Dent joins Cincinnati coaching staff
11/04/2005
CINCINNATI -- Manager Jerry Narron's coaching staff is officially set.
The Reds have renewed the contracts of hitting coach Chris Chambliss, pitching coach Vern Ruhle, bullpen coach Tom Hume, third-base coach Mark Berry, first-base coach John Moses and bullpen catcher Mike Stefanski.
Rounding out the staff will be Bucky Dent, who will take over the club's bench and infield coach duties.
The addition of Dent, the former Yankees shortstop and manager who has spent the last three seasons managing New York's Triple-A club in Columbus, is the biggest piece of news in the moves.
Dent and Narron worked together for seven years in Texas, first with Johnny Oates as manager and later with Narron at the helm.
"I really look forward to working with [Narron] again," Dent said. "Hopefully we'll put together a good year."
Dent is best remembered for his game-winning home run in the tiebreaker game between the Yankees and Red Sox at the end of the 1978 season.
But Narron thinks he should be remembered for his achievements beyond that famous swing of the bat.
"He's an outstanding teacher and was an outstanding defensive player," Narron said of Dent. "He played the game fundamentally right. He's known for one home run, but he played the game the way it's supposed to be played."
Dent's coaching background includes a stint as Yankees manager when he replaced the dismissed Dallas Green in 1989. He led the Yanks to a 36-53 record over the end of 1989 and the beginning of 1990.
Since that time, Dent has been coaching at various spots in the Minor Leagues. While with the Clippers, he compiled a 443-401 (.525) record.
"I went back to [the Minors] to get back into managing, just getting back to being in the game again," Dent said. "It was good going back and working. I enjoyed working in Columbus. That's a first-class organization. And I enjoyed the challenge of trying to get a group of guys to try and win."
Now he'll have that same challenge at the big-league level. The Reds are counting on Dent to help shore up their defensive play.
"We want to get better defensively," Dent said. "I remember when I went to Texas that was one of their key things. We got better defensively, which makes the pitching better, and we won three pennants there. That's the challenge we're after here. Defense is a mindset and a pride thing."
Dent's biggest task will be working with youngsters Felipe Lopez and Edwin Encarnacion in the left side of the infield.
"It's well known in the industry that [Dent] is one of the best infield instructors and teachers in the game," general manager Dan O'Brien said. "He's going to be a real asset for some of the younger members of the infield."
Dent is essentially replacing Randy Whisler, who served two years as the club's first-base and infield coach. Moses, who became the team's bench coach in mid-June, will replace Whisler at first base.
With that being the only change in the makeup of the coaching staff, the Reds will have what Narron and O'Brien said is needed continuity from last season.
"It's always great to have that continuity," Narron said. "But it's a very experienced staff of very hard-working and very intelligent guys who know what they're doing. It fits together very well."
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
CINCINNATI -- Manager Jerry Narron's coaching staff is officially set.
The Reds have renewed the contracts of hitting coach Chris Chambliss, pitching coach Vern Ruhle, bullpen coach Tom Hume, third-base coach Mark Berry, first-base coach John Moses and bullpen catcher Mike Stefanski.
Rounding out the staff will be Bucky Dent, who will take over the club's bench and infield coach duties.
The addition of Dent, the former Yankees shortstop and manager who has spent the last three seasons managing New York's Triple-A club in Columbus, is the biggest piece of news in the moves.
Dent and Narron worked together for seven years in Texas, first with Johnny Oates as manager and later with Narron at the helm.
"I really look forward to working with [Narron] again," Dent said. "Hopefully we'll put together a good year."
Dent is best remembered for his game-winning home run in the tiebreaker game between the Yankees and Red Sox at the end of the 1978 season.
But Narron thinks he should be remembered for his achievements beyond that famous swing of the bat.
"He's an outstanding teacher and was an outstanding defensive player," Narron said of Dent. "He played the game fundamentally right. He's known for one home run, but he played the game the way it's supposed to be played."
Dent's coaching background includes a stint as Yankees manager when he replaced the dismissed Dallas Green in 1989. He led the Yanks to a 36-53 record over the end of 1989 and the beginning of 1990.
Since that time, Dent has been coaching at various spots in the Minor Leagues. While with the Clippers, he compiled a 443-401 (.525) record.
"I went back to [the Minors] to get back into managing, just getting back to being in the game again," Dent said. "It was good going back and working. I enjoyed working in Columbus. That's a first-class organization. And I enjoyed the challenge of trying to get a group of guys to try and win."
Now he'll have that same challenge at the big-league level. The Reds are counting on Dent to help shore up their defensive play.
"We want to get better defensively," Dent said. "I remember when I went to Texas that was one of their key things. We got better defensively, which makes the pitching better, and we won three pennants there. That's the challenge we're after here. Defense is a mindset and a pride thing."
Dent's biggest task will be working with youngsters Felipe Lopez and Edwin Encarnacion in the left side of the infield.
"It's well known in the industry that [Dent] is one of the best infield instructors and teachers in the game," general manager Dan O'Brien said. "He's going to be a real asset for some of the younger members of the infield."
Dent is essentially replacing Randy Whisler, who served two years as the club's first-base and infield coach. Moses, who became the team's bench coach in mid-June, will replace Whisler at first base.
With that being the only change in the makeup of the coaching staff, the Reds will have what Narron and O'Brien said is needed continuity from last season.
"It's always great to have that continuity," Narron said. "But it's a very experienced staff of very hard-working and very intelligent guys who know what they're doing. It fits together very well."
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
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