Bob Geren

Bob Geren
New York Mets – No. 7
Catcher / Manager
Born: (1961-09-22) September 22, 1961 San Diego, California
Batted: Right	Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 17, 1988 for the New York Yankees
Last MLB appearance
July 26, 1993 for the San Diego Padres
Career statistics
Batting average	.233
Home runs	22
Runs batted in	76
Games managed	710
Win–loss record	334–376
Winning %	.470
Teams
As player New York Yankees (1988–1991) San Diego Padres (1993) As manager Oakland Athletics (2007–2011) As coach Oakland Athletics (2003–2006) New York Mets (2012–present)

Geren as manager for the Oakland Athletics in 2011.

Robert Peter Geren (born September 22, 1961, in San Diego, California) is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager. During a 5-year playing career, he played for the New York Yankees (1988–1991) and the San Diego Padres (1993). He managed the Oakland Athletics from 2007 through 2011. Geren is currently the bench coach for the New York Mets.

Playing career

Geren was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round with the 24th pick of the 1979 draft.^[1] After spending ten years in the minor leagues, he made his major league debut for the New York Yankees in 1988, playing with New York through 1991. While with the Yankees, he appeared on the CBS daytime version of Family Feud hosted by Ray Combs with other members of his family late in 1988. He spent the first two seasons backing up Don Slaught. In 1990, he had his statistically best season as the starting Yankees' catcher. In 110 games, he had a .213 batting average with 8 home runs and 31 runs batted in.^[1] On July 1 of that year, he was the catcher when Andy Hawkins no-hit the Chicago White Sox but lost 4–0, the White Sox scoring all four runs in the runs in the eighth courtesy of three Yankee errors.^[2] (With the change of the definition of a no-hitter the following year, this no-hitter would be taken off the record books.)

After spending 1992 in the minors with the Pawtucket Red Sox,^[3] he played his final season of baseball in 1993 with the San Diego Padres, the team that originally drafted him.

Coaching career

Minor league manager

Geren was hired by then Boston Red Sox director of player development Bob Schaefer to manage in the Red Sox minor league system. He managed for them from 1995–1998 at the Rookie and Class A levels before leaving the organization over Schaefer's firing.

He next was the manager for the Oakland A's Triple-A affiliate Sacramento River Cats from 2000–2002. During this time he worked under A's General Manager Billy Beane, a longtime friend and former high school baseball opponent.

During the winter, Geren managed the Tigres del Licey in the Dominican Baseball League, winning the league championship in 2002.

Geren was eventually promoted to A's bench coach, a position he held through 2006.

Oakland A's manager

On November 17, 2006, Geren was promoted from his previous position as Athletics bench coach to the position of manager.^[4] He replaced Ken Macha, who was fired after disagreements with players and general manager Billy Beane. In 2007, Geren led the A's to a 76–86 record and their first losing season since 1998. In March 2009, the A's and Geren agreed to a contract extension for one year, with an additional options year.^[5] On September 11, 2010, MLB.com announced that Oakland had exercised Geren's option for 2011, assuring him another season in the green and gold.^[6]

In May 2011, Geren's managerial style came under scrutiny by Bay Area press after then-closer Brian Fuentes criticized Geren's "unorthodox managing", handling of pitchers and "zero communication".^[7] The following day former A's closer and then-Colorado Rockie Huston Street stated to a reporter Geren was the "least favorite person I have ever encountered in sports."^[7] Fuentes later apologized to Geren for going public with his comments, and A's owner Lew Wolff endorsed Geren as the A's manager.^[8] Geren was let go on June 9, 2011.^[9]

New York Mets

On October 14, 2011, the Mets hired Geren to be the teams new bench coach replacing former bench coach Ken Oberkfell.^[10]

Family

Geren and his wife, Pam, reside in the Bay Area suburb of Danville with their sons, Brett and Bobby.^[11]

Managerial records

See also

• List of Major League Baseball managers in 2007
• List of Major League Baseball managers in 2008

References

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Baseball-Reference