PCL1 Sacramento River Cats

River Cats Announce Coaching Staff For 2004 Season

Published on February 5, 2004 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Sacramento River Cats News Release


WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The Sacramento River Cats today announced their coaching staff for the upcoming season. Manager Tony DeFrancesco, the lone returnee from last year's staff, will be joined by hitting coach Joe Sparks and pitching coach Rick Rodriguez.

DeFrancesco, 40, returns for his second season as manager of the River Cats. Named "Manager of the Year" by both the Pacific Coast League and The Sporting News last season, he led Sacramento to a league-best 92-52 regular-season record and its third PCL South Division title in four years. DeFrancesco's River Cats went 6-0 in the postseason en route to being crowned the PCL Champions.

"We are excited to have Tony back to lead the club in defense of its PCL Championship," said River Cats Senior Vice President & General Manager Gary Arthur. "Tony did a good job last season, managing a clubhouse mixed with talented veterans and young prospects."

The upcoming season will mark DeFrancesco's 11th as a manager in the Oakland A's organization. He enters this year with a career managerial record of 614-576.

He made his managerial debut in 1994 with the Athletics' Arizona League affiliate, followed by two seasons (1995-96) with Southern Oregon (Rookie) and two seasons (1997-98) with the Visalia Oaks (Single-A). DeFrancesco joined the River Cats after four seasons (1999-2002) as the manager of the Midland Rockhounds (Double-A), where he compiled 290 wins.

Prior to his first managerial job, DeFrancesco served as a coach at Southern Oregon and a roving catching instructor in the A's system. A ninth-round selection of the Boston Red Sox in the 1984 Draft, he played eight seasons of professional baseball as a catcher between the Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds organizations.

Sparks, 65, will replace Roy White, who served Sacramento's hitting coach for four seasons and was named first-base coach for the New York Yankees in November. Sparks spent the last eight seasons as a major league advance scout and special assignment scout with the St. Louis Cardinals.

"You hate to lose a coach the caliber of Roy White, but we were fortunate to get a hitting coach as proven as Joe Sparks to replace him," said Arthur. "Joe's career speaks for itself. He has managed and/or coached at every level of the game, and his success is unparalleled."

One of the most successful managers in Minor League Baseball history, Sparks won nine championships and nine "Manager of the Year" awards during his 19-year managerial career. He served four-year stints as manager of the Omaha Golden Spikes (Kansas City Royals) and Toledo Mud Hens (Detroit Tigers) and three years with the Indianapolis Indians (Montreal Expos). Sparks also managed in Duluth (Minn.), Appleton (Wis.), Knoxville (Tenn.) and Des Moines (Iowa).

Sparks, who had a 12-year career as an infielder in the minor leagues, has coached at the major league level with the New York Yankees (1990), Montreal Expos (1989), Cincinnati Reds (1984) and Chicago White Sox (1979). He also spent one season as minor league hitting coordinator for the Detroit Tigers (1995).

Rodriguez, 43, will replace last season's pitching coach Curt Young, who was appointed to the same position with the Oakland Athletics. Rodriguez was Sacramento's pitching coach during the team's first three seasons, before serving last season as manager of the Modesto A's (Single-A). Before his first term with the River Cats, he was pitching coach for Modesto in 1999.

Rodriguez played parts of four seasons in the major leagues as a right-handed pitcher. In his major league career, he compiled a 3-4 record and a 5.72 ERA in 31 games. He played in the majors with Oakland (1986-87), Cleveland (1988) and San Francisco (1990).

The River Cats will defend their PCL Championship beginning April 8, when they open the 2004 regular season against the Edmonton Trappers in Yuma, Ariz. The club will open its home schedule at Raley Field on April 16 against the Edmonton Trappers. Fans interested in season tickets, Fun Packs (partial season tickets) or group tickets are encouraged to call 916-371-HITS.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from February 5, 2004


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