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01/12/2006 11:49 AM ET
Nationals name three to 2006 coaching staff
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The Washington Nationals today named Mitchell Page as hitting coach, Tony Beasley as third-base coach and Davey Lopes as first-base coach. The trio will join pitching-coach Randy St. Claire and bench-coach Eddie Rodriguez, both holdovers from 2006, on Washington's big league staff (the Nationals' bullpen coach vacancy will be filled at a later date). Nationals Vice President and General Manager Jim Bowden and Nationals manager Frank Robinson made the joint announcement.
By joining the Nationals' staff, Page returns to the big leagues for the first time since 2004, when he served as hitting coach for the National League-champion St. Louis Cardinals. Page's Redbirds-which included Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds-ranked among the Senior Circuit's top two clubs in runs scored for three straight seasons (2002-04), including 2004, when they paced the NL in runs (757), hits (1544) and slugging percentage (.460). Page, who also served as Kansas City's first-base coach from 1995-97, enjoyed an eight-year big league career with Oakland (1977-83) and Pittsburgh (1984), during which he batted .266 with 72 home runs and 259 RBI in 673 big league contests. He was named AL Rookie of the Year by the Sporting News in 1977 after hitting .307 with 21 home runs and 75 RBI and 42 stolen bases for the Athletics. Page, 54, joined the Nationals organization last season serving as minor league hitting instructor.
Beasley, 39, accepts Washington's third-base coaching position after five highly successful seasons, all of which yielded post-season berths, managing in the Pirates system. Beasley fashioned a stellar .590 winning percentage (372-258 record) during his five-year tenure with the Pirates, during which he managed in Altoona (2004-05, Double-A Eastern League), Hickory (2002-03, Single-A South Atlantic League) and Williamsport (2001, short-season Single-A New York-Penn League). Beasley also managed Mesa in the Arizona Fall League in 2004, and by virtue of a first place finish there, has earned six post-season berths in as many seasons as a professional manager. He joins Washington's staff despite accepting a position as the Yankees' roving minor-league infield instructor in early December. For his efforts, Beasley was tabbed by Baseball America as its 2004 Double-A Manager of the Year and served as a coach during the 2004 Futures Game at Houston's Minute Maid Park. A middle infielder during his playing days, he hit .260 in eight minor-league seasons in the Pirates and Orioles chains. A native of Fredericksburg, VA and a current resident of Bowling Green, VA, Beasley played collegiate baseball at Liberty (VA) University from 1988-89.
Lopes, 60, brings 20 years of professional playing experience (16 in the big leagues), 15 years of coaching experience and three seasons of managerial experience to the Nationals dugout in 2006. Lopes hit .263 with 155 home runs, 614 RBI and 557 stolen bases during a 16-year big league career spent with Los Angeles-NL (1972-81), Oakland ('82-84), Chicago-NL ('84-86) and Houston ('86-87). A four-time National League All-Star second baseman who won a Gold Glove in 1978, Lopes played in 50 post-season contests as his clubs earned six post-season berths. He played in four World Series and collected a World Championship ring with the 1981 Dodgers. Twice, he paced the National League in stolen bases, including a career-high and big league-leading 77 in 1975. Lopes spent eight of the past 11 years as a member of Bruce Bochy's coaching staff in San Diego. In between, Lopes managed the Milwaukee Brewers for two-plus seasons (2000-02). From 1992-94, Lopes served as first-base coach for a Baltimore club whose Assistant General Manager was Frank Robinson.
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