9-News: 38.001 – Sanchez Returns to YS9 Organization

[RonCo]

In a move certain to thrill fans in Yellow Springs, the team announced today that they’ve brought popular left-handed ace Alberto Sanchez back into the organization, hiring him as the club’s picthing coach down in AAA Indianapolis. The role was opened earlier this year when the Nine fired Dan Walker and promoted Kyle Beard into the major leagues.

At 37, Sanchez becomes one of the younger coaches among the team’s staff, but most think he’ll handle things fine. “Alberto was a guy everyone looked up to,” said Lucas McNeill from his off-season resting spot in Tahiti. “And the guy could really pitch. I think we’ll see him coaching in the majors pretty soon. Hell, I bet he could still get guys out if he had to go to the mound now.” Others note that Sanchez was a guy who could do it all, throwing multiple pitches, but also being able to push the heater up into the upper ranges. “He should be a great coach,” said ESPN analyst Gayle Combs.

Sanchez, who spent 13 seasons with the Nine, was part of the vaunted “Nasty Five” of the club’s run in the late 20s and early 30s, teaming up with Crash LaLoosh, Eduardo Lopez, Jose Chavez, Mario Gonzalez, Tim Oliver, and Rick Ward at various times to make what was arguably one of the best long-running rotations in league history. He won 20 games in a season, and sits at #5 on the club’s all-time list with 129 (one victory behind Emile Yost—a fact that irks some fans even today). Hamstring and back injuries resulted in the team trading him to Huntsville. Overall, Sanchez finished a distinguished career at 141-119, 3.94.

“I’m really excited to get this opportunity,” he said from his home in the Dominican as he was preparing to fly to Indianapolis for a house hunting trip.