Joel Skinner

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Joel Patrick Skinner (born February 21, 1961 in La Jolla, California) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball and is currently the third base coach of the Cleveland Indians. He is the son of Bob Skinner, a National League outfielder in the 1950s and '60s.

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[edit] High school career

At Mission Bay High School in California, Joel Skinner played baseball, and water polo. He was drafted immediately following his senior year and was the first player taken in the free-agent compensation draft. He was named to the Atlantic American Baseball All-3rd Base Coach Team in 2006.

[edit] Minor league managing career

Skinner spent six seasons managing in the Indians minor league system from 1995-2000. In those seasons he compiled a record of 448-333 (.574) and took his team to the playoffs in five of the six seasons.

  • 1997 - Managed the Class A Kinston Indians (Carolina League) in 1997 as they won titles in both the first and second halves with an 87-53 record, earning him Carolina League Manager of the Year honors
  • 2000 - Managed the AAA Buffalo Bisons to the best record in the International League and an IL North Division title with a record of 86-59 (.593). His leadership of the Bisons in earned him Minor League Manager of the Year honors from Baseball America and The Sporting News in addition to being given International League Manager of the Year honors. Was a coach for Team USA in the 2000 All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta.

[edit] 2007 ALCS

His judgment as a third base coach was questioned by some following a play during Game 7 of the 2007 American League Champion Series when he held Kenny Lofton on third base on a potentially game tying RBI single.

Behind one run to the Boston Red Sox in a 3-2 Game 7 of the 2007 American League Championship Series, Lofton reached second base on an error to put the potentially tieing run in scoring position. Franklin Gutierrez hit the ball hard past third base where it bounced off an angled wall and into shallow left field. As Lofton approached third, Skinner, the third base coach, waived his arms in the air for Lofton to stop at third, even though left fielder Manny Ramírez had not yet reached the ball. Skinner's misjudgement left Lofton on third base as the next batter, Casey Blake, grounded into a double play to end the inning. After the play the Indians went on to lose the game by nine runs and their chance at a World Series title, which the team has not achieved since 1948.

[edit] Career Statistics

G AB R H RBI HR AVG
564 1441 119 329 136 7 .228

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Charlie Manuel
Cleveland Indians ManagerInterim
2002
Succeeded by
Eric Wedge
Preceded by
Jim Riggleman
Cleveland Indians Third Base Coach
2001-2002
Succeeded by
Jeff Datz
Preceded by
Jeff Datz
Cleveland Indians Third Base Coach
2003-2005
Succeeded by
Jeff Datz
Preceded by
{{{before}}}
Cleveland Indians Bench Coach
2006
Succeeded by
Jeff Datz
Preceded by
Jeff Datz
Cleveland Indians Third Base Coach
2007-
Succeeded by
current coach