Forney Completes Coaching Staff With Return Of Vaeth And Arrival Of Arias
Goldeyes fans will see a familiar face and a new face in the coaches boxes at Canwest Park next year.
Manager Rick Forney announced today the return of coach Tom Vaeth and the signing of coach Rudy Arias. It will be the first time in Forney's three years that he will go with a three-man staff, opting to resume his role as pitching coach, a job held in 2006 by Steve Shirley and last year by Rich Hyde.
Vaeth, 35, is back for a sixth season. In his five years, Goldeyes batters were among the top three in the league in hitting, posting a combined average of .285 while banging out 392 home runs and stealing 557 bases. They finished among the top three in 11 Northern League offensive categories in 2007, including the top spot in home runs, slugging percentage and stolen base percentage.
"Bringing back Tommy was a no-brainer," Forney said. "Besides all the hard work he puts in, he's very loyal and he cares deeply about winning and losing. He's been a big, big help to me and I'm thrilled to have him back."
Arias, 51, spent the last 11 seasons as a batting practice pitcher and bullpen catcher with the Baltimore Orioles. He was the bullpen catcher for two years before that with the Yankees, winning a World Series ring in 1996 when New York dumped Atlanta in six games, and for two years before that with the expansion Florida Marlins.
"As you talk around certain circles in this game, a lot of people know Rudy and nobody will say a bad word about him," Forney said. "He's got a lot of experience and knowledge that he can share with some of the younger players and I think he's going to be an asset to the Goldeyes and the Northern League."
Having finalized his coaching staff, Forney will do double duty in 2008 as manager and pitching coach, the latter a job he held for six seasons before he was named manager two years ago.
"I didn't think it was good idea for me to be the manager and pitching coach in my first year or two out of the gate, there's a lot to learn and trying to double-barrel it can be very difficult," he said. "But having guys like Tommy and Rudy around will make my job a lot easier and give me an opportunity to get back working with the pitchers every day."
FISH FOOD: Fish fans looking for some Goldeyes gifts will want to hit the ballpark over the weekend when the team hold its annual holiday sale. It runs from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday and noon until 2 p.m. on Sunday. Shoppers can also sign-up boys and girls ages 8 to 13 ones for the December 22 Goldeyes skills camp. As of today, fewer than 20 spots remained.