2009 Offseason2 SIM Complete - Next SIM Tues 1/13

[Pat]

Outside of us making a big splash in Rule V, we also demoted Mark Schell to hitting coach after losing legendary coach, Jun Gao who retired this off-season. Big shoes to fill as Gao was the single best coaching signing I've ever made.

Our new manager is former Batavia bench coach, Turi Soto who led Davenport to 101 wins in 2006 before moving to Batavia for the last 3 years as their bench coach.

I also had to shuffle around the coaching staff.

After John O'Kerrigan retired, Youp Koen was named interim manager from Bench Coach. He has been the Bats BC seven of the last eight years, once again filling in as the interim manager in 2005, when our manager retired then as well. Replacing him at Bench Coach is a newcomer, Thad "Golden" Souders. He was a pitcher for the Davenport Brawlers during the 80's who hit .128 with a .309 OPS in 258 at bats.

[Delandis]

The most interesting part of the story is that Soto's first manager gig in the BLB was a 1 year stint as our Single A manager way back in '88. Full circle for him.

[Lintyfresh85]

I actually thought you'd get my two guys. I saw your available spending money and freaked out.

If we do anything else, it's thru trades. I need a certain SS/3B next? Stay tuned.

I wasn't going to pay his asking price after a 5+ ERA season but then again I didn't think anyone else would either. Had I known someone was serious about him I would have ponied up the cash but you did well to get him.

[funclown]

Lol Pat it shows you have interest with 80% of the top free agents.

[Pat]

Lol Pat it shows you have interest with 80% of the top free agents.

Fingers crossed.

[umd]

Holy shit the Oshman deal is absurd. Haha, good luck with that clown.

[funclown]

Holy shit the Oshman deal is absurd. Haha, good luck with that clown.

It's basically a 3 year deal. Almost all my young kids are cost controlled. It's not my money.

We feel like a better team today.

[Ryan]

Yeah, I don't really hate the Oshman deal that much, to be honest. Like Clown said, most of the roster is cost controlled, so it makes sense to "overpay" now while you can. Good deal I say.