Retro Mariner Sunday 3/25/12

It was after the non-waiver trade deadline of 1993. The Minnesota Twins had a player coming back from injury that they didn't want. The Mariners made a deal sending Greg Shockey to the Twins. In return, they got a veteran reliever in Steve Ontiveros. After growing up in New Mexico, Steve would attend the University of Michigan and receive a degree in Physical Education and pitching for the Wolverines. Steve had spent time with Oakland from 1985-1988. Next next two years in 1989 and 1990 would see him as part of the Phillies teams.

The next year it was down to the minors, and Steve would miss all of 1992 with an injury. He would come to the Mariners for a month and a half. He would see time in 14 games finishing 8 of them. Steve would have a nice 1.00 ERA but would finish 0-2 for the M's. The next two years of 1994 and 1995 would see Steve return to the Athletics. From there it would be five years of toiling in the minors and independent ball. Steve would spend time in independent leagues, to low A ball, all the way up to AAA. Steve would return to the majors for a brief 3 games with the Red Sox in 2000.

Steve would spend all of 2001 in the minors a again before calling it quits. In his time from getting drafted in 1982, it would be nearly 20 years of pro ball. Steve spent part of 10 different seasons on major league rosters. He would spend 15 of those years on minor league rosters at one time or another. Steve played on 4 different teams, being the A's, Phillies, Mariners and Red Sox. He spend time 13 different organizations going from Oakland to Philly, Detroit, Minnesota, Seattle, back to Oakland, on to the Angels, Cardinals, Orioles, Devil Rays, Brewers, Rockies, Red Sox, and finally the Mets. Of all those teams, Steve would see time on 17 different minor league teams.

Since retiring from baseball, Steve has been a pitching coach in Scottsdale, AZ. He works with kids and adults at Player's Choice Academy AZ. He also would have the honor of being the pitching coach of the Chinese national team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Retro Mariner Sunday 12/11/11

It would be five days before the beginning of the 1985 season. The Mariners were wrapping up Spring Training in Tempe, AZ. When deciding on backup catchers for the aging Bob Kearney, the Mariners decided to swap the light hitting 22 year old Orlando Mercado to the Texas Rangers. In return the Mariners would receive 23 year old Donnie Scott who spent most of the 1984 with the Rangers. His bat had a little more pop, and he might be a little better behind the plate. It seems as though he had done a fairly good job for the M's behind the dish in 1985 and would push for more time in 1986.

Although Donnie had done fairly well in the 74 games he was in behind the plate, there was another kid coming through the system at catcher. Near the end of the 1986 Spring Training the Mariners decided to release Donnie in favor of a young Dave Valle. Scott would spend 1986 at AAA Rochester in the Orioles system. From 1987 to 1989, Donnie was part of the Brewers system spending tome at both AA El Paso, and AAA Denver. Donnie even pitched 1 2/3 innings for the Zephyrs in 1987. Scott would move to the Reds organization in 1990 playing at AAA Nashville. After spending 1991 again at AAA, Donnie would get a September call to the Reds. Deciding he had had enough time in the minors, Scott retired after the 1991 season.

Donnie would move on to manage the Billings Mustangs to three straight league titles from 1992 to 1994 and would have the best record with the team in 1995. 1996 would see Donnie manage the A Charleston AlleyCats in the Reds system. 1997 would bring a return to Billings for a year. For two years in 1998 and 1999 he would spend time as the Minor League fielding coordinator. He would spend some time on the bench in '99 with the Gulf Coast Reds. 2000 was another year as the fielding coordinator. From 2001 through the 2003 seasons, Donnie would be the manager of the A Dayton Dragons.

The year in 2004 would bring a change, becoming the pitching coach for the Gulf Coast Reds. In 2005 Donnie was able to work with young catchers as the Minor catching coordinator. In 2006 it was time to manage the Sarasota Reds. For the 2007 and 2008 seasons it Donnie's path back to Dayton to manage the Dragons again. In 2011, Donnie would be hired to manage the Battle Creek Bombers of the Northwoods League. He would lead the Bombers to the title of the summer wood bat college league.

While Donnie never got to spend the time that might have been deserved in the Majors, he has done many good things in the minors. He has had a hand in helping develop young players in to Major League players. Thank you for your short time in Seattle Donnie. Big thanks also to Coot Veal for reminding me of Donnie Scott in his post a few months ago.

Retro Mariner Sunday 12/4/11

Why not revive a series that we haven't done for awhile? Since it is the off season and we all are dreaming of baseball again, let's relive the good times.

The Mariners would see the playoffs for the second time as AL West champions in 1997. Late in August of 197, one of Ken Griffey Jr.'s 37 different left fielders would come to Seattle in a trade. On August 20th the Minnesota Twins sent 32 year old Roberto Kelly to the Mariners for two PTBNL. Those two would eventually be Joe Mays and Jeromy Palki. Roberto would come to the Majors 10 years earlier with the Yankees. After five years in New York it was off to Cincinnati, Atlanta, Montreal, the Dodgers, and Minnesota. Roberto would hit .298 for the M's in September 1997, to help make a playoff push.

The Mariners would lose to the Baltimore Orioles in 4 games in the ALDS, but Kelly would be in all four games and hit .308 going 4 for 13 with 3 doubles. Roberto would take free agency after the 1997 season and move to Texas for two years before finishing back with the Yankees in 2000. After signing with the Rockies in 2001 and spending the year at AAA Colorado Springs, Roberto would spend 2002 and 2003 in Mexico City playing for the Diablos Rojos(Red Devils) of the Mexican League. Kelly would call it quits at age 39 and spend the 2004 year at home in Panama.



courtesy of http://clydes-stalecards.blogspot.com/

 Roberto came back tot he game in 2005, and would spend three years as the manager of the Augusta GreenJackets in the Giants system. In 2008 the Giants would bring Kelly to the big club as the first base coach. He also work as the base running coach for the Giants. Roberto would earn a World Series ring with the Giants in 2010. While it has been 15 years since Mr. Kelly came to Seattle for a short time, he is remembered for helping us get to the playoffs in 1997.

Retro Mariner Sunday 7/10/11

For the first time in a long time an old favorite is back. The retro Mariner Sunday profile. Would you know who got the last hit in the Old Comiskey Park in 1990?

Do you know who the catcher was for Randy Johnson's no- hitter in 1990?

He played for the Yankees, White Sox, and Mariners all in 1986.

He spent the 1992 season with the Reds, and the Mets.

He drafted in the 12th round in 1978 by the Twins,

And again in the 3rd round in 1981 by the Yankees.

He was a player/coach in the minors in 1994 and 1995.

He was an assistant coach at Rutgers in 1997, and since 1998 he has been the head coach of Princeton University's baseball program.

Former Mariner catcher Scott Bradley.

Retro Mariner Sunday 8/8/10

Today we look back at a Mariner that has been with the team a few times. After graduating from Western High School in Anaheim, CA in 1974, John Moses attended Golden West JC in Huntington Beach from 1975-1977. He then transferred to the University of Arizona in Tucson. During the 1980 season, he captained a team that included Craig Lefferts, and Terry Francona to an NCAA title. In June of 1980, John was drafted in the 16th round by the Seattle Mariners.

 After spending 1980 in Bellingham, John moved up to the A Wassau Timbers in 1981. John would move on to AA Lynn Sailors in 1982, he would be called up the big team and make his debut on August 23rd. On September 3, 1982 John got his first start in Left Field in Boston. 1983 would see him split time between AAA Salt Lake City Gulls and the Mariners. John would start at AA Chattanooga, move up to Slat Lake and eventually the Mariners again in 1984. For the 1985 and 1986 seasons, John was on the up and down shuttle from AAA Calgary Cannons to the Mariners. He would spend the entire 1987 season on the Mariners roster. After the season, he was released by the Mariners. In January of 1988 he signed with Cleveland, but was released at the end of spring training. He would sign with the Minnesota Twins and spend three good years with the Twins. Unfortunately 1991 was a roller coaster year. He would sign with the Red Sox for the spring of 1991. After being released at the end of camp, John signed on with the Rockies. While at AAA Colorado Springs, he would be let go in July. He would sign and spend four days in the Pirates organization in AAA Buffalo. The day he was released by the Pirates, he would sign on with the Tigers. John would get some playing time in the big leagues with the Tigers. John would come back home to the Mariners for his final season in 1992.

In 1994, John was hired by the Mariners as an administrative coach. From 1994 through 1998 as a coach, John was in charge of being a left handed batting practice pitcher, a bunting coach, and working as a base running and outfield coach under manager Lou Piniella. John was named as an advance scout for the Mariners in 1999. John would take over the duties as the first base coach from 2000 until after the 2003 season under Lou, and Bob Melvin. After being retired in 2004, John started the year as the hitting coach for the Las Vegas 51's in the Dodgers organization. When Jerry Narron was named the new manager of the Cincinnati Reds on June 20, 2005 John was named to be the bench coach for the Reds. John would move to the first base coach's box for the 2006 season. In 2007, John would come home to Seattle once again to pitch BP and be the first base coach for manager Mike Hargrove. John made his way back to the 51's to be the hitting coach in Las Vegas in 2008. When the Dodgers moved their AAA affiliation back to Albuquerque, John moved with the team. When Tim Wallach as the new manager of the Isotopes, he retained John as the hitting coach. He has spent the 2009 and the current 2010 season in Albuquerque working with the Isotopes hitters, preparing them for the Dodgers big league club.

Retro Mariner Sunday 8/1/10

Hey everyone! I know it's Tuesday and I'm late on the Sunday thing. This will be a very short version. Today we look back at former Mariner Paul Abbott.

Paul had his best years with the Mariners. He pitched for them from 1998-2002. Before coming to the Mariners, he had seen time with the Twins, and Indians. During the magical run of 2001, Paul went 17-4 for the team. After leaving the Mariners, Paul did time with the Royals, Phillies, and Devil Rays. In 2005, Paul pitched for both the Fullerton Flyers, and the San Diego Surf Dawgs in the Golden League.

Paul is now an assistant coach at Fullerton Junior College. In 2009, he also became the pitching coach for the Orange County Flyers of the Golden League under manager Phil Nevin. After Nevin accepted a managing position in the Tigers organization this year, Paul was named to manage the Flyers in 2010. The Flyers currently are 33-27 this year.

Retro Mariner Sunday 7/4/10

It's Sunday, that means it time to back in Mariners history. Today is a national holiday here in the USA. Our player today is in the hall of fame in another country. His name is a thing of legend in the American pastime. Today's Mariner was only with the team for two years, and had his best hitting season in Seattle. If you know of the Mendoza line, then you know Mario Mendoza.

After growing up in Chihuahua, Mexico, Mario would be signed as a free agent by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1970. He would play rookie ball for the GCL Pirates and would hit .263 and be outstanding defensively. While playing for the Monroe Pirates in 1971, his average would slide to .234. During the spring training years, Mario would often miss dinner to listen and try to learn from the great Roberto Clemente. His average would continue to fall in 1972 with the Salem Pirates, going down to .221. His defense was outstanding, being involved in 79 double plays that year. His year of 1973 with the AA Sherbrooke Pirates was a bi-polar year. While he would raise his average to .268 with 8 home runs and 30 stolen bases, he would have 227 putouts, but also 35 errors. This would be the high mark for averages in his career. He would make the Eastern League All-Star team as the shortstop.

For the next three years from 1974-1976, Mario would spend most of his time with the Pirates, but would also spend time in those seasons with the AAA Charleston Charlies. He would first appear in a game on April 26, 1974 as a pinch runner for the great Willie Stargell. He would finally get his first start on May 15, 1974 At Three Rivers Stadium against the Chicago Cubs. He would get his first hit the next day on the 16th. Mario would get the start in game three of the 1974 NLCS against the Dodgers. Mario would also get the game winning hit on Opening Day of the 1976 season, in the 11th inning off Tug McGraw of the Phillies. While he would only have two years(1974, 1978) with the Pirates that he would hit over .200, his defensive was solid and split time with Frank Tavares at shortstop. Mario would  miss the opportunity to play on the 1979 World Series team, since the Pirates traded him to Seattle after the 1978 season. He would come to the Mariners with Odell Jones, and Rafael Vasquez in exchange for Enrique Romo, Rick Jones, and Tommy McMillan.

Mario would become the everyday starting shortstop for the Mariners, making a great double play combo  with second baseman Julio Cruz. While his average would only be .198 in 1979, he would have a career year at .245 in 1980. During his down year in 1979, it is believed the origins the "Mendoza Line," would come to be. It is believed that teammate Tom Paciorek coined the phrase, because in the Sunday papers of old, they would list hitters and pitchers stats. The hitters would be listed from highest average to lowest. Mario's name was usually the last name on the list every Sunday. The phrase would gain popularity in 1980, when George Brett was chasing a .400 season and in an interview with Chris Berman of ESPN, he said every Sunday he checks the paper to see who is above the Mendoza Line.

After the 1980 season, Mario would become part of a massive 11 player deal. Mario would be trade to the Texas Rangers along with Willie Horton, Leon Roberts, Larry Cox, and Rick Honeycutt in exchange for Steve Finch, Brian Allard, Jerry Don Gleaton, Ken Clay, Rick Auerbach, and Richie Zisk. He would play the strike shortened 1981 season with the Rangers. While being used hardly at all in 1982, the Rangers would release Mario on June 7th of 1982. He would spend the rest of the 1982 season with the Mexico City Red Devils of the Mexican League. In 1983, he would receive an invite from the Pirates to spring training. While failing to make the team, he would continue on to be a player/coach with the AAA Hawaii Islanders for the 1983 season. 1984 would see Mario go back home to Mexico to be a player/manager with the Monclova Steelers. In 1985, he would play for the Rieleros de Aguascalientes. While Mario would miss the explosive 1986 season, he would return to play for Monclova in 1987 and hit .318! Mario would move on to the Charros de Jalisco in 1988. His final two years as a player would come in 1989 and 1990 with the Sultanes de Monterrey.

After taking a year off in 1991, Mario would return to baseball.With the advise of Bill Bavasi, the California Angels would hire Mario to manage the class A Palm Springs Angels. They would make the playoffs in his first year, but slipped far below .500 in his second year of 1993. The Angels would move Mario to AA in 1994, having him become the manager of the Midland Angels of the Texas League. In 1995, Mario would take the Angels to the league finals. After a very poor showing by Midland in 1996, Mario was moved back down. In 1997, he would manage the Cedar Rapids Kernels of the Midwest League. From 1998 to 2000, Mario became the manager of the Lake Elsinore Storm of the California League. During the 2000 season, Mario managed his son Mario Jr. Mario would also be inducted into the Mexican Hall of Fame in 2000, he would have the nickname of "manos de seda," or "hands of silk." He would take the 2001 season off, and return to manage the Shreveport Swamp Dragons in the San Fransisco Giants organization.

Starting in 2003, Mario would become a manager in the Mexican Leagues. He would only last 29 games with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos in 2003. He would move to manage the Tigres de Angelopolis in 2004. On May 9th of 2005, Mario would replace Julian Yan as manager of the Olmecas de Tabasco. He would stay on with the Olmecas in 2006. Mario would move again in 2007, to manage the Piratas de Campache. The next year, he would travel again to manage the Pericos de Puebla. In 2009, Mario was named to mange the Potros de Tijuana in the Golden Baseball League. Due to the H1N1 scare, the team suspended operations before being able to play in 2009. Mario was hired to manage the Acereros de Monclova in 2010. He was fired by the team in late April. After being fired by the Steelers, he was hired to be a scout in Mexico for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He also managed Hermosillo, Ciudad Obregón, Guasave, Mexicali in the Mexican Pacific League, which is a winter league in western Mexico.

Retro Mariner Sunday 6/27/10

We look again at a former Mariners player. Today's guy didn't spend a lot of time with the team, but was a big part of the first playoff team and was traded for one our best past pitchers. Today, we look at former outfielder Darren Bragg. Darren grew up and went to high school at Taft HS in Watertown, CT. After graduation, he would attend Georgia Tech and play as a member of the Yellow Jackets baseball team. In his senior year of the 1991 season, he would be teammates with future Mariner prospect and Red Sox captain Jason Varitek who was a freshman. Darren would be drafted by the Mariners in the 22nd round of the 1991 draft.

Darren would spend 1991 and 1992 with the Peninsula Pilots in high A ball. He would move up to the AA Jacksonville Suns in 1993. The 1994 season would see Darren start the season with Mariners. He would get his first start April 12, 1994 as the DH against the Minnesota Twins. He would go 1 for 4 in the game. Unfortunately at the end of April, Darren would spend the rest of the year with the Tacoma Rainiers. Starting in 1995, Darren would spend the first half of the season with the Mariners. At the all-star break, he would spend the next month and a half back in Tacoma. Darren would come back up in September, in time for the playoff push. He would be on the roster for all of the 1996 season, until he would be traded to the Boston Red Sox for Jamie Moyer. Darren would become the regular center fielder for the Sox in 1996 and 1997. He would play on a consistent basis in right and center field in 1998.

After the end of the 1998 season, the Red Sox let Darren go, and he would sign and spend 1999 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Darren would again move in 2000, this time to the Colorado Rockies. He would see his time end with the Rockies in late July. In early 2001, Darren would sign with the New York Mets. He would start the season with the Norfolk Tides and come to the Mets in early May. The Mets released Darren on June 12th, and he would stay in the city, signing on with the Yankees. He would only spend two weeks with the big club, spending the rest of the season with the AAA Columbus Clippers. Darren would re-sign with the Mets before the 2002 season, but would be released before the beginning of the season. He would sign with the Atlanta Braves the same day.

Darren would start the season with the Richmond Braves. In the end of April, he would make it back to the majors, staying on with the Braves through the 2003 season. 2004 would see Darren sign again with the Yankees, playing again with the Clippers. After being released by the Yankees organization on July 2nd, Darren would sign on with the San Diego Padres for two weeks. It would take about two weeks for Darren to find a new team in the Cincinnati Reds. After a week and a half with the AAA Louisville Bats, Darren would return, this time with the Reds. Darren would spend his last season as a player with the Nashua Pride of the Atlantic League in 2005.

Upon retiring, in 2006 Darren would team up with former MLB pitcher and teammate from the Nashua Pride Brian Looney. Together, they would start The Hit Club in Thomaston, CT. It is a baseball training facility for young players. In the 2007 and 2008 seasons, Darren would also spend his time as the hitting coach for the single A Dayton Dragons of the Cincinnati Reds organization. Since 2009, Darren has devoted his full time to being an instructor at the Hit Club.

Retro Mariner Sunday 6/20/10

Time again to look back at the Mariners of the past. Today's spent a short time with the team, but made an impact while he was here. He helped the pitching staff make the run to win the 1997 AL West title. He would spend much time in the majors after leaving the Mariners.

After playing for the University of Mississippi, Jeff Fassero was drafted in the 22nd round by the St. Louis Cardinals. Jeff would slowly work his way through the minor leagues in the Cardinals system. 1984 would see him in the rookie league in Johnson City. The next year he would move up to A Springfield. 1986 brought a move to advanced A ball at St. Petersburg. From 1987 to 1989, Jeff would pitch with the AA Arkansas Travelers. Late in 1989, he would move up to AAA with the Louisville Redbirds. After the '89 season, he was drafted  by the White Sox, but was released before the 1990 season. At the start of 1990 season, Jeff was signed by the Indians and spent the season in AA at Canton/Akron. Before the 1991 season, he would sign with the Montreal Expos. 1991 would see Jeff start in AAA Indianapolis. On May 4, 1991 he would make his first appearance in the Majors. He would pitch the final two innings against the Padres in Montreal and take the loss in the game.

Jeff would stay with the Expos bullpen for 1992 and 1993. Expos manager Felipe Alou would move Jeff to the starting rotation in 1994. He would stay in that capacity through 1996. After the 1996 season, Jeff was traded with Alex Pacheco to the Mariners for Trey Moore, Matt Wagner, and Chris Widger. After going 16-9 and helping win the West in '97, he would go a decent 13-12 in 1998. Jeff had a disastrous year in 1999, going 4-14 in 24 starts. Those ugly numbers would get Jeff shipped to the Texas Rangers in August of 1999 for minor leaguer Adrian Myers.

After 1999, Jeff would start the carousel of teams in the Majors. In 2000, he was a member of the Boston Red Sox, mostly in the rotation. Jeff would become a big part of the bullpen for the Chicago Cubs in 2001. In late August of 2002, the Cubs would trade Jeff to the St. Louis Cardinals for minor leaguers Jared Blasdell and Jason Karnuth. Jeff would spend the 2003 season with the Cardinals, and start to look like a 40 year old pitcher with fairly dismal numbers.

Before the 2004 season, Jeff would sign on with the Colorado Rockies. After pitching for the Rockies last on September 13th, he would be released by the Rockies while they were in Los Angeles on September 29th. That same day, he was signed and pitched an inning for the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix. Before the 2005 season, Jeff would sign on to pitch in the San Fransisco Giants bullpen. Jeff would remain with the Giants until May of 2006, looking very much like a 43 year old pitcher. The Giants would designate him for assignment, making room on the roster for Noah Lowry.

Jeff would try to work out for the Angels in the off-season before the 2007 season. The Angels opted not to sign him. He announced his retirement in February of 2007. Jeff would give baseball another shot late in 2007. In the fall of 2007 and winter of 2008, Jeff would pitch for the Mayos de Navojoa in the Mexican Pacific League. During 2008 and 2009, Jeff served as the pitching coach at Brophy College Prep High School in Phoenix. It is the only Jesuit high school in the Phoenix area. His oldest son Trevor, was a first baseman, and left handed pitcher for the varsity baseball team there. As of December 2009, Jeff was named to be the pitching coach for the Northwest League Boise Hawks of the Chicago Cubs system. The Hawks have just started their season this past Friday.

Retro Mariner Sunday 6/13/10

Time for another trip down the Mariners memory lane. I think today's player is one that many people should be familiar with. Yes, I know he had much more popularity with another ream, but more on that later. He started his career as a Mariner, so he is our player, not yours.

Constantino "Tino" Martinez was drafted by the Mariners in the first round of the 1988 draft out of the University of Tampa. After the draft, the summer of '88 saw Tino, and other future major leaguers Jim Abbott, Robin Ventura, Andy Benes, and Charles Nagy win Olympic gold in Seoul, South Korea for baseball. Tino would start his professional career in 1989 with the AA Williamsport Bills. The next year, Tino would be moved up to the AAA Calgary Cannons. In August of 1990, the Mariners brought Tino up the big club. Tino would get his first start on August 20, 1990 in Arlington, Texas. He would go 2 for 4 in a Mariners 6-5 walk off loss. For the month of September, he would split time with Pete O'Brien at first base. 

Tino would again spend most of the season in Calgary with the Cannons in 1991. Due to his numbers, he would be named the MVP of the Pacific Coast League for 1991. In mid-August, he was again called to join the team. He would play most everyday at first base in September of 1991. Starting in 1992, Tino was to stay with the Mariners. He would split time at first base and designated hitter again with Pete O'Brien.

 Starting in 1993, Tino would become the everyday first baseman for new manager, Lou Piniella. He would be replaced by Greg Pirkl after a season ending injury in August 1993. Tino would make his first All-Star appearance in 1995 in Arlington, Texas. Tino replaced teammate Edgar Martinez as the DH in the bottom of the 8th inning and got a single to right off future Mariner Heathcliff Slocumb. After the miracle playoff run of '95 by the Mariners, Tino was traded to the Yankees with Jeff Nelson, and Jim Mecir for Sterling Hitchcock and Russ Davis. Tino was replaced at first base by free agent Paul Sorrento.

Tino would win the first of four World Series titles with the Yankees in 1996. He would make the all star team again in 1997. He would take part in the home run derby that year at Jacobs Field in Cleveland, Ohio. He would out-slug Larry Walker of the Rockies in the final to win the title. After spending six winning years with the Yankees, the team decided to sign free agent Jason Giambi to play first base allowing Tino to become a free agent. Tino would sign with the St. Louis Cardinals as a free agent  for the 2002 season to replace aging star Mark McGuire.

After two years with the Cardinals, Tino was traded to his hometown team. The Cardinals sent Tino and cash to the Devil Rays for Evan Rust and a player to be named later(John-Paul Davis). Tino would have a fairly productive year in 2004 under manager Lou Piniella. He also was very important as a mentor for the young players in Tampa. After the 2004 season, Tino would sign with the Yankees for a second tour with the team in 2005. This time, Tino replaced Giambi at first, with Jason moving to the DH spot.

Before the start of the 2006 season, Tino decided it was time to retire. He received an offer from ESPN to do broadcasting on the Baseball Tonight show. He would do the same in 2007. Tino also spent time in 2007 as a volunteer assistant coach with the University of South Florida for coach Lelo Prado.

Tino took a position with the Yankees in 2008 to be a special instructor to work with the first basemen on defensive skills in spring training. At the start of the season, he was named as a special assistant to General Manager Brian Cashman. With the start of 2010 season, Tino moved into the broadcasting booth with the YES Network as a color commentator. He would be replacing former Yankee David Cone. His first regular season game came on April 9th in Tampa Bay against the Rays.