The Sea Dogs' first manager is now with Triple-A Richmond. Above the palm trees and the yellow stucco walls of Disney's Wide World of Sports baseball stadium, a blue-gray sky rumbled with the promise of rain and the threat of lightning. Tosca was an original Sea Dog, manager of the first three editions of Portland's minor-league baseball team. He left the Marlins' organization three years ago to be bench coach for Buck Showalter's Arizona Diamondbacks, then found himself out of a job when Arizona fired Showalter at the end of last season. Va. While he hopes to return to the majors, he said he relishes the prospect of being in command again.
Decisions have to be made at a rather rapid pace.
And to bring a group of 24 players together and have them play hard, I'm looking forward to the challenge. Two old Sea Dogs were in Orlando with Tosca. He's going to be special. Ever craving insight from managers he respects, he arranged a meeting with Atlanta skipper Bobby Cox and brought in a list of prepared questions. Those are three pretty good managers to pick their brains.