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Phillies Name '07 BlueClaws Coaches

November 30, 2006 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Jersey Shore BlueClaws News Release


The Philadelphia Phillies have selected Steve Roadcap to lead the 2007 field staff for the defending South Atlantic League (SAL) champion Lakewood BlueClaws. Former Phillies infielder Kevin Jordan, veteran minor league coaches Joe Alverez and Ed Hodge will join Roadcap on the bench this season.

Roadcap, 46, is no stranger to managing a professional clubhouse. The Pottsville, PA native coached and managed in the Chicago Cubs organization from 1987-98. After leading Rockford to the playoffs in 1995 he was named th-

e best managing prospect in the Midwest League by Baseball America. Following his time with the Cubs, the current Elkview, WV resident joined the Seattle Mariners player development staff from 1999-2004 handling different roles that included the club's minor league catching coordinator for the last two seasons.

During his first season with the Phillies, Roadcap managed the Batavia Muckdogs to a 35-38 overall record. Much of the talent from that club is expected to return with Roadcap in Lakewood. During the BlueClaws chase for the championship, the Phillies moved up a handful of Radcap's pitching staff that provided strong support for the BlueClaws eventual SAL Championship.

Former Major League infielder Kevin Jordan, 37, returns to the Phillies organization after having played his entire major league career in Philadelphia. Jordan brings the experience of seven Big League seasons to help the Phillies youngest stars in Lakewood. During his time with the Phillies, Jordan hit .258 with 23 home runs and 175 runs batted in. The San Francisco native was originally selected by the New York Yankees in 20th round of 1990 amateur draft and traded by Yankees with Ryan Karp and Bobby Munoz to Phillies for Jeff Patterson and Terry Mulholland prior to the start of the 2004 season.

Joe Alverez, 41, played in the minor leagues for four seasons with the Yankees (1974-75), Astros (1976) and Orioles (1977). After his playing career, he coached in Baltimore's farm system for two seasons (1978-79) before moving to the Dodgers. His first two years with Los Angeles were spent as a coach before he began his managing career. He managed Sarasota for five seasons (1984-88) and won two championships and Vero Beach for two seasons (1989-90) and won one championship. From 1991-98, he worked as a scout for three different teams in the Korean Baseball Association and from 2000-02, he coached at Gulliver Preparatory School in Miami. Alverez joined the Phillies in 2006 as a coach for Batavia.

Ed Hodge, 47, enters his first season with the Phillies after spending the last five years in the Cincinnati Reds organization. Hodge joined the Reds in 2002 as the pitching coach at Rookie Billings and guided a staff that led the Pioneer League with a 3.72 ERA. He spent the next two seasons with the Rookie GCL Reds (2003) and Class-A Potomac (2004). The last two seasons, Hodge served as the pitching coach for Sarasota in the Florida State League. Prior to joining the organization, Hodge spent nine years as a college coach. The former left-handed pitcher was drafted by Minnesota in the fifth round of the June 1979 draft and went on to pitch nine professional seasons, reaching the majors with the Twins in 1984. Ed currently resides in Johnson City, TN.

The future BlueClaws will arrive in Clearwater, FL in early March at the Carpenter Complex, the Spring Training home of the Philadelphia Phillies. Full squad workouts will begin mid-March with approximately 18 spring games before breaking camp and arriving in Lakewood for the start of the season.

The BlueClaws open the 2007 season at FirstEnergy Park against the Greensboro Grasshoppers April 5 at 6:35 p.m.

The BlueClaws have led the league in attendance every year adding 448,310 fans in 2006. Next season, the BlueClaws will become the fastest team in South Atlantic League and New Jersey baseball history to reach the 3 million fan attendance mark. Season tickets and ticket plans are on sale now. For more information call 732-901-7000 or visit the BlueClaws website at www.BlueClaws.com.


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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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