One of the Angels most beloved yet worst players (based on maximum playing time plus weak output) has been named the team's 3B coach.
Gary DiSarcina will take over the windmill landing for 2014 after Dino Ebel graduated to bench coach in the first of many postseason shakeups for the team.
DiSarcina, a Massachusetts native who got thrilled when he was able to change his Angels jersey number to match Boston Celtics players he loved, had been working in the Red Sox organization prior to coming back to Anaheim as a tool in the Jerry Dipoto shed in 2011. He then flip-flopped back to the Massholia mothership for 2013 to manage the Chowds' AAA team in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
As legend tells, in late September, 2002 Gary was finishing his bachelor's degree at a college in Boston when his cellphone rang and disrupted the class. He turned it to mute-vibrate without looking at the caller. The phone continued to vibrate and he finally excused himself from the lecture to see what the fuss was.
It was a call from former teammates Darin Erstad and Troy Percival, phoning from the visitors' clubhouse in Arlington to share the moment of making the postseason with the teammate who meant the most to them.
Perhaps that college town from where he hails will have fit the him with the maxim: Those who cannot do, teach. Because if he coaches like he produced on the field he will be terrible, but if manages one day it will be because he can get others to exemplify what he could not manifest - approximating excellence on a regular basis.
An article from some chowd propaganda site claims he is an excellent manager (LINK TO ARTICLE) with this nugget really sticking out:
"DiSar is a really loose and upbeat personality, one who connects with a lot of different types of people well. That was absolutely one of his strengths throughout the year, especially coming in and not having managed at that level," Sox farm director Ben Crockett recently noted. "It was impressive the way he took charge, got guys’ respect quickly but also managed different egos — both older players and younger prospects. He really did a nice job of dealing with challenges as they appeared."
His imprint may have been most dramatic with infielder Jose Iglesias, who was admittedly disappointed after being sent to Triple-A following a strong start in early April... Iglesias struggled not just offensively but also with his effort level in Triple-A, failing to run out grounders on multiple occasions.
DiSarcina pulled Iglesias in the middle of a game after one such incident, and the shortstop sat out of the next three games. But DiSarcina presented the approach not as a benching or a punishment, but instead an opportunity for Iglesias to catch his breath, to return to playing with the energy and joy that are often associated with the 23-year-old.
Iglesias did just that, while also taking well to his introduction to other positions as he started to take grounders at third and second base with DiSarcina. Iglesias’ adaptation to third proved critical, as he became the Sox’ everyday third baseman for a key stretch in June and July, not only becoming a key contributor to the Sox for that two-month stretch but also restoring his trade value to the point where he could turn into the key cog in a deal that landed the Sox right-hander Jake Peavy.
All we can say to Mike Scioscia is... "Don't ever take sides against the family, Fredo, don't ever take sides against the family..."