'86 Mets SS Santana will manage Barons

mets2k · January 18th, 2007, 03:08 PM

Kind of OT but oh well. Congrats Rafael!

BIRMINGHAM, AL –- The Birmingham Barons today announced their coaching staff for the 2007 Southern League campaign. Rafael Santana, shortstop for the World Series Champion New York Mets in 1986 will make his Southern League managerial debut. Santana will be joined by returning pitching coach Richard Dotson, and returning athletic trainer Joe Geck, as well as conditioning coach Adam Tischler in his first season with the Barons. The Barons hitting instructor will be announced at a later date.

Santana, 49, will begin his ninth season in the White Sox organization and his 13th in minor league baseball. Santana comes to Birmingham after making his managerial debut at A-Advanced Winston-Salem in 2006 where he compiled a 66-72 record. Santana spent the 2003 and 2004 as the Chicago White Sox first base coach and infield instructor. Since retiring after the 1990 season, Santana has worked in the Boston, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City organizations. Santana was the starting shortstop for the 1986 World Champion New York Mets. He hit .246 with 113 home runs and 156 RBIs in 668 career major league games with St. Louis, Cleveland, the New York Mets and Yankees.

Dotson, 45, starts his sixth year in the White Sox organization and third in the Magic City as the Barons pitching coach. The former All-Star right-hander is a veteran of 12 Major League seasons. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Dotson compiled a career mark of 111-113 with a 4.23 ERA in 305 games and finished fourth in the Cy Young Award voting in 1983 after going 22-7 with a 3.23 ERA in 35 starts for the American League West Champion White Sox. Drafted seventh overall by the California Angels in 1977, Dotson was named to the American League All-Star team in 1984.

Geck, 33, returns for his seventh season as the Barons trainer, and 15th year in the White Sox organization. Geck was named Southern League Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2002 and has worked several All-Star Games over the course of his career.

Tischler, 25, begins his third season in the White Sox organization, and first in Birmingham. A native of New York, NY, Tischler spent the 2005 season with Class A Kannapolis of the South Atlantic League.

The Birmingham Barons open the 2007 season with an exhibition matchup against the Chicago White Sox at newly renovated Hoover Metropolitan Stadium on Thursday, March 29 at 6:05pm. For ticket information, call 205-988-3200 or visit http://www.barons.com.

January 18th, 2007, 03:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
mets2k Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 429	'86 Mets SS Santana will manage Barons Kind of OT but oh well. Congrats Rafael! BIRMINGHAM, AL –- The Birmingham Barons today announced their coaching staff for the 2007 Southern League campaign. Rafael Santana, shortstop for the World Series Champion New York Mets in 1986 will make his Southern League managerial debut. Santana will be joined by returning pitching coach Richard Dotson, and returning athletic trainer Joe Geck, as well as conditioning coach Adam Tischler in his first season with the Barons. The Barons hitting instructor will be announced at a later date. Santana, 49, will begin his ninth season in the White Sox organization and his 13th in minor league baseball. Santana comes to Birmingham after making his managerial debut at A-Advanced Winston-Salem in 2006 where he compiled a 66-72 record. Santana spent the 2003 and 2004 as the Chicago White Sox first base coach and infield instructor. Since retiring after the 1990 season, Santana has worked in the Boston, Chicago White Sox, and Kansas City organizations. Santana was the starting shortstop for the 1986 World Champion New York Mets. He hit .246 with 113 home runs and 156 RBIs in 668 career major league games with St. Louis, Cleveland, the New York Mets and Yankees. Dotson, 45, starts his sixth year in the White Sox organization and third in the Magic City as the Barons pitching coach. The former All-Star right-hander is a veteran of 12 Major League seasons. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Dotson compiled a career mark of 111-113 with a 4.23 ERA in 305 games and finished fourth in the Cy Young Award voting in 1983 after going 22-7 with a 3.23 ERA in 35 starts for the American League West Champion White Sox. Drafted seventh overall by the California Angels in 1977, Dotson was named to the American League All-Star team in 1984. Geck, 33, returns for his seventh season as the Barons trainer, and 15th year in the White Sox organization. Geck was named Southern League Athletic Trainer of the Year in 2002 and has worked several All-Star Games over the course of his career. Tischler, 25, begins his third season in the White Sox organization, and first in Birmingham. A native of New York, NY, Tischler spent the 2005 season with Class A Kannapolis of the South Atlantic League. The Birmingham Barons open the 2007 season with an exhibition matchup against the Chicago White Sox at newly renovated Hoover Metropolitan Stadium on Thursday, March 29 at 6:05pm. For ticket information, call 205-988-3200 or visit http://www.barons.com.