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Corpus Christi Hooks

Clark, Field Staff Hooked Again for 2006

January 13, 2006 - Texas League (TL1)
Corpus Christi Hooks News Release


(CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas) - The Houston Astros have announced that Corpus Christi's field staff will return intact for the 2006 Texas League season. Dave Clark will manage the Hooks, and will be joined in the dugout by pitching coach Joe Slusarski, hitting coach John Tamargo, Jr. and athletic trainer Jamey Snodgrass.

Clark, 43, returns for his second season in the Astros' system and his fourth consecutive year as a manager in the minors. While the Hooks finished 64-76 overall in 2005, Clark guided the club to a 37-33 second-half mark, just two games behind the division-leading and eventual league champion Midland RockHounds. Corpus Christi wrapped up the year by going 20-15 over its final 35 games.

"We are extremely excited about the return of our entire coaching staff to Corpus Christi," exclaimed Astros' Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Development Ricky Bennett. "Dave Clark and his staff did a tremendous job throughout the year and we look forward to a more rewarding year in 2006."

In three seasons as a manager, Clark has posted a .542 winning percentage, with his clubs winning 225 of 415 regular-season games. He guided the Lynchburg HillCats to the 2003 Carolina League Championship Series, and in 2004 led the Hickory Crawdads to the South Atlantic League title.

"I'm thrilled to be back in Corpus Christi with the opportunity to bring a championship to that wonderful city," stated Clark. "I think I can speak for my staff as well when I say that we left some unfinished business there."

As a player, Clark broke into the majors in 1986 with Cleveland and spent portions of 13 seasons in the big leagues with six different teams. In 905 career games, Clark batted .264 with 62 homeruns and 284 RBI's.

Slusarski embarks upon his fourth season as the Astros' Double-A pitching coach. With the likes of Jason Hirsh (2005 Texas League Pitcher of the Year) and Fernando Nieve on staff, Slusarski directed Hooks' pitchers to a league-best 3.34 ERA. Corpus Christi's pitching staff also led the circuit in shutouts (10) and strikeouts (1,036).

"This is great news for us and we're glad to get the whole staff back for next season," added Hooks' Vice President Ken Schrom. "There's something to be said for consistency and I know our players will benefit from their collective experience."

Slusarski's major league pitching career spanned seven seasons and 118 appearances. He posted a lifetime record of 13-21 with three saves and a 5.18 ERA. Slusarski debuted with Oakland in 1991 and played in the majors for three other clubs, including the Astros, through the 2001 season.

Tamargo enters his third year as a coach in the Houston system and his second with the Hooks. A former infielder for Round Rock, Tamargo spent eight years as a player in the minors following his playing days at the University of Florida. He played parts of four seasons at the Triple-A level and batted .237 during his pro career with 12 homeruns and 222 RBI's. In college, Tamargo batted .309-14-99 in three seasons with the Gators and helped to lead Florida to the College World Series in 1996.

Snodgrass returns for his fourth season as the athletic trainer for the Astros' Double-A affiliate and his eighth year in the Houston organization. In 2001 and 2002, Snodgrass was honored as the Trainer of the Year in the Midwest League while working for the Michigan Battle Cats.

The Astros announced assignments for all of their minor league affiliates today. Notable among those assignments is Burt Hooton, who returns to Round Rock to be the pitching coach for the Triple-A Express. Hooton, who led Richard King High School in Corpus Christi to the State 4A baseball title in 1967, spent 15 seasons as a major league pitcher and last year was bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Hooks' South Texas Winter Baseball Banquet.

Also notable is the move of Russ Nixon from manager of the Astros' rookie affiliate in Greeneville, Tennessee to a position as a roving instructor in the Houston system. Nixon, entering his 54th season of professional baseball, is a former manager for both Cincinnati and Atlanta and has been a coach at the major league level with the Reds, Expos and Braves. Former minor league defensive coordinator Jim Pankovitz, who had been in that position with the Astros for the past five seasons, will now manage Houston's Carolina League affiliate in Salem, Virginia.

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