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October 31, 2005
Tony Pena To Join Staff?
From the Daily News:
The Yankees may have several former managers on their coaching staff next season, as they have looked into hiring former Royals skipper Tony Pena, the Daily News has learned.
There are several advantages to bringing in Pena, who won the 2003 AL Manager of the Year award in Kansas City but stepped down in May after a difficult start. First, the Bombers are looking for a Latino presence on the staff since former third base coach Luis Sojo is not expected to be with the major league club in 2006. Sojo, who will be replaced by former Phillies manager Larry Bowa, has expressed interest in becoming the manager of the Class-A Tampa Yankees because that is where he lives, and he likely will be accommodated.
Sojo was very popular with the Spanish-speaking players on the Yankees and had a particularly good relationship with Robinson Cano.
....
The second benefit to adding Pena is that the Bombers currently are without a specialized catchers coach.
Pena has fire - like Bowa. It seems to be a theme with the new Yankees coaches. But, for the record, Pena did not step "down in May after a difficult start" - he quit because of some other messy business in K.C.
Posted by Steve Lombardi at October 31, 2005 10:31 AM
Comments
So the coaches would be Bowa at 3rd, Pena at 1st, Donnie with hitting, ____ with pitchers, and ____ in the bullpen.
I have no issue with Tony Pena joining the staff. Having someone work with Jorge on catching can't be a bad thing, right?
Posted by: MJ ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.waswatching.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at October 31, 2005 11:33 AM
I doubt very much if any coach can improve Jorge's defensive performance at this point...he's 34 for chrissake. It's normally the age when most catchers get shifted to 1st base, the outfield, or to a warm seat on the bench. Posada remains one of the best offensive catchers in the majors...but he's not going to emulate Mike Sciosia in the twilight of his career. The Yankees have to comb through the Rule V lists for a AAAA catcher with some offensive upside.
Posted by: JohnnyC at October 31, 2005 12:36 PM
After reading about that mess in KC that Pena is involved in I can't believe George would bring him here.
Posted by: Don at October 31, 2005 02:06 PM
After Billy Martin, Straw, Gooden, and Howe, that's nothing. Besides, half the Yankees team has girlfriends in addition to wives. Baseball always looks the other way on that stuff.
Posted by: Steve Lombardi at October 31, 2005 02:13 PM
Sounds like an episode of Desperate Housewives, LOL!
Posted by: JohnnyC at October 31, 2005 02:50 PM
A similar story was circulated about Andy Petitte when he left the Yankees, by Braves fans. The story was that he had a serious "girlfriend," in Jersey, and that Mrs. P said move to Houston or blow your super-Christian facade. Andy moved.
Sounds like someone would like to pull the same on Pena. Celebrity has its risks. Innocent until proven guilty has gone by the wayside in sexual cases in our country. Men are prey, no longer the hunter. I hate it.
Posted by: Scott Coulter at October 31, 2005 11:24 PM