Angels Select Ausmus To Manage Team
Reds Stay In Family, Name David Bell Manager
In 18 major league seasons as a catcher and four more as a manager, Brad Ausmus developed a strong gut instinct about nearly everything that happens on a baseball field. While spending the past year out of a dugout, Ausmus developed a deeper understanding of how traditional beliefs aren’t always correct.
With a sturdy baseball foundation and a willingness to adopt new analytical knowledge, Ausmus was the Los Angeles Angels’ ideal choice to take charge as their first new manager of the 21st century.
General manager Billy Eppler and owner Arte Moreno introduced Ausmus Monday at Angel Stadium, formally opening the team’s next chapter after Mike Scioscia’s 19-year dugout tenure ended three weeks ago.
“I’m very excited to have an opportunity to lead a club like this with so many great players,” said Ausmus, who is from Cheshire, after trying on his No. 12 jersey.
Ausmus was dropped by the Tigers last fall after four intermittently successful seasons as their manager ended with a wholesale franchise rebuild. He spent the past year working in the Angels’ front office, examining every aspect of the organization as an assistant to Eppler.
Rebuilding Reds pick Bell to lead them: David Bell buttoned his Reds jersey with the No. 25, the same one worn by his grandfather and his father. Buddy Bell stood in the back of the room, watching the scene as a proud papa. In the front row was young Gus Bell, named for the grandfather who was a star in Cincinnati.
The Reds reached into their family roots for their next manager, one who is expected to help lead the club out of its rebuilding doldrums.
David Bell was introduced as the Reds’ 63rd manager in the city where he grew up. How much he succeeds will depend upon the front office, which hasn’t been able to translate its high—profile trades into on—field success.
Mets narrow GM field: Agent Brodie Van Wagenen interviewed to switch sides and become general manager of the Mets and is among three finalists along with former Brewers GM Doug Melvin and Rays senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom.
Van Wagenen, 44, has been co-head of CAA Baseball since 2010 and is familiar to the Mets as the representative for Yoenis Cespedes and others.
Sandy Alderson has been general manager since October 2010 but took a leave of absence in July when cancer recurred and said the team’s poor record did not justify returning. The team’s baseball decisions have been made by the trio of assistant GM John Ricco and special assistants Omar Minaya and J.P. Ricciardi, all reporting to chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon and his father, owner Fred Wilpon.
Marlins sign Cuban brothers: When newly signed Marlins prospect Victor Victor Mesa was asked how soon he’ll be in the major leagues, Derek Jeter leaned over with a smile and a word of caution for the young Cuban. “Cuidado,” Jeter said — Spanish for “careful.”
The futures of Mesa and his younger brother, Victor Jr., may be difficult to project, but the Marlins eagerly signed both outfielders. They left Cuba last spring to pursue major league careers, and their contracts were announced at a news conference Monday at Marlins Park.
Victor Victor received a signing bonus of $5.25 million, and Victor got $1 million. The older Mesa was considered the top international free agent, but Jeter acknowledged there’s not a lot of firsthand scouting material on the two players.
“That’s why the workout here was important,” said Jeter, the Marlins CEO said. “We all liked what we saw during the showcase here.”