staying the course

The Mississippi Braves formally announced today that Aaron Holbert will return as manager this season. Garey Ingram also will be back for a fourth season as hitting coach. Perhaps a new crop of players will produce some better on-field results. The 2012 M-Braves went 62-77 overall (worst in the league) in Holbert’s first season as a Double-A manager (and first in the Atlanta organization). There was talent on that club, but it just didn’t blend into a winner. Plagued mostly by offensive woes, the team never seriously contended in either half of the Southern League season and missed the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Can’t really blame that on Holbert (or Ingram). Players have to produce. Holbert, a low-key sort, came in from the Cleveland system with a good reputation. He managed in the star-studded Arizona Fall League after the SL season. He can run a game. We’ll just have to see what kind of talent Atlanta gives him to work with in 2013. P.S. Former M-Braves pitchers Craig Kimbrel, Kris Medlen and Tim Collins are on the Team USA roster for the World Baseball Classic. Martin Prado is on Venezuela’s roster, and Andrelton Simmons (from Curacao) is expected to play for the Netherlands.