RENO, Nev.—After guiding the Reno Aces to their first-ever Pacific Coast League playoff berth in 2011, former Major League All-Star Brett Butler will return as manager of the club in 2012, the Arizona Diamondbacks announced today.

The Aces’ coaching staff will remain intact for the fourth-straight season, with Butler flanked in the Reno dugout by Hitting Coach Rick Burleson and Pitching Coach Mike Parrott. Athletic Trainer James Ready returns for his fourth-straight season, while Strength & Conditioning Coach Josh Cuffe is back for the third-straight year.

Reno is coming off its most successful season in club history, finishing with a 77-67 record and a Pacific North Division championship. The Aces spent 148 days in 1st place in 2011–including 133-straight to finish the season before falling in five games to Sacramento in the Pacific Conference Championship Series. Excluding Major League Rehabilitation Assignments, 23 members of the Aces appeared in the big leagues in 2011, including five who made their Major League debut.

The 2012 season marks Butler’s eighth in the Arizona organization and his sixth as a manager in the D-backs chain. In Baseball America’s annual “Best Tools” issue, Butler was tabbed as the PCL’s Best Managerial Prospect. A veteran of 17 Major League seasons, Butler helped lead the San Francisco Giants to the 1989 National League pennant, and later he was a National League All-Star in 1991 as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Burleson spent 13 seasons in the Major Leagues and is widely regarded as one of the greatest shortstops in Boston Red Sox history. The fifth overall pick in the 1970 draft, Burleson was a four-time American League All-Star and has a Rawlings Gold Glove Award and a Hillerich & Bradsby Silver Slugger Award to his credit. In 2002, he was elected to the Red Sox Hall of Fame.

Parrott was a first-round selection of the Baltimore Orioles in 1973 and would go on to spend five seasons in the big leagues. In 1979, Parrott ranked 10th in the American League with 13 complete games on his way to being named Seattle Mariners Pitcher of the Year. The 2012 season will be Parrot’s 16th with the Diamondbacks organization and 11th as Arizona’s Triple-A pitching coach.

Ready returns to Reno for his fourth-straight Triple-A assignment. Prior to joining the Aces, Ready climbed the ladder from Single-A Visalia to Double-A Mobile, coupled with a stint with the Phoenix Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League.

Cuffe returns for his third-straight season in Reno, after being named PCL Strength Coach of the Year in 2011. A Buena Vista, Colo. native, Cuffe graduated from Dakota State University. Prior to coming to Reno, Cuffe worked in the Diamondbacks organization with Single-A South Bend, Single-A Visalia and Double-A Mobile.

The Aces open the 2012 season on Thursday, April 5 at Aces Ballpark.

(Reuters) – List of National League Cy Young Award winners following the naming of Los Angeles Dodgers starter Clayton Kershaw as the 2011 winner.

2011 – Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

2010 – Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies

2009 – Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants

2008 – Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants

2007 – Jake Peavy, San Diego Padres

2006 – Brandon Webb, Arizona Diamondbacks

2005 – Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals

2004 – Roger Clemens, Houston Astros

2003 – Eric Gagne, Los Angeles Dodgers

2002 – Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks

2001 – Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks

2000 – Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks

1999 – Randy Johnson, Arizona Diamondbacks

1998 – Tom Glavine, Atlanta Braves

1997 – Pedro Martinez, Montreal Expos

1996 – John Smoltz, Atlanta Braves

1995 – Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves

1994 – Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves

1993 – Greg Maddux, Atlanta Braves

1992 – Greg Maddux, Chicago Cubs

1991 – Tom Glavine, Atlanta Braves

1990 – Doug Drabek, Pittsburgh Pirates

1989 – Mark Davis, San Diego Padres

1988 – Orel Hershiser, Los Angeles Dodgers

1987 – Steve Bedrosian, Philadelphia Phillies

1986 – Mike Scott, Houston Astros

1985 – Dwight Gooden, New York Mets

1984 – Rick Sutcliffe, Chicago Cubs

1983 – John Denny, Philadelphia Phillies

1982 – Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies

1981 – Fernando Valenzuela, Los Angeles Dodgers

1980 – Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies

1979 – Bruce Sutter, Chicago Cubs

1978 – Gaylord Perry, San Diego Padres

1977 – Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies

1976 – Randy Jones, San Diego Padres

1975 – Tom Seaver, New York Mets

1974 – Mike Marshall, Los Angeles Dodgers

1973 – Tom Seaver, New York Mets

1972 – Steve Carlton, Philadelphia Phillies

1971 – Ferguson Jenkins, Chicago Cubs

1970 – Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals

1969 – Tom Seaver, New York Mets

1968 – Bob Gibson, St. Louis Cardinals

1967 – Mike McCormick, San Francisco Giants

(Compiled by Frank Pingue in Toronto; Editing by Julian Linden)

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(Reuters) – List of Major League Baseball’s managers of the year following the naming of National League winner Kirk Gibson of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the American League’s Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays.

American League

2011 – Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays

2010 – Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins

2009 – Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles Angels

2008 – Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays

2007 – Eric Wedge, Cleveland Indians

2006 – Jim Leyland, Detroit Tigers

2005 – Ozzie Guillen, Chicago White Sox

2004 – Buck Showalter, Texas Rangers

2003 – Tony Pena, Kansas City Royals

2002 – Mike Scioscia, Anaheim Angels

2001 – Lou Piniella, Seattle Mariners

2000 – Jerry Manuel, Chicago White Sox

1999 – Jimy Williams, Boston Red Sox

1998 – Joe Torre, New York Yankees

1997 – Davey Johnson, Baltimore Orioles

1996 – Joe Torre, New York Yankees; Johnny Oates, Texas Rangers

1995 – Lou Piniella, Seattle Mariners

1994 – Buck Showalter, New York Yankees

1993 – Gene Lamont, Chicago White Sox

1992 – Tony La Russa, Oakland Athletics

1991 – Tom Kelly, Minnesota Twins

1990 – Jeff Torborg, Chicago White Sox

1989 – Frank Robinson, Baltimore Orioles

1988 – Tony La Russa, Oakland Athletics

1987 – Sparky Anderson, Detroit Tigers

1986 – John McNamara, Boston Red Sox

1985 – Bobby Cox, Toronto Blue Jays

1984 – Sparky Anderson, Detroit Tigers

1983 – Tony La Russa, Chicago White Sox

National League

2011 – Kirk Gibson, Arizona Diamondbacks

2010 – Bud Black, San Diego Padres

2009 – Jim Tracy, Colorado Rockies

2008 – Lou Piniella, Chicago Cubs

2007 – Bob Melvin, Arizona Diamondbacks

2006 – Joe Girardi, Florida Marlins

2005 – Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves

2004 – Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves

2003 – Jack McKeon, Florida Marlins

2002 – Tony La Russa, St. Louis Cardinals

2001 – Larry Bowa, Philadelphia Phillies

2000 – Dusty Baker, San Francisco Giants

1999 – Jack McKeon, Cincinnati Reds

1998 – Larry Dierker, Houston Astros

1997 – Dusty Baker, San Francisco Giants

1996 – Bruce Bochy, San Diego Padres

1995 – Don Baylor, Colorado Rockies

1994 – Felipe Alou, Montreal Expos

1993 – Dusty Baker, San Francisco Giants

1992 – Jim Leyland, Pittsburgh Pirates

1991 – Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves

1990 – Jim Leyland, Pittsburgh Pirates

1989 – Don Zimmer, Chicago Cubs

1988 – Tommy Lasorda, Los Angeles Dodgers

1987 – Buck Rodgers, Montreal Expos

1986 – Hal Lanier, Houston Astros

1985 – Whitey Herzog, St. Louis Cardinals

1984 – Jim Frey, Chicago Cubs

1983 – Tommy Lasorda, Los Angeles Dodgers

(Compiled by Frank Pingue in Toronto)

List of Major League Baseball’s managers
of the year following the naming of National League winner Kirk
Gibson of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the American League’s
Joe Maddon of the Tampa Bay Rays. [ID:nN1E7AF1FF]

American League

2011 – Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays

2010 – Ron Gardenhire, Minnesota Twins

2009 – Mike Scioscia, Los Angeles Angels

2008 – Joe Maddon, Tampa Bay Rays

2007 – Eric Wedge, Cleveland Indians

2006 – Jim Leyland, Detroit Tigers

2005 – Ozzie Guillen, Chicago White Sox

2004 – Buck Showalter, Texas Rangers

2003 – Tony Pena, Kansas City Royals

2002 – Mike Scioscia, Anaheim Angels

2001 – Lou Piniella, Seattle Mariners

2000 – Jerry Manuel, Chicago White Sox

1999 – Jimy Williams, Boston Red Sox

1998 – Joe Torre, New York Yankees

1997 – Davey Johnson, Baltimore Orioles

1996 – Joe Torre, New York Yankees; Johnny Oates, Texas
Rangers

1995 – Lou Piniella, Seattle Mariners

1994 – Buck Showalter, New York Yankees

1993 – Gene Lamont, Chicago White Sox

1992 – Tony La Russa, Oakland Athletics

1991 – Tom Kelly, Minnesota Twins

1990 – Jeff Torborg, Chicago White Sox

1989 – Frank Robinson, Baltimore Orioles

1988 – Tony La Russa, Oakland Athletics

1987 – Sparky Anderson, Detroit Tigers

1986 – John McNamara, Boston Red Sox

1985 – Bobby Cox, Toronto Blue Jays

1984 – Sparky Anderson, Detroit Tigers

1983 – Tony La Russa, Chicago White Sox

National League

2011 – Kirk Gibson, Arizona Diamondbacks

2010 – Bud Black, San Diego Padres

2009 – Jim Tracy, Colorado Rockies

2008 – Lou Piniella, Chicago Cubs

2007 – Bob Melvin, Arizona Diamondbacks

2006 – Joe Girardi, Florida Marlins

2005 – Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves

2004 – Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves

2003 – Jack McKeon, Florida Marlins

2002 – Tony La Russa, St. Louis Cardinals

2001 – Larry Bowa, Philadelphia Phillies

2000 – Dusty Baker, San Francisco Giants

1999 – Jack McKeon, Cincinnati Reds

1998 – Larry Dierker, Houston Astros

1997 – Dusty Baker, San Francisco Giants

1996 – Bruce Bochy, San Diego Padres

1995 – Don Baylor, Colorado Rockies

1994 – Felipe Alou, Montreal Expos

1993 – Dusty Baker, San Francisco Giants

1992 – Jim Leyland, Pittsburgh Pirates

1991 – Bobby Cox, Atlanta Braves

1990 – Jim Leyland, Pittsburgh Pirates

1989 – Don Zimmer, Chicago Cubs

1988 – Tommy Lasorda, Los Angeles Dodgers

1987 – Buck Rodgers, Montreal Expos

1986 – Hal Lanier, Houston Astros

1985 – Whitey Herzog, St. Louis Cardinals

1984 – Jim Frey, Chicago Cubs

1983 – Tommy Lasorda, Los Angeles Dodgers

 

MILWAUKEE – When the topic of his candidacy for the National League Manager of the Year award was broached by a reporter in September, Kirk Gibson bristled and got angry, perhaps the first time in sports history that an interview subject was upset by a positive question.

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Profile: Kirk Gibson

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Gibson might have to grudgingly accept some praise Wednesday.

The Baseball Writers Association of America will announce its Managers of the Year at noon (Arizona time) Wednesday, and it is widely expected that Gibson will take home some hardware. Already last month he was named the Sporting News Manager of the Year.

Gibson, attempting to keep the focus on the team and on winning, was reluctant to endorse any of his players for national awards and took the same approach when anyone suggested he were a candidate.

But now that the season is over – a season in which the Diamondbacks won 94 games, captured a division title and reached the playoffs for the first time in four years – perhaps Gibson will be a little more willing to reflect on what most consider a job well done.

“He was very important for us,” right-hander Ian Kennedy said. “His tenacity and fire for the game – the entire coaching staff had the same makeup. . . . I think that’s why we won so many games late in games.

“That never-give-in type of attitude. When your manager is harping on it all the time and he’s just as fiery late in games, it kind of rubs off on you as a player.”

In most years, the award goes to a manager whose club vastly exceeded expectations. The 2011 Diamondbacks fit those criteria. Almost no one picked them to win the division, and even some Diamondbacks players admitted to skepticism early in the season.

Gibson, meanwhile, remains “Steady Eddie,” in the words of Diamondbacks General Manager Kevin Towers.

“He kind of stayed the course,” Towers said. “He kept us on line, kept us focused and when we were winning he kept us humble. When we were losing some games, he kept us from panicking. To me, your great leaders kind of emerge during difficult times. That’s when they really need to lead. I thought he was at his best when we were at our worst, at times.”

Towers thought Gibson, who was in his first full season as a manager, looked the part of someone who had been preparing for this opportunity for years and who had learned from managers he had during his playing days, naming Jim Leyland and Sparky Anderson as influences.

Gibson was rewarded by ownership with a contract extension that runs through 2014 and includes a club option for two additional years.

His veteran coaching staff, which Gibson constantly credited for helping to implement and execute his vision, also received extensions; they are under contract through 2013.

“You know how I feel about them,” Gibson said last month. “Those guys show great leadership and direction. They didn’t waver the whole year. They’re baseball rats, and I think the guys look up to them.”