Veteran skippers dominate IL field manager lineup

Published on February 20, 2007 under International League (IL1) News Release

Eight IL managers from the 2006 International League season are returning for 2007, and half of the newcomers have also previously managed in the IL. That leaves just three managers who will be making their debut in the League when play begins on April 5.

Two of the eight managers returning from last season will be doing so in a new city, the result of affiliation changes. In 2006, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's John Russell was named IL Manager of the Year after leading the club to a League-best 84-58 record. This year Russell will be at the helm of the Ottawa Lynx, Philadelphia's new Triple-A affiliate. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, now the top farm club of the Yankees, will be guided by Dave Miley. Miley, who has also managed in Indianapolis and Louisville, guided the 2006 Columbus Clippers to a 69-73 finish.

Six other skippers return to the International League from a year ago, highlighted by Toledo's Larry Parrish. Parrish guided the Mud Hens to their second consecutive Governors' Cup Championship, defeating Indianapolis, Charlotte, and Rochester in the post-season. Toledo's opponent in the Finals was the Stan Cliburn-led Rochester Red Wings. Cliburn returns for his second year at the helm in Rochester after leading the club to a 79-64 mark last season. Indianapolis' Trent Jewett has led the Indians to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons as skipper, posting a combined 154-132 record. Louisville's Rick Sweet and Buffalo's Torey Lovullo both hope to improve upon last year, which saw each club post winning records but finish third in their respective divisions. Ron Johnson of Pawtucket is back for this third season with the Red Sox. Johnson won the 1,000th game of his managerial career last season.

The returning skippers aren't the only ones with experience managing in the International League. Three of the IL's new managers have previously served in that role in the League.

* Gary Allenson (Norfolk) has guided two IL franchises to the post-season. In 2003 he led the Ottawa Lynx to a record of 79-65, earning the Wild Card berth in the playoffs. He also managed in Louisville from 1998-99, leading the club to the IL West Championship in his first season at the helm.

* Marc Bombard (Charlotte) has managed three teams currently in the IL - Buffalo (1992), Indianapolis (1993-95), and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (1997-2004). During his most recent managerial stint, Bombard led Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to four consecutive post-season appearances (1999-2002), and was named the International League Manager of the Year in 2002 after leading the club to a franchise record 91 wins.

* John Stearns (Columbus) managed the Norfolk Tides in 2004, guiding the club to a 72-72 season. Last year Stearns managed Washington's Double-A team in Harrisburg, and this season he becomes the first skipper for the Clippers since the team affiliated with the Nationals.

Only three managers in 2007 will be new faces to the International League. Dave Brundage takes over as skipper of the Richmond Braves after managing in the Seattle farm system for the past nine seasons. In his second year in the Toronto organization, Doug Davis becomes manager of the Syracuse Chiefs. Last season Davis guided the Double-A New Hampshire club to a 68-73 record. In Durham, Charlie Montoyo becomes just the third manager in the Bulls' history as a Triple-A club. Montoyo guided Tampa Bay's Double-A affiliate in Montgomery to the Southern League Championship in 2006.

All told, the 14 International League skippers enter 2007 with just under 11,000 combined victories as managers in the Minor Leagues. Two, Miley and Parrish, have also managed in the Major Leagues. Detailed sketches on each manager follow.

Torey Lovullo (Buffalo): Buffalo Baseball Hall of Famer Torey Lovullo returns for his second season at the helm of the Buffalo Bisons. Lovullo, 41, led the Herd to a 73-68 record in 2006, earning a third-place finish in the IL North. Before his days as a manager, Lovullo was a player for the Bisons in 1995, and for their championship teams of 1997 & 1998. He was named MVP of the American Association playoffs in 1997, hitting .440 with 6 RBI. In the modern era of Buffalo baseball, he is in the top ten in games played, HR, RBI, H, R, and BB. Lovullo is the first person to play for the Bisons in Dunn Tire Park and then go on to manage the club. 2007 will mark Lovullo's sixth season as a manager, all within the Cleveland organization. In 2005 he was named the Eastern League Manager of the Year after guiding Double-A Akron to an 84-58 record and the Eastern League Championship. This followed a 2004 campaign in which Lovullo was named Carolina League Manager of the Year when his Class-A Kinston Indians stormed to the Carolina League Title with an 88-50 mark. In his first season as a manager in 2002, Lovullo's Class-A Columbus RedStixx won the South Atlantic League's second half championship in the Southern Division. With five consecutive winning seasons under his belt, Lovullo's career managerial record stands at 397-302 (.568) as he prepares for his second season at the Triple-A level.

Marc Bombard (Charlotte): Marc Bombard enters his 23rd season as a Minor League manager in 2007, taking over the helm in Charlotte. Bombard replaces Razor Shines, who has joined the Chicago White Sox field staff as third base coach. Bombard returns to the familiar role of manager as Minor League Baseball's active leader in career wins with 1,556. He spent the last two seasons as first base coach of the Philadelphia Phillies, following an eight-year stint as skipper of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre club. The 57-year-old Bombard led the Red Barons to a record of 574-506 (.531), including four straight postseason appearances from 1999-2002. His 2002 club posted a franchise record 91 wins, helping earn Bombard recognition as the IL Manager of the Year and SportsWeekly's Minor League Manager of Year. Before joining the Philadelphia organization in 1997, Bombard served as the third base/bench coach for the Cincinnati Reds in 1996, his first season in the Majors after 14 years as a Minor League manager. In 1995 he led Indianapolis to a Triple-A best 88-56 record, while being named the American Association Manager of the Year, Triple-A Manager of the Year by Baseball Weekly, and Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America. The Association Award was his third such honor in that League; in 1994 he led the Indians to an 86-57 mark and the League Title, and he also won the award after piloting Buffalo to a first place finish in 1992. Bombard's clubs in Billings (1983) and Cedar Rapids (1988) were successful in winning league titles in the Pioneer and Midwest Leagues respectively. In addition to the previously mentioned cities, Marc's career has included stops in Tampa ('84-87), El Paso ('89), Harrisburg ('90), and Carolina ('91). He is a two-time manager of the International League team in the Triple-A All-Star Game (2000 & 2003), and also served as a coach in the 1995 Triple-A All-Star Game for the National League team. Bombard began his coaching career in 1977 as the Reds' Minor League pitching instructor after spending 7 years in the organization as a pitcher. His overall managerial record stands at 1,556-1,350 (.535), with a Triple-A mark of 901-753 (.545).

John Stearns (Columbus): John Stearns begins his 34th season in professional baseball in 2007 as the new manager of the Clippers. Stearns managed Washington's Double-A affiliate in Harrisburg last year, guiding the Senators to a 67-75 record. This year he takes over as manager of the Clippers in Columbus' first season as the Nationals' Triple-A club. Prior to joining the Washington organization in 2006, Stearns worked in a variety of roles within baseball. Following his retirement from an 11-year playing career in 1984, Stearns was hired by the Milwaukee Brewers to serve as a scout and Minor League instructor. Since then he has been in constant demand, moving on from the Brewers to work for the Blue Jays, Yankees, Reds, Orioles, Mets, and Nationals as a scout, Minor League manager, Major League coach, and a roving catching and hitting instructor. He even served as a member of ESPN's baseball broadcast team in 1992. Stearns is no stranger to the International League, having managed Norfolk to a 72-72 season in 2004. The year prior he guided Double-A Binghamton to a 63-78 mark. The 2003 season was Stearns' first as a skipper since 1994 when he managed Cincinnati's Rookie League Club in Princeton to the Appalachian League Championship, earning Manager of the Year honors. That offseason he led Peoria of the Arizona Fall League to the AFL Championship. Before he was drafted in 1973 by the Philadelphia Phillies, Stearns was a two-sport athlete at the University of Colorado. The defensive back also had an opportunity to play in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills, but he opted for baseball. The 55-year-old Stearns begins his second season at the Triple-A level (but first with Columbus), entering the year with an all-time managerial record of 377-404 (.483). In addition to his lengthy Major League playing career, Stearns was a member of the International League's 1976 post-season All-Star Team. That year the catcher hit .310 with 45 RBI in 110 games for Tidewater.

Charlie Montoyo (Durham): 42-year-old Charlie Montoyo becomes the third manager in Durham's Triple-A history. Montoyo replaces John Tamargo, who was not retained by the Devil Rays organization following a 64-78 season. This will be Montoyo's 11th season as a manager, all of which have been within the Tampa Bay farm system. From 2003-06 Montoyo has managed Tampa Bay's Double-A affiliate - Orlando in 2003 and Montgomery from 2004-06. The Biscuits' most successful season under Montoyo's guidance came last year, as Montgomery rolled to a 77-62 record before defeating Jacksonville and Huntsville to win the Southern League Championship. His first managing experience came in 1997 with Princeton of the Appalachian League (Rookie), where his club posted a 39-30 record. His second year he guided Hudson Valley to a division title (50-26) in the short season New York-Penn League. In 1999-2000 he skippered the Charleston Riverdogs of the South Atlantic League (Class-A), guiding the team to its first winning season as a Devil Rays' affiliate in his second year (73-66). The following season was spent at Class-A Bakersfield of the California League, where his 64-76 club was the organization's only to make the playoffs. In 2002 Montoyo's Bakersfield team missed returning to the post-season by just 1.0 game. The native of Manati, Puerto Rico, had a 10-year professional career as a player. The former middle infielder played with the Brewers, Expos, and Phillies organizations, tasting the Major Leagues just once. In September of 1993 he spent 27 days with Montreal, highlighted by his game-winning double in his first Major League at-bat on September 7 against Colorado. So far in his 10-year managing career, Montoyo has a record of 626-634 (.497). 2007 will mark Montoyo's first season managing at the Triple-A level.

Trent Jewett (Indianapolis): Trent Jewett enters his tenth season as the manager of Pittsburgh's Triple-A affiliate, which will be his third in Indianapolis. The 43-year-old Jewett has guided the Indians to a 154-132 regular season mark in two years at the helm, the first back-to-back winning seasons for Indianapolis since 1999-2000. Last year the Tribe finished 76-66, co-champions of the IL West along with Toledo, who defeated Indianapolis in a one-game playoff. In his first season with the Indians, Jewett's club advanced to the Governors' Cup Finals before falling to the Mud Hens. Before taking the helm in Indianapolis, Jewett managed the Pirates' Triple-A club in Nashville (1998-2000, 2003-04) and Calgary (1996-97). The Dallas native has spent his entire professional career in the Pittsburgh organization, serving as a player, minor league manager, and major league coach. In 4½ seasons with Nashville, Trent led the club to a 320-305 record (he only skippered the club through early June in 2000 before becoming the Pirates' third base coach - a position he also held in 2001 & 2002). His best season came in 2003 as the Sounds finished with an 81-62 record, won the PCL East Division, and advanced to the Second Round of the playoffs, the club's first post-season berth since 1994. The former catcher made his Triple-A managerial debut in 1996, leading Calgary to a 74-68 record. He spent one more season with the team before the Pirates shifted their affiliation to Nashville. Jewett managed four other affiliates in the Pittsburgh chain prior to beginning his Triple-A career. His first three teams all finished with sub-.500 records: 1992, Welland (New York-Penn, 31-46); 1993, Augusta (South Atlantic, 59-82); and 1994, Salem (Carolina, 64-75), but he found the winning formula in 1995. That season, he piloted Carolina to the Southern League Title. The team won the loop's East Division in both halves of the regular season and collected 3-2 victories in both playoff series to capture Jewett's only Minor League crown. Trent spent four seasons as a player in Pittsburgh's system after being signed by the team in 1987. Entering his 14th season as a Minor League manager in 2007, Jewett's career record stands at 851-841 (.503) with a 608-583 (.510) mark at the Triple-A level.

Rick Sweet (Louisville): 54-year-old Rick Sweet will manage the Louisville Bats once again in 2007. In his first two years as skipper of Cincinnati's Triple-A affiliate, Sweet's club has posted a 141-146 record. Last year Louisville finished 75-68, just 1.5 games back in the IL West Division. This year marks Sweet's 19th season as a Minor League manager, and his tenth as a Triple-A skipper. He joined the Cincinnati organization in 2005 after one year in the Detroit system, where he led Double-A Erie to an 80-62 record and a berth in the Eastern League playoffs. A season earlier he completed a three-year run with Triple-A Portland (OR), San Diego's affiliate in the PCL. Rick's three Beaver clubs were a combined 212-219. The Longview, WA native spent each of the 1998-2000 campaigns in the Montreal Expos' organization. He managed Double-A Harrisburg to the Eastern League crown in 1998, then accepted a position as the organization's Minor League Field Coordinator. He held that job through July 20, 2000 when he took the helm of Ottawa. Rick led the Lynx to a 15-34 record down the stretch in his only IL experience prior to Louisville. In 1997, he managed Double-A Binghamton (New York Mets) to a 66-76 record. Sweet's longest stint with any organization spanned eight years (1989-96) with the Houston Astros. After skippering Astros' teams in Osceola, FL (1989), Columbus, GA (1990), and Jackson, MS (1991-92), Sweet made his Triple-A managerial debut with Tucson in 1993. He had a successful three-year run with the then-Toros, leading the club to the PCL Title in his inaugural season (83-60 record), earning the loop's Manager of the Year Award in 1994 (81-63), and leading his team to the circuit's best record in 1995 (87-56). He served as the Major League club's first base coach in 1996. Following a nine-year playing career as a catcher that included parts of three seasons in the Major Leagues, Sweet retired following the 1983 season. He spent five seasons in the Seattle system, serving as the Major League bullpen coach (1984), advance scout (1985-86), and as a Minor League manager (1987-88). Sweet's career managerial record stands at 1,190-1,201 (.498) with a 619-578 (.517) mark at the Triple-A level.

Gary Allenson (Norfolk): Former International League MVP Gary Allenson returns to the League as manager of the Norfolk Tides. Allenson begins his 13th season as a Minor League skipper in 2007, looking to lead his third IL club to the post-season. Allenson guided the 2003 Ottawa Lynx to a 79-65 record, earning the team a Wild Card berth in the playoffs. His only previous Triple-A managing experience came in 1998-99 with Louisville, where he led the then-RiverBats to a 140-148 record. His 1998 club won the IL West. After his two years in Louisville, Allenson spent three seasons as a coach for the Milwaukee Brewers before joining the Baltimore organization. His career as a manager also includes stints in Bluefield (2006; Rookie), Carolina (2005; Class-A), Jackson (1997; Double-A), Charleston (1996; Class-A), New Britain (1991; Double-A), Lynchburg (1989-90; Class-A), and Oneonta (1987-88; Class-A). His resume also includes three seasons (1992-94) as a bullpen coach and third base coach for the Boston Red Sox. As a player, Allenson spent seven seasons (1979-85) as a Major League catcher with Boston and Toronto, hitting .221 with 19 HR and 131 RBI. In 1978 he was named the International League's Most Valuable Player after hitting .299 with 20 HR and 76 RBI for the Pawtucket Red Sox, but that isn't Allenson's personal highlight from his days playing in the IL. He also met his future wife, Dorothy, while playing on the road in Norfolk, where she was an usherette at Met Park (former home of the Tidewater Tides). The couple has three sons and has been married for 26 years. The 51-year-old Allenson brings a career managerial record of 720-759 (.487) with him to the Tides, including a 219-213 (.507) mark at the Triple-A level.

John Russell (Ottawa): The 2006 International League Manager of the Year, John Russell, returns to the League with a new club in 2007, the Ottawa Lynx. After guiding Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to an IL-best 84-58 record last year, Russell will remain the manager of Philadelphia's Triple-A club this season. 2006 marked Russell's first year in the Philadelphia organization since leaving the Phillies as a player following the 1988 season. He had spent the previous three years as a coach and instructor for the Pirates. In 2002 he guided the Triple-A Edmonton Trappers to an 81-59 record and the Pacific Coast League Championship. That season he was named PCL Manager of the Year, as well as Baseball America's top managerial prospect. It was not the first time Russell was so honored; in 1998 he was recognized as the Eastern League's top managerial prospect (by Baseball America) after guiding New Britain to an 81-58 record and first place finish. The 1998 campaign fell in the middle of an eight-year span Russell spent as a manager in the Minnesota organization. During his Major League playing career, Russell hit for a .225 average with 34 HR and 129 RBI in 448 games. He played five seasons in the Phillies chain before moving on to Atlanta in 1989 and Texas from 1990-93. His most memorable moment as a player came on June 11, 1990 when he was behind the plate for Nolan Ryan's 6th no-hitter. John, 46, has piled up a record of 611-579 (.513) as a Minor League manager heading into the 2007 campaign.

Ron Johnson (Pawtucket): Ron Johnson returns for his third season at the helm of the Pawtucket Red Sox after guiding the team to an even .500 mark (144-144) from 2005-06. The highlight of Johnson's tenure in Pawtucket came May 21 of last season, when the 50-year-old skipper won the 1,000th game of his managerial career. Before taking over the PawSox, Johnson spent the previous three seasons with Boston's Double-A affiliate, leading Portland (ME) to a combined 141-143 record from 2003-04 after guiding Trenton (then Boston's Double-A club) to a 63-77 mark in 2002. Ron joined the Boston organization in 2000, guiding Class-A Sarasota to a 60-79 record. His second season with the club saw the team finish 54-83. Johnson spent eight seasons as a manager and six as a coach in the Kansas City organization before joining Boston. His previous experience at the Triple-A classification came in 1998 & 1999 with Omaha. In 1998, he led the O-Royals to a 79-64 record, then followed with an 81-60 mark - the best mark of his career - and the PCL Central Division title in 1999. Johnson led his first five clubs to .500 or better records and guided four to playoff berths. He made his managerial debut with Baseball City (Florida State League) in 1992, leading the club to a 71-60 record and advancing through two rounds of post-season play before falling in the final round of the post-season. Johnson moved on to Wilmington (DE) in 1993, posting a 74-65 record and advancing to the Carolina League Finals. He moved on to Double-A in 1994, leading Memphis to a 75-62 record before winning Texas League Manager of the Year honors in 1995 as Wichita's skipper (that year the team went 72-64). Johnson, a former All-American at Fresno State University, was selected by the Royals in the 24th Round of the 1978 June Draft. The first baseman spent parts of three seasons in the Major Leagues during an eight-year professional career, suiting up for the Royals (1982-83) and Expos (1984). He retired following the 1985 campaign. Johnson has a career managerial record of 1,048-1,047 (.500), including an impressive 304-268 (.531) mark at the Triple-A classification.

Dave Brundage (Richmond): After managing for nine seasons in the Seattle organization, Dave Brundage takes over as skipper of the Richmond Braves. Brundage replaces Brian Snitker, who will be the third base coach with the parent Atlanta Braves this season. Brundage got his first year of experience as a Triple-A manager in 2006, piloting the Pacific Coast League's Tacoma Rainiers to a 74-70 season. Prior to his year in Tacoma, Brundage spent the previous five seasons as manager of the Double-A San Antonio Missions. Brundage guided the Missions to back-to-back Texas League Championships in 2002-03, earning distinction as Baseball America's Minor League Manager of the Year in 2003 following an 88-51 season. San Antonio reached the playoffs in four of Brundage's five seasons as skipper. Brundage began his managerial career with Seattle's Class-A clubs in the California League, Riverside in 1995 and Lancaster in 1996. In 1997 he was promoted to manager of the Mariners' Double-A affiliate in Memphis, where he went 67-72. Brundage spent the next three seasons (1998-2000) as a coach for Tacoma before returning to the manager's role in San Antonio. Brundage was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 4th round of the 1986 draft following a stellar athletic career at Oregon State, where he earned All-American honors as an outfielder and was a quarterback and punter for the Beavers football team. In high school Brundage was All-State in baseball, football, and basketball, and also spent 11 years as a Gold Gloves boxer, during which time he defeated three future Olympic Gold Medalists. Brundage played ten seasons in the Minor Leagues, including six with the Triple-A Calgary Cannons. He is Calgary's all-time leader in games played (354) and walks drawn (208). He became a player-coach for the Cannons in 1993. His last appearance in a game actually came in 1998; Brundage was pressed into action while coaching for the Rainiers. He went 0-1 with a walk and a run scored in emergency duty. The 42-year-old Brundage becomes the 26th manager in Richmond's franchise history. His overall Minor League managerial record stands at 653-605 (.519).

Stan Cliburn (Rochester): Stan Cliburn, entering his eighth year in the Minnesota Twins organization, will return for his second season as manager of the Rochester Red Wings. Last season the Red Wings finished second in the IL North at 79-64, and advanced to the Governors' Cup Finals where they lost to Toledo in a full five-game series. The 50-year-old Cliburn has managed 18 seasons following a playing career as a catcher in which he spent 14 years in the Minor Leagues. Prior to taking over in Rochester last year, Cliburn spent the previous five years managing the Twins' Double-A affiliate in New Britain, where in 2005 he led the Rock Cats to a 70-72 record. Cliburn, who left as New Britain's all-time winningest manager, enjoyed his best season there in 2001. In his first year with the Rock Cats, Cliburn led the club to a franchise best 87-55 regular season record before bringing home the Eastern League Championship. Stan earned EL Manager of the Year honors for his efforts in that memorable campaign. Cliburn began his managerial career with the Angels short-season Class-A affiliate in Watertown in the New York-Penn League in 1988, guiding the club to a 35-39 record. He moved on to Class-A Augusta in 1989 (74-64) and Salem in 1990-91 (124-157). After one year (as hitting coach for Gastonia), he returned to manage Double-A Tulsa in the Texas League in 1993-94, going 129-142 (.476). Following the 1994 campaign, Stan moved to independent baseball where he managed Alexandria of the Texas/Louisiana League for five seasons. He joined the Twins' organization in 2000 as the skipper at Quad Cities in the Midwest League, finishing with a mark of 64-75 before moving on to New Britain in 2001 for the first of five seasons with the Rock Cats. In his 13 years in the affiliated Minor Leagues, Cliburn has produced a record of 872-878 (.498). Stan's identical twin brother, Stu Cliburn, returns to Rochester's staff as the pitching coach in 2007, marking the seventh straight season the brothers have been together on the same field staff. The Cliburns are one of only nine sets of identical twins to play in the Major Leagues.

Dave Miley (Scranton/Wilkes-Barre): Dave Miley takes over as manager of his fourth IL team, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Miley, who managed New York's Triple-A affiliate Columbus to a 69-73 record in 2006, begins his second year as a member of the Yankees' organization. Prior to joining the Yankees, Miley spent 26 years in the Cincinnati organization, highlighted by his stint as manager of the Reds. From July 2003 to June 2005, Miley's Reds posted a 125-164 record. In 2006 Miley returned to the Minor Leagues, where he now begins his 16th season as a skipper. Much of his experience came as manager of Cincinnati's Triple-A team. In four years with Louisville (2000-03), Miley went 296-245 (.547) and established franchise records for wins and games managed. Louisville's 5-0 victory at Ottawa on May 19, 2002 was his 1,000th Minor League victory, and that July he led the IL squad in the Triple-A All-Star Game. The previous season he guided the Louisville club to its first Governors' Cup Championship while setting franchise single-season records for victories (84) and winning percentage (.583). Prior to his stint in Louisville, Miley was at the helm for four seasons in Indianapolis (1996-99) when the Indians were the Reds' top affiliate. Miley led the Tribe to four straight winning seasons, the first two in the American Association before Indianapolis joined the IL in 1998. Miley was named the American Association Manager of the Year in 1997, and in 1998 was recognized as the International League's best managerial prospect. Perhaps Miley's best season as a manager came in 1995 at the helm of the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts. The Lookouts went 83-60, and came within one game of winning the Southern League Championship. Miley was honored as both the Southern League and Double-A Manager of the Year. Dave spent parts of 1993-94 as a Major League coach and Minor League coordinator. His managing debut had come in 1988 with Class-A Greensboro of the South Atlantic League, the first of five straight years he guided his club into the post-season, including Cedar Rapids (Midwest League, 1989-90), Charleston (South Atlantic League, 1991), and Chattanooga (Southern League, 1992). Miley was a catcher for seven seasons (1980-86) in the Reds organization, hitting .238 with 16 HR and 172 RBI, all in the Minor Leagues. His Minor League managing career has been far more successful. The 44-year-old enters the 2007 season with a career mark of 1,184-914 (.564), including a record of 679-579 (.540) at the Triple-A level.

Doug Davis (Syracuse): 44-year-old Doug Davis becomes the 36th manager in Syracuse franchise history this season, replacing Mike Basso, who has been promoted by the Blue Jays to the position of Coordinator of Instruction. Last year, Davis' first as a manager since 2000, was spent guiding the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats to a 68-73 record. He spent the 2002-05 seasons in the Florida organization, first as a Minor League Field Coordinator, then as a Bench Coach. He made that transition in May 2003, earning the promotion when Jack McKeon was hired as manager. The Marlins went on to win the 2003 World Series. Davis spent 2001 as a Minor League Field Coordinator for Montreal, following five years as a manager in the New York Mets' farm system. His managerial debut had come in 1996 with Short-Season Pittsfield. That year his club posted an impressive 46-29 record. The following year Pittsfield won the New York-Penn League Championship. In 1998 with New York's Class-A affiliate in Columbus (GA), Davis led his squad to an amazing 90-51 season and the South Atlantic League Championship. He was recognized that year as Minor League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News. Davis spent the 1999-2000 seasons managing at Double-A Binghamton, his last managerial experience prior to 2006. Before his coaching career started in 1995 in the Angels organization, Davis played eleven years of professional baseball as a catcher in the California, Kansas City, and Texas systems. He appeared in six Major League games for the Angels in 1988 and one for the Rangers in 1992. Davis makes his Triple-A managerial debut in 2007, bringing with him a record of 382-331 (.536) in six seasons overall as a Minor League skipper.

Larry Parrish (Toledo): Larry Parrish returns for his fifth straight year at the helm of the Toledo Mud Hens, the two-time defending Governors' Cup Champions. The 2005 Mud Hens won Toledo's first Governors' Cup Championship since 1967 after finishing 89-55, the best regular season mark in Triple-A Baseball. Parrish's Mud Hens followed it up by winning the 2006 Governors' Cup Playoffs by defeating Indianapolis, Charlotte, and Rochester in the postseason. Parrish, who was honored as the 2005 Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year, led Toledo to back-to-back 65-78 marks the previous two seasons. Prior to the 2003-04 campaigns, Parrish's only other experience at the Triple-A level came in 1994 when, after opening the season as Detroit's Minor League hitting instructor, he took over the reigns of the Mud Hens from veteran Joe Sparks on May 2 and led the team to a 56-62 record down the stretch. Parrish made his managerial debut in 1992, leading the Niagara Falls club (New York-Penn.) to a 39-39 record. He returned to the club in 1993 and won his first League Championship as the Rapids went 47-31 and swept a pair of playoff series. After spending the entire 1995 season as an instructor, the Winter Haven, FL native again experienced an in-season change in 1996. He joined Jacksonville on June 21 and replaced Bill Plummer as manager, piloting the club to a 36-31 record, the second half Divisional Title, and the Southern League Championship. From 1997 through September 1, 1998, Larry served as the bench coach for the parent Tigers. He replaced Buddy Bell as Detroit's manager for the final month of the 1998 season (13-12 to close the season) and all of the 1999 campaign. In '99, his only full Major League managerial season, he led the Tigers to a 69-92 record. He then served as a Major League scout for Detroit during the 2000-2002 seasons. Before becoming a manager, Parrish enjoyed a 19-year professional playing career, spending parts of 15 seasons in the Major Leagues, then ending his career with two campaigns in Japan. In the Majors, he played for Montreal (1974-81), Texas (1982-88), and Boston (1988), earning two Major League All-Star Game berths ('79 & '87) and finishing his career with a .263 average, 256 HR, and 992 RBI. Entering his eighth Minor League managerial season, the 53-year-old Parrish has a career record of 473-440 (.518) with a 351-339 (.509) mark at the helm of the Mud Hens.

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