Rick Wise returns as pitching coach;
Butch Hobson to manage Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
Von Hayes is the new manager of the Barnstormers. He was selected from a top-notch field of candidates, which included former Lancaster skipper Tom Herr.
“I can’t imagine a better place than Lancaster to manage in minor league baseball,” Hayes said in a team statement.
“The facilities and the organization are first class, and I am truly excited to be back in the Philly area. I’m looking forward to working with the veteran professionals in the Atlantic League and giving them every opportunity to get back to Major League Baseball. Our coaches and players will be as committed to winning as our front office for our loyal fans whose support and enthusiasm I have heard so much about.”
Keith Lupton, the team’s head of baseball operations, said there were a few factors that pushed Hayes to the top of the list. He was highly recommended by his past employers. He was a former member of the Phillies. He represented a fresh start for the organization.
“We got outstanding reports from other places about him,” Lupton said. “They said, ‘We’ll take him back in a minute.’ We were impressed with that.”
Hayes’ credentials are tough to match. He managed for four seasons in affiliated ball, two in Single-A and two in Double-A. He won championships in both the California League and Texas League and was named manager of the year in both places.
To read more about Hayes, check out these interviews:
As expected, Rick Wise is returning. He has verbally agreed to a new contract and will serve as Hayes’ pitching coach. The team will also name a hitting coach, although no timetable has been set for that announcement.
Hayes becomes the fourth manager in Barnstormers history. Herr went 139-127 and won a championship in his two seasons. Frank Klebe was 32-41 before being fired on July 22. Wise posted a 25-28 mark while filling in on an interim basis.
Although he was a late addition to Lancaster’s search, Hayes ultimately vaulted above all of the men who wanted this job — including Herr, Butch Hobson, Wally Backman and Gary Carter. Hayes had the perfect combination of experience, past success and fan appeal.
Hobson has been named manager of the expansion Southern Maryland Blue Crabs.
Sounds good. Exciting.
Dittos, even though I am NOT a phillies fan.
I can just see everyone, even AA, going through their basball card collection right now pulling out all of his old cards to get signed.
Exciting times.
Welcome to Lancaster Mr. Hayes.
A little more information …
Hobson will also be serving as the head of baseball operations in SoMd. Andy Etchebarren, a managerial candidate in Lancaster and SoMd, was named the Blue Crabs’ bench coach.
Ryan Minor and Cecil Fielder were among the other candidates for the Blue Crabs, who are still seeking a pitching coach.
Hope Mr. Hayes enjoy’s brownies
Remember Syd, NO sweets, just health food for the new manager.
Jason, do you think Minor will stay in York?
I haven’t talked to Minor since the season ended — when he said he was taking this on a year-to-year basis. If he wants to keep coaching, I’m sure the job in York will be there for him.
Congratulations, Von Hayes and great news for the Barnstormers. Looking forward to April and the return of baseball!
I was really disappointed with the Barnstormers organization last year to the point of not renewing my season tickets in 2008. This move, however, shows me senior management does get it. I was concerned after reading the synopsis of Tom Herr’s interview that he was not the one to eradicate the lack of professionalism that permeated the team last year. I believe Von Hayes will not have any misplaced allegiances to last year’s players and is the right guy to lead the team to a fresh start.
Von needs brownies.. we need to fatten him up a bit.
Jason, do you have a weight on him?
Well, I certainly hope Mr. Hayes can impart some fundamentals to this Team. Last year was painful to watch. There didn’t seem to be any pride last year. As well as they played the year before, that’s how bad last year was.
Good Luck Von. Give us something to be proud of and this town will give you the key to the City. When they say we’re the best Fans in Minor League baseball, it’s an accurate statement.
So what’s going to happen with Herr?
Where does he end up now? Did he miscalculate Lancaster’s interesting in him for their opening?
It really is amazing to think that Lancaster had a Hall of Famer and a ‘former’ MLB manager in their pool.
Congrats to Von.
The Barnstormers have learned some lessons from last season. They separated the baseball operations and they went through an exhaustive search for a new manager — all in an effort to make sure 2007 doesn’t repeat itself.
To me, this is exciting. I’m looking forward to next year and I can’t say that was the case in September. I think the level of play across the board is going to be better with guys like Hayes and Hobson helping to find players.
Also, fans are going to like Hayes. He has a friendly way about him.
I totally appreciate the search process they went through. I also was impressed with the quality of candidates they were able to bring to the table.
Hayes does have proven success which some of the others did not have.
I am glad they didn’t decide to go with Herr. They have at least made an effort to look to the future and not dwell in the past. That is a good thing to me.
Tommy did have 1 excellent point. Last season the hitting wasn’t the problem. If they don’t improve the Pitching this season, 2008 will be a duplicate of 2007 no matter who manages the team. When your Pitching Coach is the 3rd best Pitcher on your team…well….:)
I was rooting for Butch Hobson to get the Barnstormer job. But I figured that Von Hayes’s pull as a fan favorite would get him the job. With so many Phillie fans in the area, I figured he had the job.
I liked Hobson because of his experience as a manager in the Atlantic League. But I am sure that all of the candidates are well qualified and I understand if they took Hayes due to his Phillie popularity. I am sure it is why they picked Herr for the first two years.
Good luck, Von Hayes.
When is spring training? I’m ready!
Mike
Syd:
You should tell Mr. Hayes he can pick up his brownies at the next Booster Club meeting
….. Almost 11 hours since the announcement and still nothing on the Barnstormers website ….. Only 86 days until Spring Training starts ….. Only 16 hrs until Jimmy Rollins is named MVP
Way to Lancaster Von Hayes and I want to wish you luck for 2008. Hope you enjoy brownies or choc. chip cookies
Von Hayes… Imagine that!
I am sure he will do an excellent job at the helm of the Barnstormers.
Welcome to Lancaster, Von. We are all looking forward to a great 2008 season.
Meet and Greet on Monday at The Clip.
dadTB
May be no announcement on the website, but they did send out an email blast to their promo list about Von Hayes.
Amy – what’s going on with the booster club? I wasn’t able to make the first meeting and never heard if anything came from it.
It is good to hear that the Ole Jason is back and looking forward to baseball at the clip. I was worried that you were not going to be around after hearing you talk at the end of last season.
Maybe now I can hold off on the mass producing of the positive pills.
Here are a few ideas to welcome our new manager and maybe put on the promotion list:
6/11/85 Von became the 1st player in MLB history to hit 2 hrs in the 1st inning of a game. Unfortunatly we are on the road at Newark 6/11/08, but maybe have something on Sunday 6/8/08 or Friday 6/13/08.
There is actaully a local band in the Philly are called Von Hayes. I know nothing about them, I stumbled across them when I did a Google search on Von Hayes. Maybe we get them to “Rock The Clip” after a game this year? I tried to post this earlier but the link to their website kept this in the waiting for moderation limbo.
As a follow up to post #25, apparantly the band is aware of what is going on. Here is a comment they had on their website:
Friday, November 09, 2007
Can you see The Real Von?
Can ya. Can ya?! After a stint managing in the Oakland A’s farm system, our namesake, the real Von Hayes, is a serious candidate to manage the Lancaster Barnstomers, a minor league team in good old Lancaster, Pa.
Read the story here.
Oddly enough, one member of the rock version of Von spent a good deal of time out in them there parts.
So we say let us use the comments section of this blog entry as a petition area of sorts. If we get enough of you all calling for Von to take the reigns of the Barnstormers, I’ll send the comments to the Lancaster papers and git-r-done.
Here’s Von at the press conference after the interview. GO VON!
Scottie, for post #22.
Go to http://www.Barnstormersboosters.org
The site is under construction but looking GREAT, thanks Laurie !!!!!!
You can also e-mail me at olivialancaster@comcast.net
Anyone feel the press release was tacky in that it mentioned all the other candidates/job applicants?
Definitely tacky.
Thanks Syd.
How did i miss that?!