Ryne Sandberg among three coaches added to Phillies staff
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Ryne Sandberg among three coaches added to Phillies staff
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
Ryne Sandberg, the Hall of Famer viewed as a potential successor to Charlie Manuel, was added to the Phillies coaching staff Thursday. Sandberg wil serve as Manuel's third-base coach and infield instructor in 2013.
He was among a plethora of changes announced. Only pitching coach Rich Dubee will remain in his 2012 role. The team will not have a bench coach next season.
Two others from the minor-league system were promoted. Steve Henderson, the organization's roving hitting instructor, was named hitting coach. Rod Nichols, who served as pitching coach at triple-A Lehigh Valley, was named bullpen coach.
Mick Billmeyer was "promoted" to catching coach, the Phillies said. Billmeyer is the longest-tenured member of Manuel's staff. He served as bullpen coach for the last four seasons and was major-league catching instructor for five seaons before that.
Juan Samuel was offered the first-base coach job and has yet to accept.
The Phillies did not retain three coaches -- Sam Perlozzo, Pete Mackanin and Greg Gross -- immediately following the conclusion of Wednesday's last game.
Finding a spot for Sandberg was paramount. Manuel has one season remaining on his contract and could retire after 2013. The franchise's decision-makers have an affinity for Sandberg, who managed at triple-A Lehigh Valley for the last two seasons.
Sandberg, of course, could still interview for managerial openings this winter. He interviewed with St. Louis last winter for its job.
Henderson, 61, was formerly hitting coach for Tampa Bay from 2006-09. He spent the last two seasons as the Phillies minor-league hitting coordinator.
Nichols, 47, mentored many of the young pitchers who have come through the Phillies system. With another young bullpen expected, Nichols could be instrumental in overseeing its development.
It's uncommon for teams to have a staff without a bench coach; Detroit was the only team in 2012 that did not retain one. But Manuel has long trusted Dubee as his righthand man. Billmeyer, now in the dugout, could ascend to a higher role.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
All Phils brass protestations to the contrary, Sandberg will be the manager by the All-star break of the 2013 season. Book it, Danno...— topwonk- Yeah Ryno! Stay HERE this time! We love ya.— miahjer
- Can't get rid of Billmeyer. Who would scan the stands with binoculars and tag the Baseball Annies for the aftergame romps in the hay?— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- This idiotic organization has hit a new low. As much as I praised the GM yesterday for calling an end to the Pete Mackanin era, now I have to express my utter disgust at the idea that the Phillies are going to try to operate next season without a bench coach. Charlie Manuel is one of the worst strategic managers in baseball and yet the Phillies are going to let him go it alone? Dubee is his righthand man? Where was Dubee when Charlie Manuel mismanaged the bullpen all season long?— Freedom Fries
- What are the qualifications of Steve Henderson and Rod Nichols? That they're willing to be the lowest paid coaches in baseball? I thought the Phillies organization hit an all-time low when they refused to pay Davey Lopes a decent salary, but now the Phillies are trying to save money by eliminating the bench coach position entirely, despite the fact that if ever there was a manager who needs a bench coach, it's Charlie Manuel. This GM really had me fooled yesterday, I thought he was finally going to get serious about winning, but now he turns around and eliminates the bench coach position.— Freedom Fries
- "It's uncommon for teams to have a staff without a bench coach; Detroit was the only team in 2012 that did not retain one." The season just ended yesterday and they just canned their bench coach yesterday. Who says they aren't going to add a bench coach?
— JimG - - good stuff -
let's see if Juan's ego takes a hit, walks away, or slides over to 1st - unless his pay decreases - he should get over it...
can we get Lopes again if Juan declines..?— LivePhilly_DiePhilly - Thank god, no more Greg Gross, not matter what happens that is a step in the right direction.— TrollExterminator
- And just who was the hitting coach before Greg Gross and how good was he? Maybe it's the players and not the coach. Maybe it's the manager who won't sit guys who don't listen. — mike l
- Charlie with NO bench coach to help? Sounds like a sure fire way to give Cholly enough rope to hang himself so Sandberg can be manager in 2014. If any manager needs a top notch right hand man its Cholly. I can undertand Leyland in Detroit....hes a top tier manager who is a great strategical mind and has an eye for the game and managing on the go . Also, dont underestimate the role a bench coach does. Look at Jimy Williams in 2008 when he was Manuels bench coach. He made Manuel look much better. When Jimy retired after that season it hurt more than people realize.— Big D phillies fan
- How cheap and stupid is this organization if they are unwilling to fire Charlie Manuel in 2012 for either financial or PR reasons, but they are willing to let Charlie Manuel get himself fired in 2013 when he tries to manage without a bench coach and the team is dead last in the NL East at the end of May? How much money will the Phillies save by doing this?— Freedom Fries
- Actually a brilliant human resource management move by Rube to let Charlie prove himself for what he thinks he is as a manager and when more games are lost for his in-game moves, he'll have hung himself, especially if Charlie stated he did not want a bench coach. Maybe suggestions from bench coaches confused Charlie. — sonnybuoy01
- Samuel stunk at third base but may be better at first, since he knows how to steal bases. Getting Sandberg to be third base coach is a good move but the managers job has to be offered to him when Manuel goes to the old folks home. He may get an offer this winter so to stay with the Phillies has to be a guarantee.— eaglesman1
- There are now 2 coaching staffs.. the Charlie/Dubee/Samuel/Billmeyer staff and the Sandberg/Nichols/Henderson staff. After the 2013 season, only the Sandberg guys will remain, which is why Sammy hasn't accepted that 1st bag job yet. But the dugout is much more talented from a coaching standpoint for 2013 ( they were about 10 games over .500 at LHV with the bullpen guys that the Phils kept sending down, major league washouts like Scott Elarton, and middling prospects like Tyler Cloyd.) Also, Henderson turned Kevin Frandsen into a guy that could hit .330 up here, that's enough reason to hire him right there. Obviously, every time the Phils have a 3 game losing streak next year, the media will be writing about firing Charlie and replacing him with Ryno, but I think RAJ , Charlie and Ryno all have an understanding about what will happen after the 2013 season.— drbob1
- YES, YES, YES, drbob1, you win the best post award in my humble opinion. Amaro has set up a shadow government on this team but, trust me, Amaro will NOT wait until 2014 if the team goes south with Manuel and Dubee calling the shots. They will be fired by the All-Star break unless they are in first place or very near. Listening to Charlie today reminded me of Larry Brown and his mantra of playing the right way. Good luck with that! Amaro is saying to him: you are all alone, no bench coach, nobody to get in your way between you and the players. If the team continues to underperform, you are gone and the Shadow Government takes control. — chuckw
