-

Caroline native Tony Beasley won't return with Washington Nationals

By TODD JACOBSON

Date published: 11/1/2006

By TODD JACOBSON

The Nationals and third base coach Tony Beasley officially parted ways yesterday, but the Bowling Green native said he is preparing to accept a job as the minor league infield coordinator for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Beasley, 39, reached the major leagues for the first time in his career when he was named the Nationals' third base coach last winter, but he had been waiting to learn his fate since Nationals manager Frank Robinson was officially fired Sept. 30.

Beasley's contract expired yesterday.

"A lot of my heart and soul is still there," Beasley said. "I just have to turn the page and move on."

Though the Nationals are still searching for a manager to replace Robinson, they continued to shuffle their coaching staff.

While Beasley left the organization, Washington reassigned hitting coach Mitchell Page (minor league hitting coordinator) and bullpen coach Randy Knorr (manager at Single-A Potomac).

Pitching coach Randy St. Claire was retained in mid-October, but first base coach Davey Lopes left for a job with the Philadelphia Phillies. The status of bench coach Eddie Rodriguez has not been addressed, but he is not likely to be retained by the team.

In a statement released yesterday, the Nationals said Beasley declined another job within the organization, but Beasley said after general manager Jim Bowden offered him a job managing at Double-A Harrisburg several days after the Nationals' season ended, he asked for time to think it over.

"I didn't want to commit to something that early," Beasley said. "I thought if I was going to be back in the minor leagues I needed to explore my options if I am going to commit to something. All I asked for is time."

Beasley said the offer to manage was pulled off the table, and he spent the last several weeks speaking to other teams.

He was contacted by the New York Yankees about managing their Double-A team in Trenton, N.J., and the Boston Red Sox about a job as a minor league coordinator or manager.

He finally decided to take a job as Pittsburgh's minor league infield coordinator, rejoining the organization he spent time with as a minor league player and manager. He'll likely have contact with another coach with a local connection--Stafford native Gregg Ritchie, who is the Pirates' minor league hitting coordinator.

Beasley had accepted a job as the Yankees' minor league coordinator last season before the Nationals offered him a job coaching.

"I think it's a good move," said Beasley, who managed for five seasons in Pittsburgh's minor league system. "It's an organization I am familiar with and I know a lot about. The Pirates had the job that I left them for and they really expressed a strong interest in me coming back to the organization."

Date published: 11/1/2006