The Indianapolis Indians will return some familiar faces to the dugout when the 2013 season begins in April. Veteran baseball man Dean Treanor is back for his third season to manage the Tribe.
Treanor, entering his 26th season as either a coach or manager, skippered the Indians to the most wins in all of Minor League Baseball (89) while capturing an IL West Division Title in 2012.
The Tribe ranked tied for first in Triple-A baseball with a stellar 48-24 mark at home. Treanor's steady hand was key in developing a mix of young prospects and unselfish veterans to a division title. He guided the club, despite numerous roster call-ups and transactions, to a 89-55 record. It was easily the club's best finish in the Victory Field Era, and was the most wins since the team went 89-53 during the 1988 campaign. Treanor and the Tribe coaching staff also saw 26 players wear both an Indians and Pirates uniform, with seven making their Major League debut.
"Dean Treanor's leadership was a big part of our having the best record in Triple-A Baseball last year," Indians Vice President & General Manager Cal Burleson said. "He showed that when you instruct players on the right way to play the game that you can both win at the Triple-A level and develop players for the Major Leagues."
Treanor will be joined by a familiar face in pitching coach Tom Filer. Filer, a former major league pitcher, oversaw a staff that led the International League in earned runs average, shutouts, and innings pitched, while surrendering the fewest hits and runs of any staff in the IL. "Tom Filer did a great job with our young pitching last year, and we led the International League with a team ERA of 3.15," Burleson said
Tribe trainer Bryan Housand will also be back in Indianapolis for his third year after joining the Indians in 2011.
A new addition to the field staff in 2013 is hitting Coach Mike Pagliarulo. The former major leaguer starts his coaching career following an 11-year playing career that included stints with five Major League teams and features a World Series Title with the Minnesota Twins in 1991. He replaces Jeff Branson, who joined the Indians parent club, Pittsburgh, as an assistant hitting coach.
Smoke Signals: The Indians open their season at Victory Field against the Columbus Clippers on April 4...The Indians annual "Hot Stove luncheon" takes place January 31 at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Indianapolis. Clint Hurdle, manager of the parent club Pittsburgh Pirates, is the featured speaker.
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