Leo: 2012 International League Managers

Over the next few weeks, as the 2012 season draws near, I’ll be taking a look at the International League. I’ll post on everything from the top prospects in the league to the best places to each in each city. Consider it your “everything you really need to know” guide to the 2012 IL season.

The International League is heading into uncharted water this season with six new managers. It’s the largest turnover in recent years for the 128 year-old league.

All four playoff managers return for the 2012 season as skippers in Columbus, Lehigh Valley, Durham, and Pawtucket try to return to the post-season. Managers that have a Governors’ Cup Championship on their resume return in Gwinnett and Scranton Wilkes-Barre and things remain unchanged with Toledo and Indianapolis as well.

Of the six new managers , two have previously led other IL clubs.

Here they are:

Buffalo – Wally Backman

Backman takes over for Tim Teufel, who was promoted to third base coach with the Mets. The 52 year-old played on the 1986 Mets World Series Championship team. He’s entering his tenth season as a manager, his third with the Mets organization. Last year, Backman’s Double-A Binghamton club finished 65-76 in the Eastern League.

Charlotte – Joel Skinner

Skinner replaces Joe McEwing, who was named the third base coach with the White Sox. He last managed in 2010 with Cleveland’s Double-A club in Akron. The 51 year-old was on the Oakland A’s staff last season. Skinner has big league managerial experience; he took over for Charlie Manuel as the Indians’ interim manager in 200. He was a catcher in the Cleveland organization when Charlotte was the Triple-A affiliate.

Columbus – Mike Sarbaugh

The two-time defending Triple-A National Champions have Mike Sarbaugh back as manager. He was the 2011 Manager of the Year and the IL’s Triple-A All Star Game skipper. Sarbaugh, 44, enters his 23^rd consecutive season in the Indians organization as a player, coach, and manager. He led Double-A Akron for two seasons prior to joining Columbus. Sarbaugh has won five championships in eight seasons.

Durham – Charlie Montoyo

Montoyo returns for his sixth season in Durham, coming off a fifth straight IL South Division title. The 47 year-old led the Bulls to the Governors’ Cup and Triple-A Championship in 2009. He was named the 2009 Baseball America Minor League Manager of the Year. This will be his 16^th season as a manager, all within the Tampa Bay farm system. Montoyo led the Double-A Montgomery club to the Southern League title in 2006.

Gwinnett – Dave Brundage

The Braves manager returns for his sixth season, holding a 231-199 record with Gwinnett and was the manager for two seasons in Richmond for the team relocated. The 47 year-old Brundage guided the Richmond Braves to the Governors’ Cup in 2007, his first year in the league, and wild card berth in 2009. His coaching career began as a player-coach for the Triple-A Calgary Cannons in 1993.

Indianapolis – Dean Treanor

Treanor is back for his second season as the Indianapolis manager after serving as the club’s pitching coach in 2010. The Indians finished 76-68 after starting 9-21. The 64 year-old enters his 24^th season in baseball, his eighth as a Triple-A manager. He joined the Pirates in 2009 as the manager of Double-A Altoona.

Lehigh Valley – Ryne Sandberg

The Hall of Famer returns for his second season with the IronPigs after leading Lehigh Valley to a Wild Card berth and the Governors’ Cup finals. Before joining the Phillies organization, Sandberg spent four years as a manager in the Cubs farm system. He managed Triple-A Iowa in 2010. Sandberg, 52, was inducted into Cooperstown in 2005 for his 16 year playing career that included ten National League All Star selections and seven Silver Slugger awards.

Louisville – David Bell

The Bats welcome a new manager for 2012 as David Bell takes over for Rick Sweet. Sweet transitions into a roving catching instructor role and Bell starts his Triple-A managerial career. He was the Reds Double-A Carolina skipper for three seasons. Bell, 39, played parts of seven seasons in the majors. He is the youngest manager in the International League.

Norfolk – Ron Johnson

Johnson is no stranger to the International League, despite being the new Tides skippers. Johnson managed Pawtucket from 2005 to 2009. He takes over for Gary Allenson, who is now the Class-A Aberdeen manager. Johnson, 55, was Boston’s first base coach for the last two seasons. This will be his 19^th season as a minor league manager.

Pawtucket – Arnie Beyeler

Beyeler returns for his second season with the Paw Sox, after guiding the club to the first IL North Division title since 2003. He has managed eleven seasons in the minors, eight in the Red Sox system. From 2007 to 2010, Beyeler was the Red Sox Double-A Portland manager. He served as the Clippers pitching coach during a three year stint in the Yankees organization from 1997 to 1999.

Rochester – Gene Glynn

Glynn takes over the reins in Rochester after serving as a scout for the Tampa Bay Rays for the last five seasons. Tom Nieto, Rochester’s manager last year, is now the Yankees Gulf Coast League manager. Glynn has managed five seasons at the Class-A level and has 13 seasons of major league coaching experience with the Rockies, Expos, Cubs, and Giants.

Scranton Wilkes-Barre – Dave Miley

Miley returns in hopes of guiding the Yankees back to the playoffs after their streak of four straight North Division crowns ended last year. The 49 year-old led SWB to the Governors’ Cup Championship in 2008 and earned IL Manager of the Year honors in 2007. Prior to joining the Yankees, he spent 26 years in the Cincinnati Reds organization, including four seasons with Louisville (2000-2003). He managed in Indianapolis from 1996 to 1999 when the Indians served as the Reds top affiliate. He has won 1,092 games in Triple-A. In July 2003, Miley was named the Cincinnati Reds manager, a role he held until June of 2005, posting a 125-164 mark.

Syracuse – Tony Beasley

Beasley takes over in Syracuse for Randy Knorr, who is now the bench coach for the Nationals. He managed Washington’s Double-A Harrisburg affiliate to a record of 80-62 with a post-season appearance. He was the Nationals third base coach in 2006 and joined the Pirates major league staff for three seasons before returning the Nationals in 2011. His teams have made the playoff every year in six seasons as a minor league manager, five with the Pirates. He has been named Baseball America’s Low Class-A Manager of the Year twice and Double-A Manager of the Year once.

Toledo – Phil Nevin

Nevin returns for his second season with the Mud Hens, after a 67-77 finish last year. The 41 year-old joined the Tigers organization in 2012, managing the Double-A Erie club. His only previous managing experience came in 2009 in the independent Golden baseball League. Nevin played twelve seasons in the majors with the Astor, Tigers, Padres, Angels, Rangers, Cubs, and Twins. He also spent two seasons as a broadcaster with the Padres and ESPN.

By Age:
1. Dean Treanor – 64
T2. Gene Glynn – 55
T2. Ron Johnson – 55
T4. Wally Backman – 52
T4. Ryne Sandberg – 52
6. Joe Skinner – 51
7. Dave Miley – 49
8. Arnie Beyeler – 48
T9. Dave Brundage – 47
T9. Charlie Montoyo – 47
11. Tony Beasley – 45
12. Mike Sarbaugh – 44
13. Phil Nevin – 41
14. David Bell – 39

By Career Wins (minor leagues):
1. Dave Miley – 1,722
2. Ron Johnson – 1,261
3. Charlie Montoyo – 1,031
4. Dave Brundage – 1,024
5. Arnie Beyeler – 723
6. Mike Sarbaugh – 622
7. Dean Teanor – 581
8. Tony Beasley – 452
9. Joel Skinner – 448
10. Wally Backman – 408
11. Ryne Sandberg – 364
12. Gene Glynn – 190
13. David Bell – 176
14. Phil Nevin – 133

By Winning Percentage (minor leagues):
T1. Mike Sarbaugh – .585
T1. Tony Beasley – .585
3. Joel Skinner – .574
4. Dave Miley - .555
5. Wally Backman – .528
6. Charlie Montoyo – .522
7. Dave Brundage – .520
8. Ryne Sandberg – .516
9. Arnie Beyeler – .511
T10. Ron Johnson – .499
T10. Gene Glynn – .499
12. Dean Teanor – .487
13. Phil Nevin – .465
14. David Bell – .424

By Governors’ Cup Championship:
T1. Mike Sarbaugh – 2 (2010 & 2011)
T1. Dave Miley – 2 (2001 w/Louisville, 2008 Scranton/WB)
T2. Charlie Montoyo – 1 (2009)
T2. Dave Brundage – 1 (2007)

By Triple-A National Championship:
1. Mike Sarbaugh – 2
2. Charlie Montoyo – 1