In many ways — geography, culture, choice of color palettes — Arcata and Miami, are worlds apart. But now they have one big thing in common. Former Crab Mike Redmond, a catcher who was a battery mate of current Crabs manager Matt Nutter in the mid-1990s and went on to spend more then a decade in the major leagues, has been named the new manager of the Miami Marlins.
Over the course of Redmond's 12-year MLB career, he played for the Marlins — earning a World Series Championship ring in 2003 — as well as the Twins and the Indians. He retired after the 2010 season as a career .287 hitter with 13 home runs and 243 RBI in 764 games.
After retiring as a player, Redmond had been a minor league manager in the Toronto Blue Jays system, and was hired by the Marlins to try to turn the page after the team and city's relationship with the fiery and controversial Ozzie Guillen went bad quickly. The Marlins have a lot of talent and a large hispanic fan base, but the 2012 season was a disaster both on and off the field for Guillen, leading to his dismissal after just one season.
Redmond beat out three candidates with impressive resumes for the job — former Padres and Phillies manager Larry Bowa, Reds pitching coach Bryan Price and Tigers hitting coach Lloyd McClendon. The Crabs congratulate Mike on his new job and wish him the best!
