Joel Skinner
Encyclopedia
Joel Patrick Skinner is a former Major League Baseball
catcher and former third base coach of the Cleveland Indians
. Skinner was dismissed effective with the end of the 2009 season on September 30, 2009. He is the son of Bob Skinner
, a National League outfielder in the 1950s and '60s. He was the former bench coach for the Oakland Athletics
.
. He was drafted immediately following his senior year and was the first player taken in the free-agent compensation draft.
system from 1995–2000. In those seasons he compiled a record of 448–333 (.574) and took his team to the playoffs in five of the six seasons.
as third base coach. He was named interim manager of the Tribe on July 11, 2002 after Charlie Manuel
was let go in a contract dispute. At the time, Skinner was the youngest manager in the major leagues, at age 41. He skippered the team to a 35–41 record to finish the season, including a 15–13 record in September. Skinner's name was mentioned among candidates to the permanent manager's job, but Eric Wedge
was chosen instead. His name will be forever known as the third-base coach who held Kenny Lofton from scoring during the 2007 ALCS and turned the tide in the favor of the Red Sox. Skinner remained on the Indians' coaching staff until Manny Acta
was hired in 2009. On October 20, 2010, Skinner was hired as the Oakland Athletics
bench coach for the 2011 season replacing Tye Waller
.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
catcher and former third base coach of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. Skinner was dismissed effective with the end of the 2009 season on September 30, 2009. He is the son of Bob Skinner
Bob Skinner
Robert Ralph Skinner is a scout for the Houston Astros and a former outfielder-first baseman, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball...
, a National League outfielder in the 1950s and '60s. He was the former bench coach for the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
.
High school career
At Mission Bay High School in San Diego, Joel Skinner played baseball and water poloWater polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
. He was drafted immediately following his senior year and was the first player taken in the free-agent compensation draft.
Minor league managing career
Skinner spent six seasons managing in the Indians minor leagueMinor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
system from 1995–2000. In those seasons he compiled a record of 448–333 (.574) and took his team to the playoffs in five of the six seasons.
- 1995 – Managed the Watertown IndiansWatertown IndiansThe Watertown Indians were a minor league baseball team located in Watertown, New York. The team played in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League and was affiliated with the Cleveland Indians. Its home stadium was Duffy Fairgrounds. The team relocated to Staten Island for the...
to a record of 46- 27 and a New York-Penn League title and Manager of the Year honors
- 1996 – Managed the Columbus RedstixxColumbus RedStixxThe Columbus RedStixx were a minor league baseball team in Columbus, Georgia. They were a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and a farm team of the Cleveland Indians.The RedStixx played home games at Golden Park, except during 1996...
(South Atlantic LeagueSouth Atlantic LeagueThe South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
) to a second half title and a regular season record of 79–63
- 1997 – Managed the Class A Kinston IndiansKinston IndiansThe Kinston Indians were a minor league baseball team of the Carolina League , and the High-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. They were located in Kinston, North Carolina, and were named for their parent club...
(Carolina LeagueCarolina LeagueThe Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
) in 1997 as they won titles in both the first and second halves with an 87–53 record, earning him Carolina League Manager of the Year honors
- 1998 & 1999 – Managed the Akron AerosAkron AerosThe Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...
and was named USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
Baseball Weekly's Minor League Manager of the Year in 1998 after guiding the Aeros to an 81–60 record and an Eastern League regular season title
- 2000 – Managed the AAA Buffalo BisonsBuffalo BisonsThe Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
to the best record in the International LeagueInternational LeagueThe International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
and an IL North Division title with a record of 86–59 (.593). His leadership of the Bisons in earned him Minor League Manager of the Year honors from Baseball AmericaBaseball AmericaBaseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
and The Sporting NewsThe Sporting NewsSporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
in addition to being given International League Manager of the Year honors. Was a coach for Team USATeam USATeam USA is a wrestling faction brought together as part of Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's X-Cup Tournaments, which involved a team of X Division superstars from various countries representing their nation in an international wrestling competition.-America's X-Cup:Team USA was created and led...
in the 2000 All-Star Futures Game in Atlanta.
- 2010 – Hired as the Oakland AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
bench coach for the 2011 season.
Major League managing/coaching career
Skinner was named to the coaching staff of the Cleveland Indians on November 10, 2000, succeeding Jim RigglemanJim Riggleman
James David Riggleman is a former Major League Baseball manager and coach. Riggleman was an infielder and outfielder in the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals minor league systems from 1974–1981...
as third base coach. He was named interim manager of the Tribe on July 11, 2002 after Charlie Manuel
Charlie Manuel
Charles Fuqua Manuel, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder and current Major League Baseball manager of the Philadelphia Phillies...
was let go in a contract dispute. At the time, Skinner was the youngest manager in the major leagues, at age 41. He skippered the team to a 35–41 record to finish the season, including a 15–13 record in September. Skinner's name was mentioned among candidates to the permanent manager's job, but Eric Wedge
Eric Wedge
Eric Michael Wedge is a Major League Baseball manager and former catcher, and is the current manager of the Seattle Mariners. As a player, Wedge attended Northrop High School in Fort Wayne and played on the school's state champion baseball team in 1983...
was chosen instead. His name will be forever known as the third-base coach who held Kenny Lofton from scoring during the 2007 ALCS and turned the tide in the favor of the Red Sox. Skinner remained on the Indians' coaching staff until Manny Acta
Manny Acta
Manuel Elias Acta is a Major League Baseball manager for the Cleveland Indians. He is the former manager of the Washington Nationals . In the Dominican Winter League, he managed the Tigres del Licey from 2002–2004, including leading them to victory at the 2003 Caribbean Series...
was hired in 2009. On October 20, 2010, Skinner was hired as the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
bench coach for the 2011 season replacing Tye Waller
Tye Waller
Elliott Tyrone Waller or more commonly known as Tye Waller or Ty Waller, is the first base coach for Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics franchise, and a former major league third baseman....
.
Managerial records
| Team | |Regular Season | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | AB | R | H | RBI | HR | AVG |
| 564 | 1441 | 119 | 329 | 136 | 7 | .228 |