A's name new third base coach

by OaklandA23 on Oct 25, 2007 1:57 PM PDT

A’s Name Tony DeFrancesco Third Base Coach

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Athletics today named Tony DeFrancesco as their third base coach for the 2008 season.
DeFrancesco will join Ty Van Burkleo (hitting), Ron Romanick (bullpen), Don Wakamatsu (bench), Tye Waller (first base) and Curt Young (pitching) on Manager Bob Geren’s coaching staff next season.

DeFrancesco, 44, has spent the last 14 seasons managing in the A’s minor league system, including the past five seasons at the helm of the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats. During his five years at Sacramento, the River Cats compiled a 413-307 record and won four Pacific Coast League Southern Division titles and three PCL titles (2003-04; 2007). This past season, the River Cats posted an 84-60 record and captured the PCL and Triple-A championships. He was named the 2003 Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year and also earned The Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year award after guiding the River Cats to a 92-52 regular season mark.

DeFrancesco’s 14-year minor league managerial record, which includes stops with the A’s Arizona Rookie League team (1994), Short-A Southern Oregon (1995-96), Single-A Visalia (1997-98), Double-A Midland (1999-2002) and Sacramento stands at 935-831.

A former catcher, DeFrancesco was a ninth round selection of the Boston Red Sox in the 1984 June Draft and spent eight seasons in the minor leagues with the Boston and Cincinnati organizations.

A graduate of Suffern (NY) High School, DeFrancesco played three seasons at Seton Hall University.

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sweet

That's awesome, I'm glad Tony D is getting called up.

And I've now added one of life's greatest mysteries onto my list.....who is OaklandA23?????????

There's no crying in baseball!

by gigglingone on Oct 25, 2007 1:44 PM PDT reply actions

thanks for the info

I'm glad he'll be with the organization in the future, but the hierarchy of baseball coaching seems off to me. Seems like everybody would rather be bat boy in the bigs than a minor league manager.

I find your lack of Faith disturbing...

by rebus on Oct 25, 2007 1:47 PM PDT reply actions

Me too

As was noted a few days ago... bench coach is like the Vice President of coaching (no actual duties), yet seems to be the top assistant position.

Perhaps this is Geren's idea of "keep your friends close and your enemies closer"-- because the A's have just hired the two people most likely to replace him, if he falters as manager, to be assistant coaches.

by PaulThomas on Oct 25, 2007 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions

My guess

Everyone who wants to be a big league manager starts in the minors to get experience. But no one gets hired directly from managing the AAA team to run the big club, so after a few years, they take an assistant position in order to strengthen their chances of getting the top spot.

"We've come a long way, and I'm not talking about Virginia Slims, either." - Art Howe

by EastCoastA on Oct 25, 2007 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions

either on the same club or other

by OaklandSi on Oct 25, 2007 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions

Was Machiavelli a catcher, too?

This is a tough crowd. A different spin on your point is that he's a confident incumbent trying to assemble a high-quality staff, and develop replacements in case he goes elsewhere some day.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Oct 25, 2007 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, I didn't really mean that

in a super-sinister way... I was just kidding around.

The A's did extend Geren's contract through 2009, so it seems unlikely that he'd be replaced before then unless the team really underperforms next year.

by PaulThomas on Oct 25, 2007 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions

And minor league manager is like...

..being Message Boy for the Farm Director.

"Hi, Brad. They want you to pitch two innings tonight, so you're down for the 7th and 8th."

"But the game hasn't started yet... shouldn't we wait unt..."

"Take it up with management, dude."

We should play Jack Cust at shortstop for a week, just so we can feel good about Crosby again.

by Ozzz on Oct 25, 2007 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Who replaces him in Sacramento?

It kind of sounds corny, but you develop a bond with your pumpkins.

by Poppy on Oct 25, 2007 1:54 PM PDT reply actions

hatty

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Oct 25, 2007 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions

T-Long

I love you, k^2. -Poppy*

by kaweahkaweah on Oct 25, 2007 3:30 PM PDT up reply actions

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Oct 25, 2007 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL

It kind of sounds corny, but you develop a bond with your pumpkins.

by Poppy on Oct 25, 2007 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions

I'd hi, err, attend many games.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Oct 25, 2007 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions

woo hoo!

A's v Giants "is kind of like the difference between going to see the Ramones and going to see the Bee Gees. A's fans will go see the Ramones." -BB 07/27/05

by xbhaskarx on Oct 25, 2007 2:10 PM PDT reply actions

About time

What a great move.

Everything looks nicer when you win. The girls are prettier. The cigars taste better. The trees are greener. Billy Martin

by Steve in Napa on Oct 25, 2007 2:44 PM PDT reply actions

YAAAAAAAAAY!!

welcome to oakland, tony d!!!

by gotgreen on Oct 25, 2007 3:28 PM PDT reply actions

Good for Tony D....

by WannaBeGM on Oct 25, 2007 3:37 PM PDT reply actions

Wasn't Walt Wiess from...

...Suffern, NY?
I've got to imagine they crossed paths...Bring Walt back! La Russa screwed him over. He deserved better...alright I'm not over losing Walt Weiss yet so Off my back!

"I've been accused of using too many words...I suppose that's like accusing Mozart of using too many notes." Bill King

by Gerard on Oct 25, 2007 4:00 PM PDT reply actions

Great hire.

As much as I disliked getting rid of Lache and Fischer, it looks like we got two solid replacements for them.

So it goes.

by jeepers on Oct 25, 2007 4:21 PM PDT reply actions

OK, if I ever see three diaries in a day

from OaklandA23, I'm filing a CGV complaint so fast it'll make yer head spin. So watch it, buddy! Or ma'am.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 25, 2007 4:34 PM PDT reply actions

Well it is a good thing OaklandA23 doesn't post

injury press releases then, they would be kicked off by now.

by theblackpearl on Oct 25, 2007 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

LOL - nice

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 25, 2007 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm really, really happy for DeFrancesco

He's a freaking awesome and incredibly intelligent baseball man. Great for him and great for the A's.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Oct 25, 2007 4:59 PM PDT reply actions

future interview with Tony D please, blez!! :)

by gotgreen on Oct 25, 2007 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Congrats !!!

Anthony, it's been a long time, you've earned it. All your friends and family wish you many years of success.

by Dr Love on Oct 25, 2007 5:19 PM PDT reply actions

We have a love doctor on this site?

Don't tell Jennifer.

PS -- Doc, if she ever mentions house calls, run like hell.

The meaning of life is not so much 'found,' as it is 'made.' --Opus

by The Dogfather on Oct 25, 2007 5:35 PM PDT up reply actions

The Dr. make house calls

I've known Tony D since he was a freshman in high school. He is the hardest working person I know, HE is totally dedicated to baseball and has been for as long as I've known him. I personally feel he should of been on the staff last year as bench coach, but he more than proved himself this year leading the Cats to the PCL and Triple A Championships. I'm sure his knowledge of the game will be an asset to Bob Geren and the A's. For a house call visit Drloverub.com. CONGRATS AGAIN TONY D!

by Dr Love on Oct 25, 2007 7:41 PM PDT up reply actions

drloverub.com?

Should that site come with a NSFW warning?

by PositionPlayerProd on Oct 26, 2007 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions

Tony D in Oakland last year

by gotgreen on Oct 25, 2007 7:08 PM PDT reply actions

935-831

That's a pretty remarkable stat. Over 1700 games; this guy's paid a lot of dues to get where he is.

by Brian in 317 on Oct 25, 2007 10:16 PM PDT reply actions

for a moment I thought

that was the Dr. Love Rub hotline number

by OaklandSi on Oct 26, 2007 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions

HAPPINESS FOR TONY..

AND WELL DESERVED. HE PERSERVERED AND WAS REWARDED. HE WILL BE A GREAT ASSET TO THE STAFF.

by baseball4life on Oct 26, 2007 8:08 AM PDT reply actions

I can't control

the VOLUME OF MY VOICE either...

I'm not a big wine guy... Where do you grow the BEER?

by str8tarrow on Oct 26, 2007 9:31 AM PDT up reply actions

Dane Cook? Is that you?

It kind of sounds corny, but you develop a bond with your pumpkins.

by Poppy on Oct 26, 2007 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions

I HATE

Dane Cook, and his fuckin stupid Actober adds... FUCK!!! ENOUGH DANE COOK!!!, and while we are at it Enough Payton Manning as well...

"I Will Not Relent, I Am Driven"... Clutch

Bring Back The Bash!!!

by Shippee33 on Oct 26, 2007 8:28 PM PDT up reply actions

What did we name him?

Stat Wonk Futurist

by salb918 on Oct 26, 2007 1:15 PM PDT reply actions

Tony -

Aren't you even paying attention?

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 26, 2007 7:03 PM PDT up reply actions

Wasn't he the FINDER OF LOST LOVES?

Or was that James Franciscus?

Putting the "N" in "NRAF" from Leipzig, Germany!

by GreenNGoldSooner on Oct 27, 2007 3:21 AM PDT reply actions

Ron Washington was

FINDER OF LOST GLOVES.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Oct 27, 2007 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions