Bob Kipper is the new Sea Dogs Pitching coach (Stewart Smith Photography)
The Boston Red Sox have announced the coaching staff for the 2010 Portland Sea Dogs. Arnie Beyeler will return to manage the Sea Dogs for a record fourth season. Beyeler will once again be joined by hitting coach Dave Joppie, who returns for his third season with the team. Bob Kipper will replace Mike Cather as the teams’ pitching coach. Kipper served as the Sea Dogs pitching coach in 2003 and 2004. Cather will serve as an advance scout for the Red sox in 2010. Paul Buchheit joins the Sea Dogs as the team’s athletic trainer. Mike Hazen, Boston’s Director of Player Development, made the announcement.
Arnie Beyeler, 45, returns for his record fourth season as the Portland Sea Dogs Manager. Carlos Tosca is the only other Sea Dogs manager to log three years of service, he managed the club from 1994-1996. The 2010 season will be Beyeler’s tenth season as a minor league manager. In 2009, Beyeler led the team to a 67-74 record. In three seasons as the Sea Dogs’ Skipper, Beyeler has recorded a 212-212 record and led the team into the playoffs in 2007 and 2008.
Prior to joining the Sea Dogs in 2007, Beyeler served as the hitting coach in 2006 for the San Diego Padres Double-A affiliate; Mobile BayBears. In the fall of 2006 he served as a coach under former Sea Dogs manager Todd Claus with the West Oahu CaneFires in the Hawaiian Winter Baseball League. He previously spent three years managing in the Texas Rangers organization, where he led the Stockton Ports to the California League playoffs in 2003 and 2004.
The 2010 season will mark Beyeler’s seventh season in the Red Sox organization. Previously Beyeler managed Boston’s New York-Penn League team, the Lowell Spinners, in 2000 and 2001 and skippered the South Atlantic League Augusta Green Jackets in 2002. While in the Red Sox organization he managed current Red Sox players Manny Delcarmen, Jacoby Ellsbury, Jed Lowrie, and Kevin Youkilis. Prior to his time with the Red Sox, Beyeler spent three years coaching in the Yankees organization including two seasons with the Eastern League Norwich Navigators (1998, 1999). From 1992-1996, he served as an area scout for the Detroit Tigers.
As a player, he was a middle infielder in the Tigers system from 1986 to 1991 reaching as high as Triple-A Toledo in 1991. In 584 minor league games over six seasons, he batted .254 with 69 stolen bases. His best season came in 1987 where he hit .285 in 127 games at Single-A Fayetteville.
Beyeler is a graduate of Wichita State with a degree in communications. He earned all-conference and all-region honors during his stint with the Shockers. He also has a degree from Lamar (CO) Community College. Beyeler resides in Ponte Verda Beach, Florida.
Dave Joppie, 44, returns for his third season as the Sea Dogs’ Hitting Coach. Last season the Sea Dogs offense ranked first in the Eastern League in walks (558) and doubles (279), and ranked second in on base percentage (.341). Prior to joining the Sea Dogs in 2008, he spent two seasons as the Red Sox Class High A hitting coach, serving as the Lancaster JetHawks hitting coach in 2007 and with the Wilmington Blue Rocks in 2006. In 2007 with the JetHawks, Joppie led the team to a California League best .296 team average. The team also led the league in home runs (217) and hits (1,081). Previously Joppie managed the Single-A team in Kane County (Oakland Athletics) in 2004 and 2005. In 2004 he led the Kane County Cougars to an 83-56 record and Western Division Championship. He was selected as the Midwest League Manager of the Year and Baseball America’s Class Low A Manager of the Year. Joppie has 14 seasons of professional baseball coaching experience; the 2009 season will be his fourth in the Red Sox organization. The Grand Rapids, Michigan native is an NCAA Division II, III, and NAIA basketball official.
Bob Kipper, 44, rejoins the Sea Dogs as the teams’ pitching coach in 2010. Kipper served as the Sea Dogs’ pitching coach in 2003 and 2004. Since leaving the Sea Dongs in 2004, Kipper has continued coaching in the Red Sox system including four years as the pitching coach for Single-A Greenville (2005-2006 & 2008-2009) and one season for Single-A Lancaster (2007). Last season with Greenville, the Drive pitching staff ranked third in the South Atlantic League in ERA (3.38). In 2002, Kipper served as Boston’s bullpen coach. Kipper has been coaching in baseball since 1995. He joined the Red Sox organization in 1999. The lefty pitched eight seasons in the Major Leagues with the California Angels, Pittsburg Pirates, and Minnesota Twins. In 271 Major League games, he posted a 27-37 record with 11 saves and a 4.34 ERA.
Paul Buchheit joins the Sea Dogs in 2010 as the teams’ athletic trainer after serving as the athletic trainer for the Single-A Salem Red Sox in 2009. The 2010 season will be Buchheit’s seventh in the Red Sox organization. He spent three seasons as the athletic trainer for the Greenville Drive (2006-2008). Previously, he served as an intern with the Lowell Spinners in 2005 and the Sarasota Red Sox in 2004. Buchheit graduated from Buena Vista (IA) University and received his Master’s Degree in Athletic Training from the University of Northern Iowa. He is Athletic trainer certified and a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist.
Beyeler will be attending the Portland Sea Dogs Hot Stove Dinner and Silent Auction on Friday, January 15th at the Wyndam Hotel in South Portland, Maine. Former Sea Dogs and current Red Sox Jed Lowrie and Josh Reddick highlight the event. The dinner and auction benefit the Maine Children’s Cancer Program. Tickets are available for $50.00 by calling the Sea Dogs Ticket Office at 207-879-9500 or online at www.seadogs.com.
