Retro Mariner Sunday 6/6/10

Time to look back again at another former Mariner. This one holds a place in Mariners history. While only spending time with the Mariners for four seasons, he went into the history books quickly. Chris Bosio is one of only two Mariners pitchers to throw a no-hitter.

Originally drafted by the Pirates in 1981, Chris did not sign, and was re-drafted by the Brewers in 1982. After working his way through the Brewers system, he made his major league debut on August 3, 1986 against the Texas Rangers at County Stadium in Milwaukee. Chris would stay with the Brewers for the next six years. During the 1987 and 1988 seasons, he would be bounced between the starting rotation and the bullpen. Starting in 1989 the Brewers kept Chris as a starter.

After the end of the 1992 season, the Brewers let Chris become a free agent. In December of 1992, he signed a free agent contract with the Mariners. In just his fourth start as a Mariner, on April 22, 1993 he threw the second and last so far, no-hitter in team history. Only 13,604 were on hand that night in the Kingdome to witness history, as Omar Vizquel made a beautiful bare hand catch to rob Ernest Riles of a hit and preserve the no-no. In his Mariner career, no time would come close that one. During the four years that Chris was with the Mariners, he had a .500 record. He was an integral part of the pitching staff that helped capture the Mariners first playoff appearance in 1995.

After being granted free agency in 1996, Chris attempted to come back with the Boston Red Sox in 1997.  Unfortunately, due to injuries he was only able to three starts with the Sarasota Red Sox, and the Gulf Coast League Red Sox. After that time, he decided to hang up the spikes. in 1998, he was named as a special assignment pitching coach for the Mariners. During the 2001 season, he was the pitching coach for a time with the AAA Tacoma Rainiers. That team not only won the PCL, but also had the lowest team ERA lead by Joel Piniero, Brian Fuentes, Brett Tomko, and Denny Stark. During the 2001 season, Chris was also an advanced pro scout for the 116 win Mariners club. In 2003, Chris went with former Mariner manager Lou Piniella and became the pitching coach of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Due to family health concerns, Chris left Tampa after the 2003 season and moved with his family to Appleton, Wisconsin. After being away form the game for a couple of years, Chris became the assistant pitching coach for the NCAA Division III University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Titans in 2006. In 2007, he was named to be the pitching coach for the Division III Lawrence University Vikings in Appleton, WI. During that season, Chris was named as the interim manager also. For 2008, Chris became the pitching coach for the AA Chattanooga Lookouts of the Cincinnati Reds. He was to hold that position for the newly moved AA Carolina Mudcats in 2009. He opted instead to become the pitching coach for the AAA Nashville Sounds of the Brewers organization. August 12, 2009 would see him replace Bill Castro as pitching coach for the big league Brewers. In October of 2009, Chris was named and is currently an advanced pro scout for the Milwaukee Brewers.

Retro Mariner Sunday 5/23/10

Time again. It's Sunday, it's raining like all get out and I need to look back in the past for another player. The first name that for some reason was this guy this week. Not a guy I was all that fond of, but did help us when we needed him.

After growing up in Puerto Rico, Joey Cora went to Vanderbilt University. He was the 23rd player selected in the first round of the 1985 draft. He spent that summer in Spokane,WA playing for the Indians of the Northwest League. In 1986, he moved up to AA and was playing for the Golden Gators in Beaumont, TX.

During the 1986 season on June 22, Joey was tabbed after a game in San Antonio, TX.  He was waiting outside the team bus following the game against the San Antonio Missions at V.J. Keefe Stadium when two men called his name and then assaulted him. He was stabbed once in the stomach and once in the arm. Cora was quickly rushed to the hospital and later made a full recovery after spending six weeks on the disabled list. A man named Jose Puente, 29, was caught at the scene and was later charged with attempted murder. Apparently he had exchanged words with fans outside of the visitor's dressing room, resulting in the fans returning with more men later on.

1987 would see Joey make the jump to the big leagues and be the starting second baseman for the Padres on opening day in 1987. During 1987, he basically spent half his time with the Padres, and half with the AAA Las Vegas Stars. 1988 was spent in Las Vegas. Joey spent most of 1989 in Vegas, but also played for the Padres a small amount in 1989. 1990 was a 50/50 split on playing time between AAA and the majors. At the end of spring training in 1991, the Padres traded Joey and two other players to the Chicago White Sox for two players. In '91 he split time with Scott Fletcher at 2nd base, and in '92 he split time with Steve Sax. In 1993 and 1994 he was the everyday 2nd baseman for the White Sox.

During the start of camp in 1995 after the strike Joey signed as a free agent with the Mariners. He would be the everyday 2nd baseman for the next four years. He was remembered by the Seattle fans when the magical run of the 1995 season ended, when he was consoled by then rookie Alex Rodriguez while crying in the dugout of the Kingdome. Because of that little moment, the women of Seattle all fell in love with "Little Joey," and his sensitive side. For the years to come you would find many signs in the Kingdome asking "MARRY ME JOEY!!"

At the end of August during the 1998 season the Mariners traded Joey to the Cleveland Indians for David Bell.  Joey would finish the season with the Indians. In 1999, he signed as a free agent with the Toronto Blue Jays, but did not play for them, opting to retire instead.

After spending 1999 retired, Joey returned in 2000 to manage the Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League. In 2001 and 2002, he managed the Kingsport Mets in the Appalachian league. 2003 saw him manage the Savannah Sand Gnats of the South Atlantic League. (Side note: Do they not have one of the coolest names and logos or what?)

Before the 2004 season, Joey was hired by close friend Ozzie Guillen to be his third base coach with the Chicago White Sox. Joey held that position through the 2006 season. Starting in 2007, Joey became Ozzie's bench coach and currently still hold that position. At the end of the 2008 season, the Mariners were looking to replace Jim Riggleman, who had replaced John McLaren midway through the season. During the search for a new manager, the Mariners interviewed and considered hiring Joey as the manager of the Mariners. They eventually chose Don Wakamatsu instead. There is still love in Seattle for Joey when the Sox come to town.