GaryMrMets
10-11-2002, 07:17 PM
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/sd/news/sd_news.jsp?ymd=20021010&content_id=154842&vkey=news_sd&fext=.jsp
10/10/2002 6:03 pm ET
MLBeat: Lopes on deck?
Former Padres coach could return
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres, who lost their first-base coach Alan Trammell to the Detroit Tigers, may be getting back their former first-base coach.
Davey Lopes, who coached first base for the Padres and manager Bruce Bochy from 1995-99, is a leading candidate to fill one of the Padres three coaching vacancies.
"I would say Davey Lopes is somebody who is definitely in the mix," said Padres GM Kevin Towers. "We would really like to bring Davey back."
Asked if Lopes would be a bench coach or a base coach, Towers said, "I'm not exactly sure. We'll leave that up to Boch [Padres manager Bruce Bochy]. But that's one guy that both of us thought a lot of when he was here. He's somebody that we always felt that if we had an opening again we'd like to have back. We're hoping maybe something will happen there with him."
Lopes, a San Diego resident, left the Padres to manage the Milwaukee Brewers after the 1999 season and his replacement was Trammell. Lopes was fired by the Brewers early in the 2002 season.
With the Padres' searching for three coaches, there is a possibility of a promotion from within the organization. Among possible candidates are minor league batting instructor Dave Magadan, Double-A Mobile manager Craig Colbert, infield instructor Tony Franklin -- who took over for the ailing Rob Picciolo as Padres bench coach for two months this season -- Single-A Eugene (Ore.) manager Jeff Gardner and Triple-A manager Rick Sweet.
Former Rockies and Cubs manager Don Baylor, Florida Marlins first-base coach Perry Hill, and former A's, Red Sox and Angels star Carney Lansford also remain in the mix.
The Padres are also in the process of formalizing a contract for former Padres and Detroit Tigers GM Randy Smith, who will be a consultant to the team looking at Padres players in fall and instructional league as well as the minor leagues.
Padres endorse Trammell: Towers, Bochy and third baseman Phil Nevin all were elated with the news that Trammell will be managing the Detroit Tigers.
"I'm extremely excited for him," Towers said. "I'm sure this is a dream job for him considering that Detroit is the organization that brought him into professional baseball. I think the Tigers got themselves a real good one. The guy has been around two of the better managers ever in the game, Sparky Anderson, who he played under, and Boch, with whom he worked with the last three years."
"I'm very happy for Alan," Bochy said. "Alan did a great job for us on the field. Off the field we spent a lot of time talking baseball. I'm going to miss him.
"I certainly think he's ready to take on this challenge and take this managing role. He has tremendous passion for the game and tremendous work ethic and communicates very well. I don't think Detroit could have made a better choice."
Bochy has managed the Padres for eight seasons and has seen three of his coaches graduate to Major League managerial jobs. Trammell follows Lopes and current Red Sox manager Grady Little, a Padres bullpen coach in 1996.
"I feel good about that," Bochy said. "Any time you have somebody who works for you go on to a job like that, you're going to feel good. Hopefully, it means they all learned something from me. I don't know if it's something good or something bad -- what not to do -- but they must have learned something."
"Tram's going to be a great manager," said Nevin, Trammell's teammate in Detroit from 1995-96. "It's a tough situation. They've got some building to do, but I'm sure he's the right guy for that situation. Patience is something he always has been really good with.
"I know I'm going to take away a lot from Tram. He's taught me a lot. I'll still probably call him from time to time. He's going to be missed around here."
Perez pitches opener: Oliver Perez will pitch the opener in the Mexican Winter League on Friday in his home town of Culiacan, Mexico. He'll be pitching for Tomateros de Culiacan against Venados de Mazathan. This will likely be the only pitching Perez will do in the offseason as he and the Padres agreed that the 21-year-old left-hander could use some time off.
Sandy Burgin covers the Padres for MLB.com and can be reached at Sandyburgin@hotmail.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
10/10/2002 6:03 pm ET
MLBeat: Lopes on deck?
Former Padres coach could return
SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Padres, who lost their first-base coach Alan Trammell to the Detroit Tigers, may be getting back their former first-base coach.
Davey Lopes, who coached first base for the Padres and manager Bruce Bochy from 1995-99, is a leading candidate to fill one of the Padres three coaching vacancies.
"I would say Davey Lopes is somebody who is definitely in the mix," said Padres GM Kevin Towers. "We would really like to bring Davey back."
Asked if Lopes would be a bench coach or a base coach, Towers said, "I'm not exactly sure. We'll leave that up to Boch [Padres manager Bruce Bochy]. But that's one guy that both of us thought a lot of when he was here. He's somebody that we always felt that if we had an opening again we'd like to have back. We're hoping maybe something will happen there with him."
Lopes, a San Diego resident, left the Padres to manage the Milwaukee Brewers after the 1999 season and his replacement was Trammell. Lopes was fired by the Brewers early in the 2002 season.
With the Padres' searching for three coaches, there is a possibility of a promotion from within the organization. Among possible candidates are minor league batting instructor Dave Magadan, Double-A Mobile manager Craig Colbert, infield instructor Tony Franklin -- who took over for the ailing Rob Picciolo as Padres bench coach for two months this season -- Single-A Eugene (Ore.) manager Jeff Gardner and Triple-A manager Rick Sweet.
Former Rockies and Cubs manager Don Baylor, Florida Marlins first-base coach Perry Hill, and former A's, Red Sox and Angels star Carney Lansford also remain in the mix.
The Padres are also in the process of formalizing a contract for former Padres and Detroit Tigers GM Randy Smith, who will be a consultant to the team looking at Padres players in fall and instructional league as well as the minor leagues.
Padres endorse Trammell: Towers, Bochy and third baseman Phil Nevin all were elated with the news that Trammell will be managing the Detroit Tigers.
"I'm extremely excited for him," Towers said. "I'm sure this is a dream job for him considering that Detroit is the organization that brought him into professional baseball. I think the Tigers got themselves a real good one. The guy has been around two of the better managers ever in the game, Sparky Anderson, who he played under, and Boch, with whom he worked with the last three years."
"I'm very happy for Alan," Bochy said. "Alan did a great job for us on the field. Off the field we spent a lot of time talking baseball. I'm going to miss him.
"I certainly think he's ready to take on this challenge and take this managing role. He has tremendous passion for the game and tremendous work ethic and communicates very well. I don't think Detroit could have made a better choice."
Bochy has managed the Padres for eight seasons and has seen three of his coaches graduate to Major League managerial jobs. Trammell follows Lopes and current Red Sox manager Grady Little, a Padres bullpen coach in 1996.
"I feel good about that," Bochy said. "Any time you have somebody who works for you go on to a job like that, you're going to feel good. Hopefully, it means they all learned something from me. I don't know if it's something good or something bad -- what not to do -- but they must have learned something."
"Tram's going to be a great manager," said Nevin, Trammell's teammate in Detroit from 1995-96. "It's a tough situation. They've got some building to do, but I'm sure he's the right guy for that situation. Patience is something he always has been really good with.
"I know I'm going to take away a lot from Tram. He's taught me a lot. I'll still probably call him from time to time. He's going to be missed around here."
Perez pitches opener: Oliver Perez will pitch the opener in the Mexican Winter League on Friday in his home town of Culiacan, Mexico. He'll be pitching for Tomateros de Culiacan against Venados de Mazathan. This will likely be the only pitching Perez will do in the offseason as he and the Padres agreed that the 21-year-old left-hander could use some time off.
Sandy Burgin covers the Padres for MLB.com and can be reached at Sandyburgin@hotmail.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.