Pirates name Minor League coaches

PITTSBURGH -- Pirates farm director Kyle Stark announced the organization's Minor League coaching staff Tuesday, with the only managerial change coming at the Class A Short-Season level of the farm system.

That lone new managerial face is veteran coach Brad Fischer, who takes over as skipper of the New York-Penn League State College club. Fischer joins the organization after spending the last 29 years coaching at the Major League and Minor League levels for Oakland. He had been hired by the Pirates in December to serve as the farm system's roving catching instructor and will fill that position until the State College season begins.

Filling out Fischer's staff will be former Pirate Sid Bream as the team's new hitting coach and Wilson Alvarez as the team's pitching coach for the second straight year.

Both manager Trent Jewett and hitting coach Hensley Meulens will return to the Triple-A Indianapolis staff. For Jewett, the 2008 season will mark his 15th as a Minor League manager for the Pittsburgh system, including 11 years at the Triple-A level. Meulens will be entering his fourth season as the Indians' hitting instructor.

In addition, joining the Indians' staff will be former Double-A Altoona pitching coach Ray Searage, who will take over as Indianapolis' pitching coach in what will be his sixth season in the organization and 31st season in professional baseball. Searage takes the position that was left vacant when Indians pitching coach Jeff Andrews joined the Pirates' Major League staff.

The Altoona club will be managed by Tim Leiper for the third straight year. Leiper, who has managed the Curve to back-to-back winning seasons, will again be joined by coach Brandon Moore, as well as new pitching coach Brad Holman. Holman, who has six seasons as a Minor League pitching coach under his belt, spent the previous two years coaching for the Mariners Double-A affiliate.

Both of Pittsburgh's Class A clubs will be retaining their managers, with Lynchburg skipper Jeff Branson set to begin his fifth season managing in the Pirates farm system and Gary Green returning for his third year at the helm in Hickory.

Tom Prince will be returning to manage the Gulf Coast Rookie League Pirates for a second season.

Marte aids with no-no: Pirates reliever Damaso Marte found himself in the middle of a no-hit bid on Monday when he came into the seventh inning of a Dominican Winter League playoff game. Marte relieved Ervin Santana (Los Angeles Angels) and kept Santana's no-hitter intact by inducing a groundout, a popup and three strike outs before handing the ball over to Carlos Marmol (Cubs), who finished the no-hit feat for the Licey club.