Rothschild to coach for Torre's All-Stars

Despite Rays' struggles, their manager joins trainer Jamie Reed, ex-boss Lou Piniella on the AL staff.

By MARC TOPKIN

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 8, 2000

PHILADELPHIA -- Larry Rothschild will be wearing a Devil Rays uniform at the All-Star break.

Tampa Bay's victory-challenged manager Wednesday was named to the American League coaching staff for the July 11 All-Star Game in Atlanta. Rays trainer Jamie Reed also will be part of the AL staff.

Rothschild was invited by Yankees and AL manager Joe Torre, who told baseball officials he wanted to start bringing some new faces to the midsummer classic.

"It's an honor," Rothschild said. "I've been fortunate in baseball, to be part of two World Series championships and now an All-Star Game. I don't know any other way to view it."

Rothschild and Torre never have worked together but apparently have developed a mutual respect. Torre considered Rothschild for the AL staff last year, but he also wanted to include Boston's Jimy Williams for the game at Fenway Park and didn't want to have both coaches from East teams.

But Torre apparently kept the idea in mind because he approached Rothschild during a March 27 spring training game in Tampa and invited him then, with all parties agreeing to keep the news quiet. Seattle's Lou Piniella, a Tampa native, will be the other coach. Torre also invited seven members of his Yankees staff, including Don Zimmer.

"A number of factors come into it," Major League Baseball official Phyllis Merhige said. "Sometimes we look at representing the teams who win the divisions and the wild cards, but since so many clubs have been repeating Joe said last year he thought it was time to invite some other people."

Rothschild, 46, missed out on two All-Star coaching opportunities. He was a Reds coach for Piniella in 1991, the year after the Reds won the World Series, but didn't go when Piniella was limited to bringing the most senior members of his staff. Rothschild was the pitching coach for the Marlins' 1997 championship club, but he was managing the Devil Rays at the time of the 1998 game.

Rothschild said he was looking forward to going and representing the Rays. "Hopefully by then things will be righted, because it will feel a lot better there," he said. "The only way to look at it is that I'm honored to be asked. It would be nice if we had about 10 players in consideration to be there, too."

The Rays have struggled during much of Rothschild's tenure, and there has been speculation that he could be fired if the team continues to lose. League officials say they have no contingency plan should that happen.

"I guess I would still have him wearing a sport coat and tie," Torre said jokingly.

Reed, 40, also will be making his first All-Star appearance. Trainers are chosen for the All-Star Game on a rotating basis by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society after they complete 10 years of big-league service and national certification.

"It's absolutely a great honor," Reed said. "Someone said All-Stars usually lead the league in certain categories, and I guess we lead the league in DL days, which is not something to be proud of."

"Jamie deserves it," Rothschild said. "Lord knows he's got enough experience with injuries."

Starters for the game will be announced July 4, with reserves and pitchers named the next day.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

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