Meet The 2012 Cubs Coaching Staff
(CBS) Cubs manager Dale Sveum announced his 2012 coaching staff Friday. Here's how it shakes out with bios provided by the team:
Pitching Coach - Chris Bosio
Bosio, 48, begins his third stint as a big league pitching coach, previously coaching in the majors for Tampa Bay in 2003 and Milwaukee in 2009. He became the Brewers advance scout following the 2009 campaign and remained in that role until being named pitching coach for Milwaukee's Triple-A Nashville affiliate during the 2011 campaign. Bosio enjoyed an 11-year big league career, finishing 94-93 with a 3.96 ERA in 309 major league outings, 246 as a starter, with Milwaukee (1986-1992) and Seattle (1993-96).
The former righthander worked as a special assignment pitching coach in Seattle's system from 2000-02, including a stint as Triple-A Tacoma's pitching coach, before joining Lou Piniella's major league staff in Tampa Bay. He went home to Wisconsin for four years from 2004-07, coaching collegiately, before returning to the pro ranks in 2008 as Double-A Chattanooga's pitching coach in Cincinnati's system and Nashville's pitching coach in 2009.
Hitting Coach - Rudy Jaramillo
Jaramillo, 61, returns for his third season on the Cubs coaching staff and his 18th-straight campaign (and 22nd overall) at the major league level as a hitting coach. Prior to joining the Cubs, Jaramillo spent 15 seasons with the Texas Rangers (1995-2009) and four seasons with the Houston Astros (1990-93). Overall, the 2012 campaign will mark his 34th season in professional baseball as a player or coach.
Bench Coach - Jamie Quirk
Quirk, 57, joins the Cubs organization with 18 years of major league coaching experience with three organizations, including 12 seasons as a big league bench coach with Kansas City (1996-2001) and Colorado (2003-08). He also served two stints as a major league bullpen coach with Kansas City (1994-95) and Houston (2010-11). Quirk spent 2009 as a pro scout and serving as third base coach for Team USA in the World Cup in Europe.
The former big league catcher played for eight teams during his 18-year major league career (1975-92) and was a member of the 1985 World Champion Royals. Overall, Quirk batted .240 with 43 home runs and 247 RBI in 984 big league games.
First Base Coach - Dave McKay
McKay, 61, joins the Cubs after spending the last 16 seasons as St. Louis's first base coach. Overall, the 2012 campaign marks his 27th season as a big league coach, as he spent 10 seasons on Tony LaRussa's coaching staff in Oakland as a first base coach, bullpen coach and bench coach prior to St. Louis. He has been a member of three World Champion staffs – 1989 in Oakland as well as 2006 and 2011 in St. Louis.
The former infielder played all or part of eight seasons in the big leagues with Minnesota (1975-76), Toronto (1977-79) and Oakland (1980-82). He spent the 1983 season in the minor leagues as a player/coach before joining Oakland's major league staff in 1984.
Third Base Coach - Pat Listach
Listach, 44, returns for his second season on the Cubs coaching staff after serving as bench coach in 2011. It is his fourth overall season on a big league staff, as he was the third base coach for the Washington Nationals from 2009-10. The 2012 season marks Listach's 13th as a professional coach or manager, his 11th in the Cubs organization (also 2000-08 at the minor league level). The 1992 American League Rookie of the Year, Listach played six big league seasons in Milwaukee (1992-96) and Houston (1997).
Bullpen Coach - Lester Strode
Strode, 53, returns for his sixth season as Cubs bullpen coach and his 24th year in the Cubs organization. Prior to his current role, Strode spent 11 seasons as the organization's minor league pitching coordinator (1996-2006), two seasons with the big league club as a pitching assistant (1994-95) and five seasons as a minor league pitching coach (1989-1993). Strode pitched professionally in the minor leagues for nine seasons (1980-88) in the Kansas City, Baltimore, St. Louis and Cubs farm systems.
Staff Assistant (Catchers and Advanced Scouting) - Mike Borzello
Borzello, 41, joins the Cubs with 16 years of experience with major league clubs. He spent the last four seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers as their bullpen catcher, a stint that followed 12 years in the New York Yankees organization starting in 1996 (roles included bullpen catcher and batting practice pitcher). Borzello was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1991 and spent five years in their system before joining the Yankees.
Staff Assistant (Hitting) - Franklin Font
Font, 34, returns for his 18th season in the Cubs organization, his first at the major league level. He spent the last three seasons as the Cubs minor league infield coordinator. Font played in the Cubs system for six seasons from 1995-2000 before becoming a Single-A Daytona staff assistant in 2001. He has served the Cubs as a minor league manager, hitting coach and coordinator during the last 10 seasons starting in 2002.
