Returns For An Encore Performance - Midland RockHounds
- Travs Hot Stove Tradition Continues February 2 - Arkansas Travelers
- Driskill New Pitching Coach; Boroski To Bigs - Corpus Christi Hooks
- Pence, Castro Headline Astros Caravan Luncheon January 28 - Corpus Christi Hooks
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
