[Syd Thrift]

Here's the Thrift Training in action with the first 3 teams:

Boston Beaneaters
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Manager: Jeremy Neary is pretty equal at handling each aspect of the game, as well as all three different kinds of players. Alan O'Heron badly needs a curve ball and Neary is just the man to teach him. Skills: 113/92/110 for a low C. Result: 34, an Ignore. Hope the endurance bonus helps!

Bench Coach: Hunter Batson is no great shakes at anything, but is a little better at teaching pitching. He will pass. 6/1/2007: With Carmelo "Bones" Latini hitting lights-out but not holding it up on the defensive end, the time has come to train him at the position. Skills: 76/69/191, a C. Result: Good, but will the performance morale hit make him demand a trade?

Hitting Coach: Steve Koepke is solid at teaching hitting and excels with rookies and regular players. Eric McNeice is not known for working hard but he is smart. He'll try to learn Open Stance. Skills: 139/144/132, for a C. Well, he's not going to last long without a change anyway. Result: a 46, just barely enough for "Good". McNeice may still have a career yet!

Pitching Coach: Dean Martin isn't the greatest pitching coach in the world and is best suited for youngsters. He'll pass.

Boston Red Sox
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Manager: Jeff Sass is good at teaching both pitching and hitting and is a whiz with young players. He's the best on the team at teaching fielding, and somebody in the majors needs to learn third base. That man will be 20-year-old Kevin Adams, who is still young enough to bounce back from possible mistakes. Skills: 194/109/146, for a B. Result: 34, an ignore, meaning Adams only gains 50 points in 3rd base from "The Morgan"'s tutelage. Looks like he'll be learning the position in spring training.

Bench Coach: Ron Kays is better at teaching fielding than anything else and handles all players equally (which is not that well). Pass.

Hitting Coach: Ryan Jamfrey is all right at teaching hitting and teaches rookies better than anything else. Pass.

Pitching Coach: Bob Ives is okay at teaching pitching but does not handle rookies well. Pass.

Brooklyn Superbas
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Manager: Ned Hanlon is great at teaching fielding, and handles players in their prime and vets well. He'll work on teaching farmhand Werner Oland to Choke Up because if he doesn't learn this soon he never will. Skills: 144/104/99 for a C. Result: Good. He's still not that great at avoiding 'em, but he is better.

Bench Coach: Chad Morris was a real find. The 31 year old first-year coach is good at teaching hitting and fielding and excellent with all player types. It's time Nagai Kafu made the transition from so-so second baseman to terrific slap hitter with Be Aggressive. Skills: 165/126/189 for a B. Result: Ignore. Oh well.

Hitting Coach: Sheamus Hassard is fantastic at teaching hitting to vets. He also does well in teaching the skill to rookies and regular players. He's going to try to turn Tyler Salters into a major-league quality hitter by imploring him to be aggressive (after all, it's not like he can possibly walk any less than he already is). Skills: 200/184/152, for a B that is oh so close to an A. Result: Good! Hassard does it again.

Pitching Coach: Erik Lawson is okay at teaching pitching to vets. Pass.