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Bogar named first base coach

Email|Link|Comments (7) Posted by Amalie Benjamin, Globe Staff November 28, 2008 12:33 PM

The Red Sox have filled out their coaching staff by plucking someone from one of their American League East rivals.

Tim Bogar, who spent last season as an assistant major league coach with the Tampa Bay Rays, was named Boston's first base coach today. He replaces Luis Alicea, who was let go shortly after the postseason ended.

Bogar, who had a quick conference call with the media, along with manager Terry Francona at 2 p.m., spent last season in charge of infield and baserunning instruction for Tampa Bay, and also helped with advance series preparation. He also worked as a minor league manager in the Indians and Astros systems.

The new Sox first base coach seemed excited to get back on the field. While he worked in a number of capacities for the Rays last season, he was not part of the uniformed crew, which he will be with the Sox this season.

"It was a very unique situation where I got to deal with very different areas, the scouting side, the front office," Bogar said. "But also dealing with the major league staff, going over the game of the previous night. It opened up my eyes to what went on at this level. I also missed being on the field ... having a direct impact as the game progresses on. I'm really looking forward to having that again."

Bogar, 44, played nine major league seasons, primarily as a shortstop, with the New York Mets (1993-96), Houston (1997-2000) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2001), compiling a .228 batting average with 24 home runs and 161 RBI in 701 games.

Bogar is the only new addition to the Sox coaching staff, after the team retained the rest of its coaches. Though both bench coach Brad Mills and third base coach DeMarlo Hale interviewed in Seattle, they will return to the staff when the Mariners decided on Don Wakamatsu.

"Already sent him some emails this morning," Francona said. "It's not rocket science. Baseball getting played correctly is what we're trying to do. Getting some of his opinions, too. [He'll] be in charge of the infield play, be in charge of how we align ourselves in the infield defensively, infield drills in spring training."

Here is a deeper look at Bogar's somewhat innovative duties with the Rays.

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7 comments so far...

Can't help but wonder if the idea here isn't to gain some insight into the Rays' organization and methods.

Posted by Mister Snitch November 28, 08 01:59 PM

Sorry to nit-pick.
You wrote that Bogar is "anxious" to get back on the field.
Should you have instead written that he is "eager" to get back on the field? The difference between the words is not subtle.

Posted by Chris in Illinois November 28, 08 03:37 PM

I got to meet Tim Bogar two summers ago while I was the visiting clubhouse manager for the Connecticut Defenders, he was the coach of the Akron Aeros at the time. He was one of the nicest coaches I got to work with that year in the Eastern League and he is definitely a players manager. His clubhouses are pretty laid back but he will lay down the hammer when need be when the team gets pretty laxed (which he did one time after one of the games). I got to talk to him each game because he was good friends with out home clubhouse manager back in their Port St. Lucie days (Our clubby use to run the Port St. Lucie Mets, the Mets spring training complex and rookie ballculb). He had a lot of good things to say about Bogar, also Bodar was voted Manager of the Year twice in the Eastern Leaghue and one of the best prospecs to be a futue MLB Manager.

Posted by Torps November 28, 08 08:27 PM

Thsi could be viewed as a racist move by Henry's Plantation.

This team is getting whiter and whiter.

Posted by southshoreashley November 28, 08 08:44 PM

Accusations of racism are becoming more and more like accusations of farting: He who smelt it, probably dealt it.

Posted by Mister Snitch November 29, 08 04:26 PM

Those who know the inner workings of the Red Sox clubhouse are fully aware of the Latino/white divide. Further, it appears anyone that may have had a relationship with Manny are paying the price. Although I am sure Bogar brings talent and experience to the Red Sox...someone is going to have to give me a concrete reason why Alicea was let go...Maybe if he was a white guy with the last name 'smith' and one of Tito's buddies, maybe Alicea would be around. Listen to what Pedrioa has expressed about Alicea's contribution to his success...Don't ignore the race issue...walk around the streets of Boston, look at the roster and the coaching staff of the Sox...look in the stands...open your eyes

Posted by David November 30, 08 10:17 AM

Apropo 'racism': The next 'Extra Bases' post down describes the Sox' imminent acquisition of another Asian pitcher. Interesting that, for some, 'racism' refers ONLY to blacks, as if other races didn't matter. (Which is the very essense of racism.)

Ortiz? Dominican, well-loved, and black-skinned as it happens. Well-compensated Hispanic Manny Ramirez is only gone because he WANTED out. And Ellsbury? American Indian, thank you.

For that matter, the charges of 'racism' conveniently concerns itself only the present mixture of the big club, because 2 of the top ten Sox Prospects are blacks, while another is Asian, and a fourth is Hispanic. In other words, 40% of the top Sox prospects are non-white.

Why this 'racist' organization signs non-whites (at hefty fees), only to throw them away later (since of course "only whites can play in Boston") is beyond me. But if one insists of slinging accusations of racism, one can always concoct a reason.

It's too bad these lame accusations occasionally find a place in this forum. They shouldn't.

Posted by Mister Snitch November 30, 08 11:14 AM