Ranger Managerial Candidates:
Trey Hillman:
2003, the Fighters went 62-74-4 and missed the playoffs.
2004, the Fighters went 66-65-2, made the playoffs, and lost to the Lions 2 games to 1.
2005, the Fighters went 62-71-3 and missed the playoffs.
2006, the Fighters turned things around, and went 82-54 and became the Pacific League Champion – Currently in the finals.
Hillman spent a number of seasons in the Yankees minor league system coaching for 12 years. Three times he coached his team to first place and once he walked away with as League Champs. Something notable is in the 12 seasons, only three went under 500 mark. His overall record was 855-771 (that’s 84 games over 500) with a .526 winning percentage. In Japan, he’s had to take a cellar team and bring it up out of the ashes. And based on what has happened over the last three seasons, I would say he’s done quite a good job. Keep in mind, the playoff win in 2004 was the first for the Fighters in 34 or 35 years, and this year, the team is in the Finals, looking to be the CHAMPS of it all. In the four seasons thus far, his record is 272-264-9 (not counting playoff games) and a .507 winning percentage. Everything combined, he has a 1127-1035-9 record with a .521 winning percentage.
He looks good. I can see why the Rangers were interested in him four years ago and why they are interested in him now. He has the skills to do the job and now he has a resume that shows that he can use those skills. Let me just restate that – HE HAS A VERY-VERY GOOD RESUME.
Don Wakamatsu: (COMING SOON)
Manny Acta: (COMING SOON)
John Russell:
John Russell led the 2002 Edmonton Trappers to the Pacific Coast League Championship and also led New Britain to the 1998 Eastern League Championship. He went to high school in Norman, OK (and I know where that is… ho-hum).
2006, led the Red Baron’s to 84-58
2002, led Edmonton to 81-59
From 1998-2000 compiled a record with New Britain Rock Cats of 193-232.
I am missing some information, which is rather difficult to dig up because of all the “famous” John Russell’s out there throughout history. I’m missing four minor league seasons with the Minnesota organization. I don’t know if I will be able to get that or not, but I will do my best.
Thus far, my opinion is this, and it may change when I get more information presents itself, however – he seems pretty streaky as manager, especially with New Britain. He won the Title in 1998 and then they collapsed, plummeted rather the next two seasons. With that said, the minors work like this, if your players are good, they move up, so you don’t work with them year after year… so John probably didn’t get the same great talent that he had in 1999 that he had in 1998. And that makes sense. But I still have some reservations about him. I would place him higher than Washington, but not higher than Hillman.
Ron Washington:
Ron Washington is in his 11th season as A’s coach. After serving as the A’s first base coach in 1996, Ron moved across the diamond to third base in 1997 and has remained there ever since. In addition, Washington has also worked with the A’s infielders and has been instrumental in the development of five-time Gold Glove third baseman, Eric Chavez. Washington came to the A’s after five years in the New York Mets organization.
Washington’s coaching career began in 1991 at Tidewater, the Mets Triple-A affiliate in the International League. He spent two seasons there before taking over as manager of New York’s Single-A Columbia Bombers of the South Atlantic League. In 1993 he guided the Bombers to a 64-77 record and Columbia finished 59-76 in 1994. In 1995, he returned as a coach for the Mets Triple-A affiliate, now at Norfolk.
The former infielder spent all or parts of 10 seasons in the Major Leagues with Los Angeles, Minnesota, Baltimore, Cleveland and Houston. He made his debut with the Dodgers in 1977 and, despite hitting .368 in 10 games, did not return to the majors until 1981 with Minnesota. The New Orleans native hit .271 with a career high 5 HR and 39 RBI in his first full season in the majors in 1982 and he batted a career high .294 for the Twins in 1984. Washington was released by the Twins prior to the 1987 season and played 26 games for Baltimore that year. He played 69 games with Cleveland in 1988 and seven games for the Astros in 1989. Washington finished his professional playing career with the Texas Rangers Triple-A Oklahoma City farm team in 1990.
He graduated from John McDonogh High School in 1970 and attended Manatee Junior College. He was signed as a free agent by Kansas City out of the Royals Baseball Academy. Ron and his wife, Geraldine, live in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Oakland A’s website)
Overall Manager Record: 123-153 (a .446 winning percentage)
I think he makes a good coach, but I question if he can make the jump to be a Major League Manager.
Not on the list, but should be:
Ken Macha:
2003, the Oakland A’s went 96-66, finished first (lost 3 games to 2 to Boston)
2004, the Oakland A’s went 91-71, finished second (missed playoffs)
2005, the Oakland A’s went 88-74, finished second (missed playoffs)
2006, the Oakland A’s went 93-69, finished first (lost in second round to Detroit in a sweep)
Macha worked in the minors for four years, compiling a rather good record (320-252 – a .559 winning percentage) that stretched from 1995 to 1998. In 1999 to 2002, he served as Art Howe’s bench coach. He eventually took the job to be the A’s manager and sent them to two playoff appearances in four years and a playoff record of 5-7). With the A’s, his record is 368-280 (a .568 winning percentage), which is pretty remarkable, since the team usually starts off slow and then picks up ground as the season moves on.
Overall Manager Record: 688-532 (a .564 winning percentage – not including playoffs)
Again, success follows Macha, his teams don’t seem to go deep in the playoffs, but at least they get there, and he’s also known to make something out of nothing, as in with limited rosters and a handful of injured players. He knows what he’s doing.
Trey Hillman:
2003, the Fighters went 62-74-4 and missed the playoffs.
2004, the Fighters went 66-65-2, made the playoffs, and lost to the Lions 2 games to 1.
2005, the Fighters went 62-71-3 and missed the playoffs.
2006, the Fighters turned things around, and went 82-54 and became the Pacific League Champion – Currently in the finals.
Hillman spent a number of seasons in the Yankees minor league system coaching for 12 years. Three times he coached his team to first place and once he walked away with as League Champs. Something notable is in the 12 seasons, only three went under 500 mark. His overall record was 855-771 (that’s 84 games over 500) with a .526 winning percentage. In Japan, he’s had to take a cellar team and bring it up out of the ashes. And based on what has happened over the last three seasons, I would say he’s done quite a good job. Keep in mind, the playoff win in 2004 was the first for the Fighters in 34 or 35 years, and this year, the team is in the Finals, looking to be the CHAMPS of it all. In the four seasons thus far, his record is 272-264-9 (not counting playoff games) and a .507 winning percentage. Everything combined, he has a 1127-1035-9 record with a .521 winning percentage.
He looks good. I can see why the Rangers were interested in him four years ago and why they are interested in him now. He has the skills to do the job and now he has a resume that shows that he can use those skills. Let me just restate that – HE HAS A VERY-VERY GOOD RESUME.
Don Wakamatsu: (COMING SOON)
Manny Acta: (COMING SOON)
John Russell:
John Russell led the 2002 Edmonton Trappers to the Pacific Coast League Championship and also led New Britain to the 1998 Eastern League Championship. He went to high school in Norman, OK (and I know where that is… ho-hum).
2006, led the Red Baron’s to 84-58
2002, led Edmonton to 81-59
From 1998-2000 compiled a record with New Britain Rock Cats of 193-232.
I am missing some information, which is rather difficult to dig up because of all the “famous” John Russell’s out there throughout history. I’m missing four minor league seasons with the Minnesota organization. I don’t know if I will be able to get that or not, but I will do my best.
Thus far, my opinion is this, and it may change when I get more information presents itself, however – he seems pretty streaky as manager, especially with New Britain. He won the Title in 1998 and then they collapsed, plummeted rather the next two seasons. With that said, the minors work like this, if your players are good, they move up, so you don’t work with them year after year… so John probably didn’t get the same great talent that he had in 1999 that he had in 1998. And that makes sense. But I still have some reservations about him. I would place him higher than Washington, but not higher than Hillman.
Ron Washington:
Ron Washington is in his 11th season as A’s coach. After serving as the A’s first base coach in 1996, Ron moved across the diamond to third base in 1997 and has remained there ever since. In addition, Washington has also worked with the A’s infielders and has been instrumental in the development of five-time Gold Glove third baseman, Eric Chavez. Washington came to the A’s after five years in the New York Mets organization.
Washington’s coaching career began in 1991 at Tidewater, the Mets Triple-A affiliate in the International League. He spent two seasons there before taking over as manager of New York’s Single-A Columbia Bombers of the South Atlantic League. In 1993 he guided the Bombers to a 64-77 record and Columbia finished 59-76 in 1994. In 1995, he returned as a coach for the Mets Triple-A affiliate, now at Norfolk.
The former infielder spent all or parts of 10 seasons in the Major Leagues with Los Angeles, Minnesota, Baltimore, Cleveland and Houston. He made his debut with the Dodgers in 1977 and, despite hitting .368 in 10 games, did not return to the majors until 1981 with Minnesota. The New Orleans native hit .271 with a career high 5 HR and 39 RBI in his first full season in the majors in 1982 and he batted a career high .294 for the Twins in 1984. Washington was released by the Twins prior to the 1987 season and played 26 games for Baltimore that year. He played 69 games with Cleveland in 1988 and seven games for the Astros in 1989. Washington finished his professional playing career with the Texas Rangers Triple-A Oklahoma City farm team in 1990.
He graduated from John McDonogh High School in 1970 and attended Manatee Junior College. He was signed as a free agent by Kansas City out of the Royals Baseball Academy. Ron and his wife, Geraldine, live in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Oakland A’s website)
Overall Manager Record: 123-153 (a .446 winning percentage)
I think he makes a good coach, but I question if he can make the jump to be a Major League Manager.
Not on the list, but should be:
Ken Macha:
2003, the Oakland A’s went 96-66, finished first (lost 3 games to 2 to Boston)
2004, the Oakland A’s went 91-71, finished second (missed playoffs)
2005, the Oakland A’s went 88-74, finished second (missed playoffs)
2006, the Oakland A’s went 93-69, finished first (lost in second round to Detroit in a sweep)
Macha worked in the minors for four years, compiling a rather good record (320-252 – a .559 winning percentage) that stretched from 1995 to 1998. In 1999 to 2002, he served as Art Howe’s bench coach. He eventually took the job to be the A’s manager and sent them to two playoff appearances in four years and a playoff record of 5-7). With the A’s, his record is 368-280 (a .568 winning percentage), which is pretty remarkable, since the team usually starts off slow and then picks up ground as the season moves on.
Overall Manager Record: 688-532 (a .564 winning percentage – not including playoffs)
Again, success follows Macha, his teams don’t seem to go deep in the playoffs, but at least they get there, and he’s also known to make something out of nothing, as in with limited rosters and a handful of injured players. He knows what he’s doing.
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