Clark back to lead Hooks in 2007
Published on December 14, 2006 under Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas - The man who led the Hooks to the 2006 Texas League title will manage the club once again in 2007. The Houston Astros announced today that Dave Clark, the only manager the Hooks have known, returns to Corpus Christi for his third season at the helm. He'll be joined on staff by pitching coach Stan Boroski, hitting coach John Tamargo, Jr. and athletic trainer Jamey Snodgrass.
Clark's hardware haul in 2006 included not one but two championships. In addition to guiding the Hooks to a league crown in the club's second year of existence, Clark also skippered the North Shore Honu to the championship of the Hawaiian Winter League.
Under Clark's guidance, the 2006 Corpus Christi Hooks won at home and were impressive in close games. The Hooks posted the best home record in the Texas League (47-23, .671) and were tops in the circuit in extra-innings games (9-3, .750) and games decided by one run (27-17, .614).
"We are extremely excited about Dave returning to Corpus Christi," stated Astros' Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Development Ricky Bennett. "He did a tremendous job leading the Hooks to the Texas League championship in 2006. Dave is a great leader and competitor who creates a positive and winning environment that allows our players to have success. We look forward to another successful season with Dave at the helm."
In his four seasons as a manager in the minor leagues, Clark has a .543 winning percentage and two championship rings, not counting his recent success in Hawaii. Clark's full-season clubs have won 301 of 554 regular-season games. In addition to his accomplishments in Corpus Christi, Clark guided the Lynchburg HillCats to the 2003 Carolina League Championship Series, and in 2004 led the Hickory Crawdads to the South Atlantic League title.
"After finishing the job we set out to do in 2006, my staff and I are looking forward to the challenges that the 2007 season will bring," said Clark.
As a player, Clark broke into the majors in 1986 with Cleveland and spent portions of 13 seasons in the big leagues with six different teams, including the Astros. In 905 career games, Clark batted .264 with 62 homeruns and 284 RBI's.
New to the Hooks staff is Boroski, who enters his seventh season as a pitching coach in the Astros' farm system. A native of Ohio, Boroski has spent the past four seasons as the pitching coach for the Salem Avalanche of the Carolina League. In 2001 and 2002, he served in the same capacity for Michigan in the Midwest League. Boroski has worked as both a scout and a coach in the Houston organization since 1991.
This past season, Boroski worked with Astros' pitching prospects Jimmy Barthmaier (11-8, 3.62, 134 K's in 146.2 IP) and Felipe Paulino del Guidice (9-7, 4.35) at Salem. Under Boroski's tutelage, the Avalanche finished first in the Carolina League in ERA (3.38) and shutouts (12), and surrendered the fewest hits (1,075).
Boroski played his college ball at Ohio University and was drafted as a catcher by the Milwaukee Brewers in 1981. Signed by the Royals as a pitcher in 1985, he finished his playing career in the Kansas City system.
Tamargo enters his fourth year as a coach in the Houston system and his third with the Hooks. A former infielder for Round Rock, Tamargo spent eight years as a player in the minors following his playing days at the University of Florida. He played parts of four seasons at the Triple-A level and batted .237 during his pro career with 12 homeruns and 222 RBI's. In college, Tamargo batted .309-14-99 in three seasons with the Gators and helped to lead Florida to the College World Series in 1996.
"I'm definitely looking forward to the upcoming season," added Tamargo. "Corpus Christi has great fans and is a great place to play."
In 2006, Tamargo's charges finished first in the circuit in hitting (.279), triples (37) and sacrifice bunts (60), and posted the lowest team strikeout total (821).
Snodgrass returns for his fifth season as the athletic trainer for the Astros' Double-A affiliate and his ninth year in the Houston organization. The 2005 Trainer of the Year in the Texas League, Snodgrass was also honored as the Trainer of the Year in the Midwest League in both 2001 and 2002 while working for the Michigan Battle Cats.
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