Bochy, Leyland Announce 2013 All-Star Staffs
All Four Selections Have Mets Ties as Terry Collins and Davey Johnson Will Represent N.L.; Robin Ventura and John Gibbons Invited to A.L. Staff
National League All-Star manager Bruce Bochy of the San Francisco Giants and American League All-Star manager Jim Leyland of the Detroit Tigers today announced the managers who will serve as their coaches at the 84th All-Star Game, to be played on Tuesday, July 16th at Citi Field, the home of the New York Mets.
Bochy has named Mets manager Terry Collins and Washington Nationals skipper Davey Johnson, who guided the Mets to the 1986 World Series Championship, as his N.L. coaches. Collins will be an N.L. All-Star coach for the second straight season, having also been asked by N.L. manager Tony La Russa last season, and for the third time overall (other: 1995 All-Star Game in Texas). Johnson, the 2012 N.L. Manager of the Year, managed the Senior Circuit in the 1987 Midsummer Classic in Oakland, and he served as a coach for Whitey Herzog at the 1986 All-Star Game in Houston. Johnson managed the Mets from 1984-1990, and his 595-417 (.588) mark represents the most wins and the best winning percentage in Club history. Bochy's Giants staff - third base coach Tim Flannery, bullpen coach Mark Gardner, first base coach Roberto Kelly, hitting coach Joe Lefebvre, hitting coach Hensley Meulens, pitching coach Dave Righetti and bench coach Ron Wotus - will assist with batting practice and other field duties. Head trainer Ray Ramirez of the Mets and head athletic trainer Lee Kuntz of the Nationals will tend to the N.L. All-Stars.
Leyland has invited Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura and Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons to represent the American League. Ventura, in his second year as the manager of the White Sox, was a two-time All-Star third baseman, including for the Mets in 1999, his first of three years with the Club. He was a part of the Club's National League pennant-winning 2000 season. Gibbons will serve as an A.L. coach for the second time, having worked for A.L. manager Ozzie Guillen at the 2006 Midsummer Classic in Pittsburgh. Gibbons was a catcher who played 18 games for the Mets in 1984 and 1986 before working as an instructor, coach and Minor League manager in the Mets system from 1991-2001. Leyland's Tigers coaches - Rafael Belliard (first base), Tom Brookens (third base), Toby Harrah (assistant hitting), Jeff Jones (pitching), Gene Lamont (bench), Lloyd McClendon (hitting) and Mike Rojas (bullpen) - will work with the American League All-Stars. Head athletic trainers Ron Porterfield of the Tampa Bay Rays and Rick Jameyson of the Boston Red Sox will round out the A.L. All-Star staff.
The 2013 Midsummer Classic will be played at Citi Field on Tuesday, July 16th. The 84th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. Pregame ceremonies will begin at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com or mets.com/asg.