New York Veterans Coaching Staff

Strong

Rick Churches - Rick Churches – Out of the NYS broadcast booth and onto the field. He's a complicated man:

• Saves his job by turning a weakened Jimmy into a closer.
• Highly motivated to better himself and the team – motivational signs placed everywhere, takes Spanish, Korean and Japanese classes – including dialects (and confuses all three when under pressure), takes Dale Carnegie but misuses the techniques.
• Divorced, estranged from his children, a major regret. Lives in a hotel near the stadium.
• Smokes a pack a day, sometimes a pack an hour, to deal with the massive stress he feels.
• Former teammate of Jimmy’s who, when he was in the broadcast booth, could be incredibly critical of anyone on the field, especially Jimmy.
• Plus, since his experience with baseball is as a player and broadcaster, meaning he’s never managed before, he has to create credibility for himself and develop confidence among his players toward him.
• His lack of experience is a reason the team hires Rick’s coaching staff, which includes some ex-managers and, in particular, a former manager of the team who, in the previous decade, managed them to a World Championship, adding pressure on Rick to succeed, as well as a degree of paranoia that this guy is waiting in the wings, ready to take over should Rick ultimately fail.

Chazz Waters – Rick’s bench coach, appointed by Alvin, and former manager who led the team to back-to-back championships in the previous decade.

Willie Fernandez – Former star player transitioning to 3rd base/infield coach. Endorses a sexual potency drug and receives more than a little ribbing because of this.

Marvin Knight – 1st base coach, also appointed by Alvin, but more of a cheering section kind of guy than actual teacher.

Bobby Spencer – Pitching coach and lone holdover from previous manager’s “administration.” A real tech/stats guy into biometrics and any new trend that pops up.

Matt LaConte – Rick’s sole coaching decision, Matt feels pressure to do well for Rick because of this. Overworked as a result but very effective. As the season wears on, considered future manager material.

Gums Murphy – 80 years old and a Coach Emeritus who more or less hangs out at the ballpark before games, suits up, greets VIPs and longs for the old days. Interim manager of the Vets for the last two weeks of the 2007 season, two of the best weeks of his life.

Personal Trainers – Many of the Players have one. And so do some of the wives.