Machemer back to manage Defenders
"I really like the new look, and I'm very excited for the upcoming season," Machemer said from his home in Stevensville, Michigan. "We'll have some fresh new faces from the San Jose (Class A) team that won it all last year that will mix with our team and make us very competitive."
Last season was Machemer's first in the Giants' organization. The team rallied down the stretch, going 7-1 in the last eight games, to finish the year 71-71 and just three games back of a playoff spot. Several players moved up the organizational ladder to contribute with Triple-A Fresno and San Francisco, including RHP Jeremy Accardo, RHP Seung Song, C Eliezer Alfonzo, RHP Brian Wilson and IF Kevin Frandsen.
The 71 team wins in 2005 gave Machemer 1,128 career managerial victories, which ranked him seventh among all active managers at the end of last season. He becomes the fourth skipper to pilot consecutive seasons in Norwich (Trey Hillman, 1997-98; Stump Merrill, 2001-02; Shane Turner, 2003-04) and would need 69 wins to become the franchise's all-time wins leader.
Machemer, 54, will begin his 16th year as a manager, and his 33rd in professional baseball. He was drafted by the California Angles in 1972 and reached the Majors with the Angels and Tigers organizations. He has managed in the Brewers, Expos and Orioles organizations, including time with Eastern League affiliates Bowie (Baltimore) and Harrisburg (Montreal/Washington).
The remainder of the 2006 field staff includes the return of Bob Stanley and Serbus and the new addition of Davenport.
Stanley, 51, returns to Norwich for the third consecutive season and his fourth straight with the Giants' system. He has worked with many of the young arms which make up the Giants' most promising prospects, including Matt Cain, Brad Hennessey, Scott Munter, Jack Taschner and Accardo. "Steamer" is best remembered for his stellar 13-year Major League career with the Boston Red Sox from 1977-89.
Stanley still holds Boston franchise records for career games (637), saves (132) and relief wins (85).
Davenport, 46, will begin his third consecutive season in the Giants' organization, his first at the Double-A level. After working as a roving hitting instructor in 2004 between San Jose and Salem-Keizer (Short Season), he served as the hitting coach for the San Jose team last year that won the California League championship. The 2005 San Jose Giants dominated the league in 2005, setting franchise records for batting average (.295), doubles (292) and home runs (143).
Davenport was drafted by the Giants in the 27th round of the 1981 draft from Santa Clara University. Over the next three years, he advanced to Double-A before he began playing and coaching professionally in South Africa and Italy. He is the son of Jim Davenport, who spent his all of his 13-year Major League career with the Giants from 1958-70. Jim Davenport currently works for the Giants as a special assistant for player personnel.
Serbus, 28, returns for his third consecutive season with the San Francisco organization, all in Norwich. He previously worked in the Tigers' system for four years, including the 2003 season with Eastern League affiliate Erie. He earned his bachelor's degree in athletic training from Illinois State University in 1997 and went on to earn his master's degree in exercise science from Southwest Texas State University in 2000. He resides in the Chicago area.