Phillies re-sign Scott Eyre, three assistant coaches
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Phillies re-sign Scott Eyre, three assistant coaches
Todd Zolecki
Scott Eyre has signed a one-year contract extension with the Phillies, Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. announced today. The contract is worth $2 million and includes performance bonuses.
Eyre, 36, was acquired by the Phillies on August 7 from the Chicago Cubs. In 19 appearances with the club, he went 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 14.1 innings (11.3 SO/9.0 IP). For the season with both teams, Eyre posted a 5-0 record with a 4.21 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 25.2 innings (11.2 SO/9.0 IP). He held left-handed hitters to a .220 average with one home run allowed in 50 at-bats.
In 575 career appearances, Eyre is 26-29 with a 4.36 ERA for the Chicago White Sox (1997-2000), Toronto (2001-02), San Francisco (2002-05), Chicago Cubs (2006-08) and Phillies (2008).And this:
Pitching coach Rich Dubee, first base coach Davey Lopes and hitting coach Milt Thompson all agreed to terms on contracts for the 2009 season, Phillies Senior Vice President & General Manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. and Manager Charlie Manuel jointly announced today.
Dubee, 51, returns for his fifth season as pitching coach, all under Manuel. Under his guidance, the Phillies’ pitching staff finished the 2008 season with a 3.88 ERA, the fourth-best among all National League teams, and 11 shutouts, which was tied for fourth-most. The starting rotation had 88 quality starts, second-most in the NL behind only Arizona (95), and compiled 966.2 innings pitched which was the fourth-highest total in the league.
For the second straight season, the 63-year-old Lopes, who also serves as the club’s outfield and baserunning instructor, coached the Phillies’ baserunners to a major league-best 84.5% stolen base success rate (136 steals in 161 chances). The team’s stolen base total was third-best in the NL and fourth-best in the majors. Additionally, Phillies outfielders led the NL and tied for the major league lead with 36 outfield assists. The 2009 season will be Lopes’ third with the Phillies.
Thompson, 49, returns for his sixth season on the Phillies’ coaching staff and fifth as the hitting coach. During 2008, Thompson oversaw an offense that led the NL in home runs (214), finished second in RBI (762) and slugging percentage (.438) and tied for second with 799 runs scored. Only the Chicago Cubs scored more runs (855). In his four seasons as the team’s hitting coach, the Phillies have scored more runs (3,363) than any other NL team.
Bench coach Jimy Williams, 65, was invited to return for the 2009 season, but opted not to. As announced last week by Amaro and Manuel, the Phillies opted not to renew the contract of third base coach Steve Smith.
"Todd is busy at the moment"??? What the heck is *he* doing? It's the off-season! LOL! What about Mick Billmeyer? And hopefully, Ramon Henderson. Good luck to Jimy, in whatever he decides to pursue.— Norma- norma, it was reported that ramon henderson was not expected back— robm0202
- hopefully Todd is busy in a horizontal posistion after 6 months on the road......good for you Todd— jeff gross
- 1— jeff gross
Yeah, Todd does a nice job and has deserved a rest. Thanks for a good season of reporting!- I hope he's not alone in that horizontal position. Everybody needs a little lovin'......— James TL
- Did anybody else hear JC on 610 this morning? He may be one of the nicest guys in the world. He really knows what the World Series meant to this city.— Beef69
- This is pretty cool. Phillies will host the Atlanta Braves Sunday night April 5th 2009 for the season opener. Game will be on ESPN 2, most teams do not open there season to the next day.— Beef69
- It will be on ESPN2? Usually the season opener (as in the MLB season opener) is broadcast on ESPN, not the Deuce. As for the coaches, I am a wee bit disappointed they are bring back Milt. While we had a good offense it was so darn inconsistent at times! Sad that Jimy is not coming back (probably looking for a manager job), but glad that Lopes is. I think Lopes has added alot to this team by making the Phils more aggressive on the base paths.— Deb in Dixie
- BTW, I see that Trevor Hoffman is not going back to the Padres...I wonder if the Mets will reach out to him. That wouldn't be great for the Phils....— Deb in Dixie
- Did try to post the article but it did not show up. You can check out Foxsports.com. They are the ones reporting it.— Beef69
- Would Trevor want to be our 8th inning guy and insurance in case Lidge gets hurt? Makes sense to me with a chance for him to win a WS to boot....Madsen/Romero 7th, Durbin/Eyre 6th....that would be an unstoppable pen....just dreaming.— Mark1npt
- I can't see that working. Hoffman is the career leader in saves. The man is a closer pure and simple. I don't seem him wanting to be a setup man or being successful being one. Plus, closers have fragile mental states. To bring in someone like Hoffman, even if just to be a setup man, could easily wig out Lidge. I think the bigger chance is the Mets go after him since they desparately need a closer.— Deb in Dixie
- Mark, that is doubtful. Rumor has it the main reason he is still hanging on is that he wants to get to 600 career saves. Plus, Hoffman has been less and less effective recently. He is still getting the job done most times out, but is clearly trending downward. I don't think I would want him. I wouldn't mind the Mets picking him up, because I don't fear him at all.— RollinsWasRight
- I read in the paper today, that "the Phils are uncertain what they will do with the bullpen coach position." Ramon missed most of the season due to *personal issues*. I was talking to Mick Billmeyer during Baseball 101, and he said Ramon would be back next season. If he isn't coming back, I wonder who's decision it was.— Norma
- I'm not sure how I feel about Opening *Day* being switched to Sunday night. Plus....It's not on until 8:00. It's tradition for Opening Day to be Monday. MLB want it to be their "official season opener". I guess there is some draw-backs to being WS champs. LOL! Oh well, I'll be there anyway.— Norma
- Baseball 101? What's that?— Deb in Dixie
- While I have nothing against Ramon, if he was gone for most of the season, and the Pen did so well, perhaps we don't need a bull Pen coach and can pass this savings onto a player who we do need?? Give it to Moyer, for example, as he is the assistant pitching coach in any case— jeff gross
- Poor Todd, too tired to do his job! What a shame get some rest 'sport', hydrate, and take some vitamin 'C' and I'm sure you'll be vigorously back at this extremely straining gig tomorrow. NEWSFLASH- I heard thru sources that Todd is day to day with a mild bout of laziness.— Truth
- We don't need Hoffman to be our 8th inning guy. We've got Madson. Wonder what the Mets decision will be with Wags?— Norma
- jeff....Roly deArmas filled in for Ramon. Phils brought him up from Clearwater or Reading. I forget which. He did a darn good job, but the paper didn't mention the team offering him the position.— Norma
- Deb.....Baseball 101 is the women's clinic that the Phils do a couple of times a year. Starts with breakfast, then an all day affair with instruction from the coaches and guest speakers during lunch. Usually someone from the media. And ALWAYS one of the players. You get to hit in the batting cages with Milt Thompson, throw pitches in the bullpen with Dubee and Billmeyer, play catch on the field. After lunch there are Q&A's with people like Ruben. Plus you get to stay for a barbeque dinner and the game that night. Usually against the Mets. Very long day, but VERY fun! Why don't you come up in '09 and go with me?!— Norma
- Norma, normally I would agree with you about the Phillies being in the Sunday night opener. There is just something nice about a little tradition of taking off work the first Monday in April (or occassionally the last Monday in March), and watching Opening Day baseball, in my case, all day long. But, as the Phillies are defending World Series Champs, and Sunday April 5th happens to be my birthday, I won't complain this time; I'll just shut up and go to the game! :) (Hopefully they fare a little better than they have on recent Opening Days, since they are in the national spotlight this time)— RollinsWasRight
- Norma,I realize that deArmas filled in and I think he should be given teh job. What I meant was that by not bringing back Ramon they will save that cash. He obviously wasn't missed very much (proffessionally)— jeff gross
- RWR...I was thinking the same thing. Hopefully, the World Champs will WIN on Opening Day! How embarassing if they don't. LOL! And at least I'll have an extra half day off, before I go to Opening Night. Maybe we can meet up. I'll buy you a birthday beer!— Norma
