SeaWolves manager missed on-field thrill


By Ron Leonardi
ron.leonardi@....

Duffy Dyer likes scouting, his livelihood the past two seasons in the
New York Mets organization, and hopes to do it again someday.

But there were times last summer, the former big league catcher
admitted, when he would show up at games "with no adrenaline
flowing.''

That left Dyer with one inescapable conclusion.

"I still love putting on a uniform and trying to win a ballgame,'' he
said.

Dyer, 59, will get that chance again next season when he manages the
Erie SeaWolves, the Detroit Tigers Class AA Eastern League affiliate.
The Tigers and SeaWolves officially announced Dyer's hiring Tuesday.

Dyer replaces Rick Sweet, who left the SeaWolves after one season.
Sweet will manage the St. Louis Cardinals' Class AAA affiliate in
Louisville, Ky. SeaWolves pitching coach Mike Caldwell and hitting
coach Pete Incaviglia will return for their second season with Erie.

"I bring a passion for the game and that's the main reason why I
wanted to get back into managing,'' Dyer said Tuesday in a telephone
interview from his home in Phoenix. "I missed the game itself and I
love working with young players. Those are the main reasons I wanted
to get back into coaching.''

Two years as a scout with the Mets left Dyer longing to return in a
managerial role. In 2003, he served as an advance scout but didn't
enjoy the job and requested a switch. Last season, the Mets made Dyer
a pro scout.

Near the end of last season, Dyer said, he planned to ask Mets
management if he could be elevated to player development position for
2005. But shortly after the season, the Mets reorganized their
scouting department and released the 14-year big league catcher who
broke into baseball with the Mets in 1966.

"I like scouting and hope to do it again when physically I can't
manage anymore,'' Dyer said. "The last couple years, I didn't like it
this much at this time in my life. The Lord has blessed me with good
health, and I'm hoping I'll be coaching for a while yet.''

After he was let go by the Mets, Dyer began making calls to baseball
acquaintances. One of them was to Detroit Tigers pitching coach Bob
Cluck, a longtime friend, who informed Dyer a few weeks ago of the
SeaWolves managerial opening.

Tigers minor league field coordinator Glenn Ezell called Dyer and
asked if he would be interested in interviewing for the Erie job.

"Duffy is a top-notch guy,'' Ezell said. "We both signed with the
Mets in 1966. I know him, I've worked against him and I've admired
how he's gone about his business.''

Ezell and Ricky Bennett, the Tigers' former director of minor league
operations, interviewed Dyer in Phoenix the weekend before
Thanksgiving. (The Houston Astros on Tuesday appointed Bennett
assistant general manager and director of player development).

Ezell said he interviewed three people for the SeaWolves' position.
Dyer said he was offered the job less than a week after his interview.

"Duffy wanted to be here,'' Ezell said. "He wanted to get back into
the game as a manager. He has a huge desire to be a part of our
organization and to make the Tigers better. He brings a good, solid
professional background.''

Dyer most recently managed with Bridgeport of the independent
Atlantic League in 2002-03. He has managed nine seasons in the minor
leagues and has managed affiliated teams at the Class A, AA and AAA
levels.

Dyer was named manager of the year with Class A Kenosha of the
Midwest League in 1984 and with Class AA El Paso of the Texas League
in 1987.

"I've worked with young kids who have just signed, who are new and
are making the transition to wooden bats and may be a bit
intimidated,'' Dyer said. "I've also worked with big league players
and veteran AAA players who have been up to the big leagues. I think
that is an advantage in having that experience.''

Notes: The Tigers on Tuesday named Dan Lunetta director of minor
league operations and promoted Mike Smith to director of baseball
operations. Detroit also named Mike Rojas manager of its Class A
Lakeland affiliate in the Florida State League.

Lunetta recently spent two seasons (2002-03) with the Montreal Expos
as a special assistant to the general manager after working 10
seasons with the Florida Marlins. Smith joined the Tigers in January
2002 as an assistant to baseball operations.

Rojas was promoted to Lakeland from Oneonta (N.Y.), the Tigers' short-
season Class A New York-Penn League affiliate.

RON LEONARDI can be reached at 870-1680 or by e-mail.