SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Tony DeFrancesco was to manage the Phoenix Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League championship game Saturday and then return to his home in nearby Mesa to wait for the phone to ring.
The 43-year-old career Minor League player, coach and manager has his fingers crossed that the stars are aligned perfectly for him to land his first job in the Major Leagues.
"I hope this is an opportunity for me," DeFrancesco said when asked about the Oakland Athletics promotion Friday of Bob Geren from bench coach to manager. "I know Bobby well and I'm excited for him."
The A's have three coaching vacancies -- third base, bench, hitting -- and DeFrancesco, who has been in the A's organization since 1992, would like an opportunity to fill one of them.
"They know my situation and hopefully it would be a good fit," he said. "Players have lifetime goals and dreams of making it the Major Leagues, and it's the same with me. I have been in the Minors since 1984 and am looking for an (Major League) opportunity."
DeFrancesco replaced Geren as the Triple-A Sacramento manager four years ago and directed the River Cats to back-to-back Pacific Coast League championships his first two seasons, being selected as the PCL manager of the year in 2003.
If familiarity helps, DeFrancesco should have a good shot. He worked with Geren in the Arizona Instructional League, Spring Training and for two years in Sacramento.
Oakland's third-base coaching position came open when Ron Washington became the Texas Rangers manager and hitting coach Gerald Perry left the Athletics to become Lou Piniella's hitting coach with the Chicago Cubs.
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