MLN Sports Zone - Minor League Sports Magazine

A look at the 2002 International League Managers
Six IL veterans join seven returning managers to guide league clubs in '02.

Jonathan Roybal
MinorLeagueNews.com

03.07.02 - Despite only seven 2001 International League field managers returning to their posts in 2002, the League will welcome just one "rookie" for the circuit's 119th consecutive season.

Of the seven managers joining member clubs for the 2002 season, six have previously played, coached or managed in the loop. Four of these managers return to teams they were once associated with in another capacity.

As a group, the 14 International League field managers have combined for 130 managerial seasons, posting an 8,511-7,598 record (.528 winning percentage).

These managers have led 17 clubs to League Championships and have collected 16 League Manager of the Year accolades during their careers.

On the list of field managers returning to their 2001 clubs, three piloted their teams to post-season berths last year.

Louisville's Dave Miley and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Marc Bombard led their clubs to the Governors' Cup Finals, won by Miley's RiverBats one game to none in the series shortened by the September 11 tragedies.

In addition, reigning IL Manager of the Year Eric Wedge returns to Buffalo after leading the Bisons to a Triple-A best 91-51 record and the North Division Title last season.

Other managers back with their 2001 teams include Durham's Bill Evers, who will begin his fifth season with the Bulls as the most all-time winning manager in franchise history,

Rochester's Andy Etchebarren, Syracuse's Omar Malave, and Toledo's Bruce Fields will enter their second seasons with their respective clubs.

Among the new faces, four International League clubs welcome former on-field personnel returning to their organization in a managerial role.

Nick Capra, a Triple-A All-Star with the Knights in 1995, will manage Charlotte after spending the previous two seasons at Double-A Birmingham. Capra replaces another Nick; two-year Knights' skipper Nick Leyva, who will serve as a roving instructor in the White Sox system, before managing Appy League affiliate Bristol in June.

Brian Butterfield played for Columbus in 1982, coached for the Clippers in 1986, and completes the trifecta as the club's manager in 2002. Butterfield, who joins Columbus from Class A Tampa, replaces Trey Hillman who accepted a position as the Texas Rangers' Director of Player Development.

Tim Leiper coached in Ottawa as recently as three years ago (1999) and begins the third managerial campaign of his career with the Lynx in 2002. Leiper managed Class A Jupiter in 2001. Stan Hough, who managed Ottawa in 2001, is currently out of baseball.

Buddy Bailey managed the PawSox to a pair of East Division Crowns from 1993-1996 and returns to the club after five seasons in various roles with the parent Red Sox. Gary Jones, who managed Pawtucket from 1999-2001, remains in the Boston organization as Minor League Field Coordinator.

Of the remaining three International League clubs, two will be managed by individuals with additional League ties.

Bobby Floyd takes over for John Gibbons as manager in Norfolk. Floyd had spent the previous 12 seasons as the New York Mets' Minor League Field Coordinator and played for Rochester for parts of three seasons (1967-68, 1970). Gibbons accepted a coaching position with the Toronto Blue Jays.

Fredi Gonzalez assumes the managerial reigns in Richmond from Carlos Tosca. In Gonzalez' only previous Triple-A managerial campaign, he piloted Charlotte to a 70-73 mark in 1998, then served three seasons on the Florida Marlins' coaching staff. Tosca will coach third base for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Ed Romero, the only 2002 IL manager with no previous service in the circuit, comes to Indianapolis after leading Double-A Huntsville to the Southern League Co-Championship in 2001. Wendell Kim, who managed the Indians last season, accepted a coaching position on Frank Robinson's staff with the Montreal Expos.

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's Bombard, is beginning his twentieth year as a field manager, and currently ranks as the veteran among IL skippers. He is followed in seniority by Evers (16th), Bailey (15th), Miley and Floyd (both 13th).

While Norfolk's Floyd has never managed in the International League, only Capra, Butterfield, Romero and Leiper are beginning their first seasons in Triple-A. The ten Triple-A veterans have compiled a 2,553-2,311 mark (.525 win. pct.) in 34 seasons at the minor league's highest classification.

Following is a look at each of the 2002 IL Managers:

Eric Wedge (Buffalo)
Nick Capra (Charlotte)
Brian Butterfield (Columbus)
Bill Evers (Durham)
Ed Romero (Indianapolis)
Dave Miley (Louisville)
Bobby Floyd (Norfolk)
Tim Leiper (Ottawa)
Buddy Bailey (Pawtucket)
Fredi Gonzalez (Richmond)
Andy Etchebarren (Rochester)
Marc Bombard(Scranton/WilkesBarre)
Omar Malave (Syracuse)
Bruce Fields (Toledo)