Minor League moves

Lots of stuff as I surfed the web,so added another post to take care of business..

The Hagerstown Suns announced their 2009 coaching staff and it is loaded with autograph wants.
Former Minnesota Twin catcher Matt LeCroy will be the Suns skipper,while long time Royals (among others) pitcher Rich Gale will be the Hagerstown pitching coach.
Tony Tarasco returns as the hitting coach and former Phillie infielder (and former West Virginia Manager) Ramon Aviles will be the bench coach.
The Suns have never had a bench coach in the past,but Aviles likely is being used to help LeCroy,who has never managed before.

Paul Menhart was promoted to Potomac as their pitching coach and joins former Suns hitting coach Jerry Browne there.
Longtime Pirate farm system manager Trent Jewett will be the Potomac boss this year.

And what of Darnell Coles?
Coles has been moved all the way to AAA as the hitting coach for the Syracuse Chiefs.
This will be the first year in Syracuse for the Nationals....

Cleveland will be shuffling their coaches for the autograph hunter as former Sun Tony Arnold takes over as Lake County's pitching coach in the Captains last SAL season.
Aaron Holbert returns as Lake County field boss.

No word on the Pirates farm staffs as of yet,but the Pirates did fill out their 40 man roster with a few surprises.
Neil Walker and Jose Tabata were added as expected and Jeff Sues was not a surprise after his solid year,but Ronald Uviedo was somewhat of one and Steve Lerud was a stunner.
Lerud improved last year,but I didn't see that one coming....

Uviedo likely nipped Eric Krebs for the spot on the 40 man after Krebs had an injury issue in Hawaii.The Pirates left Jamie Romak,Brad Corley and Jason Delaney unprotected.
Romak was a surprise to me,but keeping Lerud took that spot....

Battlin Bob likely is crying as John Van Benschoten has decided to part ways with the Pirates.
Cheer up,Battler!!!!

The Phillies and Rangers swapped former top picks as Texas sent John Mayberry to Philly for Greg Golson.
Golson spent two years with Lakewood and was an excellent,if quiet signer.
Golson is still a prospect,but I am not sure if Texas is a good fit as the Rangers already have a similar player in Julio Borbon.

Until next time!