Living the minor league life

Jacque Jones, seen with Ron Gardenhire during 2010
spring training, is done as a player but not out of
baseball.

The issue of Baseball America that showed up in my mailbox Tuesday devoted a page to listing the managers and coaches of the various affiliated minor league teams.

It's interesting reading in a where-are-they-now sense. Some highlights:

Former Cy Young Award winners now coaching in the minors: Doug Drabek (Visalia , Diamondbacks High A); Frank Viola (Savannah, Mets Low A).

Former MVPs now working in the minors: Ryne Sandberg (manager, Phillies Triple A)

Perfect-game pitchers now coaching in the minors: Dennis Martinez (Palm Beach, St. Louis High A); Tom Browning (Reds Low A)

Guys who caught for Tom Kelly/Ron Gardenhire managing in the minors: Matthew LeCroy (Nationals Double A); Mike Redmond (Blue Jays High A); Tom Prince (Pirates Rookie); Marcus Jensen (Athletics Rookie); Tom Nieto (Yankees Rookie); Brian Harper (Cubs High A)

Guys who played for Kelly/Gardenhire working in the Twins system: Tom Brunansky (coach, Triple A); Tommy Watkins (coach, Low A); Jim Dwyer (coach, High A); Jeff Reed (coach, Rookie)

Other guys who played for Kelly/Gardenhire: Doug Mientkiewicz (coach, Dodgers Rookie); Jacque Jones (coach, Padres Low A); Paul Abbott (coach, Red Sox short-season); Denny Hocking (coach, Orioles Double A); Mike Mason (coach, Cubs Triple A); Phil Nevin (manager, Tigers Triple A); Brian Buchanan (manager, Royals Low A); Scott Aldred (coach, Yankees Triple A); Scott Erickson (coach, Indians High A); Greg Colbrunn coach, Yankees Low A); Paul Sorrento (coach, Angels High A); Wally Backman (manager, Mets Triple A)

Ex-Twins who predate the Kelly/Gardenhire era: Butch Wynegar (coach, Yankees Triple A); Rick Sofield (manager, Pirates Low A); Steve Luebber (coach, Royals High A); Gary Ward (coach, White Sox High A)

Former major league managers: Phil Regan (coach, Mets High A); Jim Riggleman (manager, Reds Double A); John Gibbons (manager, Padres Double A); Tom Treblehorn (manager, Giants short-season). I suspect that the Edwin Rodriguez managing the Indians' High A team is the former Marlins manager of the same name.