Geren to Become A's Coach

Published 10:16 a.m. PDT Wednesday, November 13, 2002 Sacramento Bee

Bob Geren, the Sacramento River Cats manager for the past three seasons, has been promoted to a coaching job with the Oakland Athletics. Geren's assignment on the major-league staff will be determined later.


Geren, 41, has guided the River Cats to a 231-201 record and two Pacific Coast League Southern Division titles in 2000 and 2001.


He joined the A's organization in 1999 as manager of the single-A Modesto A's. His professional career spanned 15 seasons, including five years in the major leagues with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres.

This is a great move by the A's. Geren had all of the A's players at one time and has seen them devlop under his watch and from afar. Geren offers a good personality mix as he has a dry sense of humor that can keep the edge off while still maintaining focus.

Last year's River Cats record was an aberration as the top River Cats players were already playing for the A's. It didn't make a lot of sense to have Geren waiting two years until the most recent slew of draft picks get moved up to AAA.

F.P. Santangelo might be in line for a coaching job with the River Cats or even stepping right in to the manager's role.

Thad Bosley, the A's hitting coach, being released or even reassigned within the organization is not a bad move, either. Watching Eric Chavez struggle at the plate last season ate a hole in our collective stomachs. Terrence Long would be the Exhibit A, though. A complete flop as a hitter and a liability in the field.