Toronto Blue Jays @ Bare Baseball - Baseball MLB Blog

Basso named new Skychiefs manager

SYRACUSE (NY) -- The Toronto Blue Jays announced today that MIKE BASSO has been named the new manager of the Syracuse SkyChiefs, becoming the 35th manager in Syracuse franchise history. BASSO replaces MARTY PEVEY who guided the SkyChiefs to a 137-151 record in his two seasons as manager.
BASSO, 41, has managed in the Blue Jays Organization for the past three seasons, the last two with Double-A New Hampshire, accumulating a record of 291-193. Under BASSO'S direction the Fisher Cats captured the 2004 Eastern League Championship, becoming the first Blue Jays affiliate above the Class A level to win a league title. In his first season in the Jays organization, 2003, BASSO's Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays lost in the finals of the Florida State League Championship. BASSO was named the Florida State League Manager of the Year in 2003 and the Eastern League Manager of the Year in 2004.
Overall BASSO owns a record of 628-565 in nine seasons as a Manager and has led his team to the playoffs in six of the nine seasons. He made his managerial debut with the San Diego Padres Single-A affiliate in Idaho Falls in 1995 leading the club to the playoffs with a 42-29 record. BASSO managed in the Padres system for six years including Double-A Mobile in 1999 and 2000 and also was an advance scout for the Padres in 2001and 2002.
As a player BASSO enjoyed a nine year professional career as a catcher, all in the San Diego Padres organization, progressing as far as Triple-A Las Vegas where he played in a combined 57 games in 1992 and 1993 before spending his last season as a player-coach for the Padres Single-A affiliate in Rancho Cucamonga in 1994.
BASSO will lead the SkyChiefs into action for the first time when the SkyChiefs open the 2006 season at home on Thursday April 6th against the Rochester Red Wings.
DICK SCOTT, the Blue Jays Director of Player Development, says, "Mike is truly deserving of this great opportunity with the success he's enjoyed over the past three seasons in our system. He does an excellent job of communicating with his players and earning their respect. He also works well with our front office to implement things on the field that fit with our strategy as an organization."

Source: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/

posted by David @ 3:13 AM