GaryMrMets
03-08-2002, 12:37 AM
http://montreal.expos.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/mon/news/mon_news_story.jsp?article_id=mon_20020306_beattie _news&team_id=mon
News
3/6/2002 9:21 pm ET
Beattie returns to front office
Former GM will serve as special assistant to Omar Minaya
By J.S. Trzcienski
MLB.com
JUPITER, Fla. -- After four months and one week of retirement, former General Manager Jim Beattie is returning to the Expos as a special assistant to GM Omar Minaya.
"We are very happy to welcome Jim back to the Expos' family," said Minaya. "He is a highly-respected baseball individual and obviously quite familiar with the organization. His wealth of baseball knowledge will provide great insight for the upcoming season."
That wealth of knowledge, it appears, provided the groundwork for Beattie's return to the team he oversaw from Oct. 27, 1995 until Oct. 31, 2001.
Beattie turned down an extension last fall from then owner Jeffrey Loria, citing a desire to spend more time with his family in Hanover, N.H. It was widely rumored then that Beattie planned to pursue the job of athletic director at Dartmouth, his alma mater, yet nothing came of it.
The former Yankees' and Mariners' pitcher said he hadn't been seeking employment in recent months.
"I've been in New Hampshire all winter," he said.
The wheels were set in motion for Beattie's return during a recent conversation he had with Donnie Reynolds, the Expos' former Director of Player Development he hired, and who is now serving in an advisory capacity at the Montreal camp.
"I was talking with Donnie and I mentioned that if Omar was interested, I'd be happy to share with him some of the insights I had into the team," Beattie said. "I've known Omar for a long time, and he's a good baseball man who has a tremendous challenge ahead of him."
Reynolds passed along the message, and Minaya and Beattie were soon talking. A short time later, Beattie was offered a role as Special Assistant to the GM, and jumped at the chance. His main duties will involve working with the club's scouting department out of his Hanover home, traveling to ballparks within driving distance and scanning talent in such places as SkyDome in Toronto, Fenway Park in Boston, and Shea and Yankee Stadium in New York.
"It'll be a new experience for me," Beattie said. "It will be a challenge to learn, but I just wanted to help these guys."
The question, of course, that begs to be asked is why Beattie has decided to come back, particularly to the Expos. Are there past wrongs he is looking to right?
"No, not at all," Beattie said. "It's just that this is a very easy thing to work in -- I can travel from home and work a manageable schedule. I want people to know that I'm still interested in working in and around baseball, and this gives me the chance to do that."
Beattie will fly to Florida March 14 and stop by Roger Dean Stadium to get re-acquainted with old friends ("You think they want to see me?" he said, with a laugh) before driving to Fort Myers to do some scouting.
As for his family, Beattie laughed off the suggestion that his wife, Martha, may have given him the fifth degree for jumping back into the business.
"They're very supportive of me," he said. "We've gone skiing in Lake Tahoe, and I had the chance to coach my two girls in basketball. It's been a lot of fun these past few months, but they understand it's time for me to go back to work."
MRI FOR VIDRO:
Expos' fans will likely hold their collective breath until Thursday, when the results of a Wednesday afternoon MRI on Jose Vidro's right shoulder will be revealed. Vidro missed his fourth straight game due to shoulder discomfort resulting from an awkward throw Friday, and, after repeated assurances from management the tweak was no cause for concern, the team decided to determine the extent of the strain.
"If it's nothing, he'll be back in a couple more days," said manager Frank Robinson.
UPDATES ON THE BIG MEN:
First baseman Lee Stevens suffered a slight sprain of his left hamstring while running out an infield single in the sixth inning. Stevens said the twinge wasn't serious, but rather "like a knot" that had been developing in recent days. The poor weather, he suggested, may have played a part. "It's been cool and windy -- rainy," he said. "It's hard to say. I've been running a lot, been on base a lot -- it's just a little bit fatigued."
With a night game Thursday, Stevens will rest during the day and see how he feels, though Robinson indicated he would likely give him a few days off, regardless. Jose Canseco, meanwhile, who's been out since March 2 with a strain of his right heel, took batting practice again Wednesday and will be evaluated as to whether he can move around in the field Thursday or Friday. A start would appear unlikely for Canseco before the weekend.
RETURN OF THE BIG CAT?:
Expos' GM Omar Minaya has confirmed that Montreal would like to bring back Andres Galarraga, one of the most popular and personable players in team history.
"We've reached out to him to let him know we're interested," said Minaya.
Galarraga, who began his career with the Expos in 1985, would offer a right-handed compliment to Lee Stevens at first, and a respected clubhouse presence. The Big Cat was beloved by fans and teammates and helped San Francisco last season after arriving in a trade with the Texas Rangers. The two sides will continue to discuss terms.
Meanwhile, Minaya said talks continue with veteran pitcher David Cone. "He hasn't said that he is interested in coming to Montreal, but he hasn't said that he isn't interested, either," the GM said.
THREE DOWN, ONE TO GO:
The Expos signed three more players to one-year contracts Wednesday -- Tony Armas Jr., Britt Reames and infielder Geoff Blum. Montreal now has 38 of the 39 players on its 40-man roster signed for 2002, with outfielder Peter Bergeron yet to ink a deal.
NEXT UP:
The Expos travel to Port St. Lucie Thursday for a 7:05 p.m. tilt with the new-look New York Mets. Tomo Ohka, Dan Smith, Julio Manon, and Darwin Cubillan are slated to take to the mound for Montreal against New York's Al Leiter, Dicky Gonzalez, and Armando Benitez.
J.S. Trzcienski covers the Expos for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
News
3/6/2002 9:21 pm ET
Beattie returns to front office
Former GM will serve as special assistant to Omar Minaya
By J.S. Trzcienski
MLB.com
JUPITER, Fla. -- After four months and one week of retirement, former General Manager Jim Beattie is returning to the Expos as a special assistant to GM Omar Minaya.
"We are very happy to welcome Jim back to the Expos' family," said Minaya. "He is a highly-respected baseball individual and obviously quite familiar with the organization. His wealth of baseball knowledge will provide great insight for the upcoming season."
That wealth of knowledge, it appears, provided the groundwork for Beattie's return to the team he oversaw from Oct. 27, 1995 until Oct. 31, 2001.
Beattie turned down an extension last fall from then owner Jeffrey Loria, citing a desire to spend more time with his family in Hanover, N.H. It was widely rumored then that Beattie planned to pursue the job of athletic director at Dartmouth, his alma mater, yet nothing came of it.
The former Yankees' and Mariners' pitcher said he hadn't been seeking employment in recent months.
"I've been in New Hampshire all winter," he said.
The wheels were set in motion for Beattie's return during a recent conversation he had with Donnie Reynolds, the Expos' former Director of Player Development he hired, and who is now serving in an advisory capacity at the Montreal camp.
"I was talking with Donnie and I mentioned that if Omar was interested, I'd be happy to share with him some of the insights I had into the team," Beattie said. "I've known Omar for a long time, and he's a good baseball man who has a tremendous challenge ahead of him."
Reynolds passed along the message, and Minaya and Beattie were soon talking. A short time later, Beattie was offered a role as Special Assistant to the GM, and jumped at the chance. His main duties will involve working with the club's scouting department out of his Hanover home, traveling to ballparks within driving distance and scanning talent in such places as SkyDome in Toronto, Fenway Park in Boston, and Shea and Yankee Stadium in New York.
"It'll be a new experience for me," Beattie said. "It will be a challenge to learn, but I just wanted to help these guys."
The question, of course, that begs to be asked is why Beattie has decided to come back, particularly to the Expos. Are there past wrongs he is looking to right?
"No, not at all," Beattie said. "It's just that this is a very easy thing to work in -- I can travel from home and work a manageable schedule. I want people to know that I'm still interested in working in and around baseball, and this gives me the chance to do that."
Beattie will fly to Florida March 14 and stop by Roger Dean Stadium to get re-acquainted with old friends ("You think they want to see me?" he said, with a laugh) before driving to Fort Myers to do some scouting.
As for his family, Beattie laughed off the suggestion that his wife, Martha, may have given him the fifth degree for jumping back into the business.
"They're very supportive of me," he said. "We've gone skiing in Lake Tahoe, and I had the chance to coach my two girls in basketball. It's been a lot of fun these past few months, but they understand it's time for me to go back to work."
MRI FOR VIDRO:
Expos' fans will likely hold their collective breath until Thursday, when the results of a Wednesday afternoon MRI on Jose Vidro's right shoulder will be revealed. Vidro missed his fourth straight game due to shoulder discomfort resulting from an awkward throw Friday, and, after repeated assurances from management the tweak was no cause for concern, the team decided to determine the extent of the strain.
"If it's nothing, he'll be back in a couple more days," said manager Frank Robinson.
UPDATES ON THE BIG MEN:
First baseman Lee Stevens suffered a slight sprain of his left hamstring while running out an infield single in the sixth inning. Stevens said the twinge wasn't serious, but rather "like a knot" that had been developing in recent days. The poor weather, he suggested, may have played a part. "It's been cool and windy -- rainy," he said. "It's hard to say. I've been running a lot, been on base a lot -- it's just a little bit fatigued."
With a night game Thursday, Stevens will rest during the day and see how he feels, though Robinson indicated he would likely give him a few days off, regardless. Jose Canseco, meanwhile, who's been out since March 2 with a strain of his right heel, took batting practice again Wednesday and will be evaluated as to whether he can move around in the field Thursday or Friday. A start would appear unlikely for Canseco before the weekend.
RETURN OF THE BIG CAT?:
Expos' GM Omar Minaya has confirmed that Montreal would like to bring back Andres Galarraga, one of the most popular and personable players in team history.
"We've reached out to him to let him know we're interested," said Minaya.
Galarraga, who began his career with the Expos in 1985, would offer a right-handed compliment to Lee Stevens at first, and a respected clubhouse presence. The Big Cat was beloved by fans and teammates and helped San Francisco last season after arriving in a trade with the Texas Rangers. The two sides will continue to discuss terms.
Meanwhile, Minaya said talks continue with veteran pitcher David Cone. "He hasn't said that he is interested in coming to Montreal, but he hasn't said that he isn't interested, either," the GM said.
THREE DOWN, ONE TO GO:
The Expos signed three more players to one-year contracts Wednesday -- Tony Armas Jr., Britt Reames and infielder Geoff Blum. Montreal now has 38 of the 39 players on its 40-man roster signed for 2002, with outfielder Peter Bergeron yet to ink a deal.
NEXT UP:
The Expos travel to Port St. Lucie Thursday for a 7:05 p.m. tilt with the new-look New York Mets. Tomo Ohka, Dan Smith, Julio Manon, and Darwin Cubillan are slated to take to the mound for Montreal against New York's Al Leiter, Dicky Gonzalez, and Armando Benitez.
J.S. Trzcienski covers the Expos for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.