Reds hire Hatcher as first base coach
02/19/2006
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Reds manager Jerry Narron felt that he had five qualified candidates, and five friends, to choose from for the vacant first base coaching position.
On Sunday, Narron decided to hire Billy Hatcher to fill it.
Hatcher, 45, spent the previous 10 seasons coaching in the Devil Rays organization and was the lone candidate from outside the organization to replace John Moses, who abruptly retired Thursday.
"I've always enjoyed going back to Cincinnati," Hatcher said. "When it's one of the places you played, as a coach, you say, 'I hope I can go back.' I was elated. It's a great feeling to coach where you've played."
After Narron spoke with Hatcher on Saturday and interviewed him on Sunday, he selected the former Reds outfielder over Ken Griffey Sr., Ed Napoleon, Pete Mackanin and Lynn Jones.
"The deciding factor was being able to watch Billy work the last few years," Narron said Sunday evening. "I know what he's all about. I really felt comfortable talking with him yesterday."
Hatcher, who will also work with Reds outfielders, has coached at the big-league level the last eight years -- Tampa Bay's entire history -- including the past three years as first base coach on former skipper Lou Piniella's staff.
"I can help the guys be better outfielders, and I can help them be better base runners and base stealers," Hatcher said. "You look at where your strengths and weaknesses are and work from there. I can do that."
Reds chief executive officer Bob Castellini and general manager Wayne Krivsky gave Narron complete decision-making authority in naming a coach.
"It was a really difficult decision," Narron said. "All are good people and all are friends of mine. No one tried to influence me away from anybody, which was nice. No one tried to influence me towards anybody either. I appreciate the confidence that Mr. Castellini had in me."
The other four candidates will remain with the organization in their current roles. Mackanin was named Major League advance scout last week. Napoleon is entering his third season with the Reds organization as outfield/bunting instructor. Jones was hired this winter as the Reds' Minor League outfield/baserunning coordinator.
Narron asked Griffey, a team consultant and first base coach for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, to help hitting coach Chris Chambliss at various times during the season.
Hatcher's hiring should spark fond memories for many Reds fans. As part of a 12-year big-league career with seven teams, he played with Cincinnati from 1990-92. His World Series-record .750 (9-for-12) average helped Cincinnati sweep Oakland in the 1990 Fall Classic. A .264 lifetime hitter, he batted .519 overall in the '90 postseason.
Narron said Hatcher would be on the job Monday morning.
"Billy is a guy that's very experienced with outfielders and very experienced at coaching first base," Narron said. "He had a very good Major League career and did some outstanding things with the Cincinnati Reds as a player."
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Reds manager Jerry Narron felt that he had five qualified candidates, and five friends, to choose from for the vacant first base coaching position.
On Sunday, Narron decided to hire Billy Hatcher to fill it.
Hatcher, 45, spent the previous 10 seasons coaching in the Devil Rays organization and was the lone candidate from outside the organization to replace John Moses, who abruptly retired Thursday.
"I've always enjoyed going back to Cincinnati," Hatcher said. "When it's one of the places you played, as a coach, you say, 'I hope I can go back.' I was elated. It's a great feeling to coach where you've played."
After Narron spoke with Hatcher on Saturday and interviewed him on Sunday, he selected the former Reds outfielder over Ken Griffey Sr., Ed Napoleon, Pete Mackanin and Lynn Jones.
"The deciding factor was being able to watch Billy work the last few years," Narron said Sunday evening. "I know what he's all about. I really felt comfortable talking with him yesterday."
Hatcher, who will also work with Reds outfielders, has coached at the big-league level the last eight years -- Tampa Bay's entire history -- including the past three years as first base coach on former skipper Lou Piniella's staff.
"I can help the guys be better outfielders, and I can help them be better base runners and base stealers," Hatcher said. "You look at where your strengths and weaknesses are and work from there. I can do that."
Reds chief executive officer Bob Castellini and general manager Wayne Krivsky gave Narron complete decision-making authority in naming a coach.
"It was a really difficult decision," Narron said. "All are good people and all are friends of mine. No one tried to influence me away from anybody, which was nice. No one tried to influence me towards anybody either. I appreciate the confidence that Mr. Castellini had in me."
The other four candidates will remain with the organization in their current roles. Mackanin was named Major League advance scout last week. Napoleon is entering his third season with the Reds organization as outfield/bunting instructor. Jones was hired this winter as the Reds' Minor League outfield/baserunning coordinator.
Narron asked Griffey, a team consultant and first base coach for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, to help hitting coach Chris Chambliss at various times during the season.
Hatcher's hiring should spark fond memories for many Reds fans. As part of a 12-year big-league career with seven teams, he played with Cincinnati from 1990-92. His World Series-record .750 (9-for-12) average helped Cincinnati sweep Oakland in the 1990 Fall Classic. A .264 lifetime hitter, he batted .519 overall in the '90 postseason.
Narron said Hatcher would be on the job Monday morning.
"Billy is a guy that's very experienced with outfielders and very experienced at coaching first base," Narron said. "He had a very good Major League career and did some outstanding things with the Cincinnati Reds as a player."
Source: http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/
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