Southern League Set for 2008 Season
Published on April 1, 2008 under Southern League (SL1) News Release
MARIETTA, GA - The 45th consecutive Southern League season will commence on Thursday, April 3 with several new faces holding down managerial jobs.
Over half of the 10 Southern League clubs enter the 2008 campaign with new field managers, with professional experience ranging from novice - Matt Raleigh of the Carolina Mudcats - to expert - the Tennessee Smokies' Buddy Bailey, who enters his 19th season as a minor league manager.
Although Raleigh is new to managing, he is not new to the Mudcats. A former third baseman and hitting coach, Raleigh is the first person to play, coach and manage for Carolina. He also will add All-Star managing experience to his resume on July 14, when the Mudcats host the midsummer classic at Five County Stadium.
Hector De La Cruz begins his first year as manager of the Mobile BayBears after guiding Licey to victory in the Caribbean World Series over the winter. Last season, he skippered advanced Class-A Visalia into the California League playoffs but lost in the first round. Scott Steinmann, who enters his first season as manager of the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx, also participated in the California League playoffs in 2007 after piloting Inland Empire to a 72-67 record.
Carlos Subero also brings managerial experience from the California League to his first year as manager of the Birmingham Barons. Subero spent two seasons managing the Bakersfield Blaze, completing a coaching career in the Texas Rangers organization that began in 1999.
Mike Goff brings major league coaching experience into his first year as skipper of the Chattanooga Lookouts. Goff spent four months as bench coach of the Seattle Mariners in 2007 to cap his 16-year tenure with that organization.
While the Huntsville Stars again will be under the direction of reigning Southern League Manager of the Year Don Money on the field, the club will have new direction in the front office with Buck Rogers taking over as General Manager. The Rogers era begins just months after the club unveiled a new logo.
The Barons also enter 2008 with a new logo, the first significant design change to their uniforms since 1993. Birmingham and Tennessee, who will square off at Regions Park on Opening Night, both will be sporting impressive new video boards this season.
For the second straight year, Opening Night in the Southern League will include a ring ceremony at Riverwalk Stadium. The Montgomery Biscuits, who became the Southern League's first team to repeat as champion in three decades, will distribute championship rings to their 14 returning players and two returning coaches, including manager Billy Gardner, Jr., before hosting the Lookouts.
Southern League Stories from April 1, 2008
- Lookouts Win Exhibition Game, 11-1 - Chattanooga Lookouts
- Smokies defeat Walters State 9-1 - Knoxville Smokies
- 2008 Jacksonville Suns Roster Announced - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
- Southern League Set for 2008 Season - SL1
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