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Washington Nationals Complete Field Staff with the Hiring of MacLaren, Lett, Radison

Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman, with third base coach Pat Listach in the background, before the Nationals' game against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, July 16, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

More photos » Pablo Martinez Monsivais - AP

Washington Nationals manager Jim Riggleman, with third base coach Pat Listach in the background, before the Nationals' game against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday, July 16, 2009, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

 

The Washington Nationals announced today the hiring of Jim Riggleman's 2010 field staff.  Some of the names we knew.  Others?  Not so much.  But the new names certainly aren't new to the skipper, each having extensive experience working alongside Riggleman at various points in their careers.

Returning are Rick Eckstein (hitting coach), Steve McCatty (pitching coach) and Pat Listach (infield/third base coach).

The new hires are John McLaren (bench coach), Dan Radison (first base coach) and Jim Lett (bullpen coach).

What's apparent (and important) is that the organization allowed Riggleman the opportunity to bring in folks he was familiar and comfortable with.  Radison worked with Riggleman in Chicago and San Diego, and Eckstein in St. Louis, while Lett was with the Dodgers when Riggleman was Jim Tracy's bench coach there.

And of course, Riggleman was MacLaren's bench coach in Seattle, and took over for him when he was dismissed in mid-season of 2008.

 

Press Release after the jump.

Star-divide


Eckstein returns for a second season in Washington, as his offense showed significant gains in 2009 in runs per game (+0.40 per game), home runs (+39), batting average (+.007), on-base percentage (+.014), slugging percentage (+.033) and OPS (+.047) compared to the previous season.
McCatty was named Nationals pitching coach on June 2. The Nationals’ Triple-A pitching coach for four seasons before being summoned to Washington, McCatty employed numerous pre-existing relationships with Nationals pitchers to help his staff post an ERA exactly one run better than that recorded in the season’s first two months (5.69 ERA from Opening Day-May 31, 4.69 ERA from June 2 through season’s end).

Listach will return for a second season as Nationals third base coach. Last season, Listach’s judgment saw only 11 Nationals thrown out at home plate on non force-outs, a figure bettered by only the Cardinals (eight) in MLB. With added responsibilities as the Nationals infield instructor, Listach had a hand in Ryan Zimmerman earning his first career Rawlings Gold Glove.

McLaren, 58, will draw on 22 seasons of big league coaching experience, including a stint as Mariners manager for portions of the 2007 and 2008 seasons. He replaced Mike Hargrove as Seattle’s manager on July 2, 2007. While skippering the Mariners, McLaren hired Riggleman as his bench coach in 2008.

McLaren has worked on Lou Piniella’s staff for 15 seasons, and also enjoyed stewardships under Mike Hargrove, Cito Gaston, Jimy Williams and Joe Morgan. He has experienced five post-seasons, including four division titles (Toronto in 1989, Seattle ‘95, ‘97, 2001). McLaren spent the 2009 campaign as a Rays special assignment scout. He also served as Team USA bench coach during the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006.

Selected by Houston in the 1970 Draft, McLaren caught for seven professional seasons before beginning his coaching career in Toronto’s system in 1977. After serving the Blue Jays for nine seasons as a minor-league coach, manager and scout, McLaren joined Toronto’s big league staff as third base coach in 1986.

Lett, 58, will draw on 15 seasons of Major League coaching experience, 11 spent as a bench coach with the Reds, Blue Jays, Dodgers and Pirates. He served as Dodgers bullpen coach from 2001-04, where he worked alongside Riggleman, who was Jim Tracy’s bench coach at the time.

Lett joins the Nationals after spending the previous two years coaching in Milwaukee’s minor-league system. Lett has worked in professional baseball for each of the last 35 seasons as a player, coach, manager or front-office executive. Lett is also a highly respected catching instructor.

The 59 year-old Radison begins his third tour with Riggleman, as the two worked together during Riggleman’s managerial stays in San Diego and Chicago (NL). Outside of his stints with the Cubs and Padres, Radison has managed, coached or scouted for the Yankees, Cardinals and Mets organizations from 1984-2006.

He spent the previous three seasons as the Cardinals Minor League Hitting Instructor. While there, Radison worked closely with Eckstein, and helped Rick Ankiel (as a hitter), Skip Schumaker and Colby Rasmus graduate to St. Louis.

Radison was drafted by the Cardinals in 1972 and played professionally for three seasons. He commenced his career in coaching at the college level, serving as an associate or assistant coach at Broward (FL) Community College, the University of Georgia and Old Dominion (VA) University.

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"Nats to name Foli quality control coach(?)"

By Bill Ladson / MLB.com

WASHINGTON — Tim Foli is expected to be a quality control coach with the Nationals, according to manager Jim Riggleman.

Foli will be involved in batting practice before games and be an advisor to Riggleman and general manager Mike Rizzo. Foli, who is considered one of the best teachers in the organization, will also help develop players in the Minor Leagues.

“He is going to be with us,” Riggleman said. “He is going to be in my office. He is going to be in the clubhouse. He is going to communicate with my coaching staff. He is going to travel with us. We are going to have the best of both worlds. We are going to have his experience around us every day. It’s going to be like having an extra coach.”

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Nov 21, 2009 12:06 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

The Nats are hiring and the job titles are flying!!!!!

  Can I be special advisor to the sunflower seed testing coordinator? I’d just need a roving executive assistant to accompany me……….

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Nov 21, 2009 12:35 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Coincidentally, Tatiana recommended four finalists already.......

   And mentioned a Winter League tour of the facilities in the Caymans….

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Nov 21, 2009 1:01 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

oh....... and I was thinking things that would get my post deleted....

   and now I’m in trouble here for not thinking what you were thinking…The extra snacks to smooth things over are gonna cost me…

Mezza: ''Are we there yet?'' ...Roscoe: "In baseball hell? Yes we are."

by cat daddy3000 on Nov 21, 2009 8:52 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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