Angels hire Anderson to manage Triple-A club

ANAHEIM -- The Angels have brought in longtime Dodgers infielder and former Rangers coach Dave Anderson to be their new Triple-A manager, a position vacated after Keith Johnson was moved to roving infield coordinator.

Anderson, who spent last year as the Orioles' Minor League infield coordinator, played for the Dodgers from 1983-89 and then in his final season in '92, winning the World Series in '88, while teaming up with Angels manager Mike Scioscia.

Anderson served as third-base coach for the Rangers from 2009-12, but was flipped to the first-base side because then-Rangers manager Ron Washington felt moving Gary Pettis to third would lead to a more aggressive approach. Anderson was let go after the 2013 season.

While serving as third-base coach in April 2011, Anderson found himself in the middle of controversy with former Rangers outfielder and current Angels left fielder Josh Hamilton, who broke a bone in his arm and missed six weeks on a headfirst slide at home plate.

Hamilton tried to score on a popup in foul territory, after Anderson told him no one was covering home, and sustained the injury when Tigers catcher Victor Martinez scrambled back to apply the tag. Hamilton called the play "stupid" after the game and "dumb" the following day, but he eventually apologized to Anderson and took responsibility, telling reporters, "I had the choice not to go or the choice to go. I just appreciate Dave having confidence in my ability to think I could make that play."

Anderson represents the second ex-Rangers coach to be hired by the Angels this offseason, joining former bench coach and interim manager Tim Bogar, who was brought back as a special assistant to general manager Jerry Dipoto.

The Angels have also promoted Bill Richardson to manage the Double-A Arkansas Travelers, after he spent the 2014 season as skipper for Class A Burlington. Richardson takes over for Phillip Wellman, who will not return.