Ex-Syracuse manager joins Johnson’s staff The Nationals announced manager Davey Johnson’s coaching staff for the 2012 season on Thursday.
The only addition is veteran minor league manager Randy Knorr as Johnson’s bench coach. And even Knorr, the manager at Triple-A Syracuse in 2011, isn’t new to the team or the organization. Knorr has been with the franchise in some capacity since 2005. He previously served as the interim bullpen coach for part of the 2006 season and as the full-time bullpen coach in 2009. Knorr takes over for Pat Corrales, 70, who served as Johnson’s bench coach the final three months of 2011 but moved to an advisory role when the season ended.
As a manager for parts of six seasons in Washington’s minor league system, Knorr has previously worked with 24 of the 32 players on the Nats’ 40-man roster. He led the Single-A Potomac Nationals to the 2008 Carolina League championship. Knorr, 43, had a 11-year big league career with five different teams. He is considered a candidate to replace the 68-year-old Johnson whenever he decides to retire or is replaced.
Otherwise, the coaching staff that Johnson kept together after the abrupt resignation of manager Jim Riggleman on June 23 returns intact. Hitting coach Rick Eckstein and pitching coach Steve McCatty are both back for their fourth full seasons. Eckstein was often singled out by Washington’s position players last year for his hard work and preparation. McCatty has built a strong relationship with right-hander Stephen Strasburg and nurtured a young starting rotation that also includes Jordan Zimmermann, John Lannan and Ross Detwiler.
Bullpen coach Jim Lett returns for his third season in that role. Third-base coach Bo Porter, who interviewed for the Florida Marlins’ managerial position in September, was hired before the 2011 season to join Riggleman’s staff. He is also considered a candidate to replace Johnson. First-base coach Trent Jewett took over that position after Dan Radison was fired a week after Riggleman, his good friend, resigned. Jewett began last year on the big league staff as a quality-control coach but was not in uniform during games.
