Bob Geren

Bob Geren

Geren as coach for the New York Mets in 2012.
New York Mets – No. 15
Catcher / Manager
Born: 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

As manager

As coach

Geren as manager for the Oakland Athletics in 2011.

Robert Peter Geren (born September 22, 1961) 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 record

As of January 2, 2015
Team From To Regular season record Post–season record
W L Win % W L Win %
Oakland Athletics 2007 2011 334 376 .470 0 0 .000
Total 334 376 .470 0 0 .000

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Bob Geren Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  2. http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/B07010CHA1990.htm
  3. "1992 Pawtucket Red Sox Statistics and Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2008-03-20.
  4. http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/team/coach_staff_bio.jsp?c_id=oak&coachorstaffid=224103165435 Manager page from Official Website
  5. A's to Announce Extension for Bob Geren ESPN, March 22, 2009
  6. A's exercise Geren's option for 2011 MLB.com, September 11, 2010
  7. 7.0 7.1 Shea, John (May 25, 2011). "Geren under spotlight now". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  8. Shea, John (May 25, 2011). "Lew Wolff endorses Bob Geren". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2011-05-26.
  9. The San Francisco Chronicle. June 1, 2009 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/athletics/detail?entry_id=90636. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. Cerrone,Matthew (October 14, 2011). "Mets hire Bob Geren to be the bench coach". MetsBlog.com. Retrieved 2011-10-14.
  11. Athletics Manager Bio

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Dave Holt
Utica Blue Sox manager
1995
Succeeded by
Steve McFarland
Preceded by
Felix Maldonado
Gulf Coast League Red Sox manager
1997
Succeeded by
Luis Aguayo
Preceded by
Rob Derksen
Sarasota Red Sox manager
1998
Succeeded by
Butch Hobson
Preceded by
Juan Navarette
Modesto A's manager
1999
Succeeded by
Greg Sparks
Preceded by
first manager
Sacramento River Cats manager
2000–2002
Succeeded by
Tony DeFrancesco
Preceded by
Brad Fischer
Oakland Athletics bullpen coach
2003–2005
Succeeded by
Brad Fischer
Preceded by
Rene Lachemann
Oakland Athletics bench coach
2006
Succeeded by
Bob Schaefer