Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Lee Tunnell

Brewers finalize coaching staff

By

The Milwaukee Brewers filled out their coaching staff on Monday, naming Andy Haines as the teams new hitting coach, Chris Hook as their new pitching coach and former pitcher Steve Karsay as the teams new bullpen coach.

Haines had been the assistant hitting coach of the Chicago Cubs and will replace Darnell Coles, who signed on as the new hitting coach of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Prior to working for the Cubs, Haines spent eight years with the Miami Marlins, spending time as a hitting coach and manager at the Class A and AAA levels.

Hook spent 11 years in the Brewers organization and replaces Derek Johnson, who surprised the Brewers after the 2018 season by leaving for the same position with the Cincinnati Reds. [Read more…]

Brewers announce coaching changes

By

 

Darnell Coles

Milwaukee Brewers general manager David Stearns announced that hitting coach Darnell Coles has resigned as the teams hitting coach and bullpen coach Lee Tunnell didn’t have his contract renewed.

The Brewers also announced that head athletic trainer Dan Wright will not return.

Assistant hitting coach Jason Lane will be considered for Coles replacement but was told that he is free to pursue other opportunities.

The 56-year-old Coles was in his fourth season as the Brewers’ hitting coach.

The Brewers finished seventh in the National League with 754 runs scored.  They were second in home runs with 218 and third in total bases with 2,352.  But the team struggled with runners in scoring position, ranking 11th (.246).

Coles told the Brewers he was ready for a new challenge.

 

Brewers announce hirings

By

Brewers logoThe Milwaukee Brewers officially announced the hiring of Derek Johnson as the teams pitching coach and Pat Murphy as the teams bench coach today.

The 44-year-old Johnson replaced Rick Kranitz as pitching coach.  He joins the Brewers from the Chicago Cubs, where he served as pitching coordinator from 2013-15.  Prior to that role, Johnson spent eleven seasons as pitching coach at Vanderbilt University from 2002-12.  Over his last three seasons at Vanderbilt, he served as associated head coach in addition to pitching coach.  Among others, Johnson guided the collegiate careers of 2012 Cy Young Award-winner David Price and current Oakland Athletics ace Sonny Gray. [Read more…]

Brewers retain two of their coaches for next season

By

Ed Sedar

Ed Sedar

The Milwaukee Brewers have announced that hitting coach Darnell Coles and third base coach Ed Sedar will return for the 2016 season.  The team didn’t renew the contracts of first base coach Mike Guerrero, pitching coach Rick Kranitz, bench coach Jerry Narron, outfield coach John Shelby and bullpen coach Lee Tunnell.  New General Manager David Stearns made the announcement today.

The 53-year-old Coles just completed his first season on the coaching staff after he was named to the position last October 23.  He is in his second stint in the Brewers organization, having served as minor league hitting coordinator (2010-11) and then manager at Double-A Huntsville (2012-13) during his first stint.  Coles also spent one season (2014) as assistant hitting coach with the Detroit Tigers.

The 54-year-old Sedar has been in the Brewers organization since 1992, including the first nine seasons (2007-15) on the Major League coaching staff.  Sedar is the longest-tenured coach on the staff.  He has served as first base coach (2007-10) and  third base coach (2011-15).

 

Bullpen mixup leads to Brewers loss in Atlanta

By

The Milwaukee Brewers coughed up a blew a 4-2 lead in the 7th and fell to the Atlanta Braves 5-4 at Turner Field last night.

With pitching coach Rick Kranitz and bullpen coach Lee Tunnell away to attend graduations within their families, communication between their replacements and manager Ron Roenicke suffered.

Roenicke wanted right-hander Brandon Kintzler and lefty Will Smith to warm up, but only Kintzler got ready to pitch.

Kintzler entered the game with the Brewers leading 4-2 in the 7th.  Gerald Laird hit a bouncer that caromed off the glove of diving third baseman Mark Reynolds and into shallow left for what became an RBI double, leaving runners at second and third.

Roenicke then went to the home plate umpire for a double switch, which included left hander Will Smith out of the bullpen.  Smith wasn’t loose and was given only 8 warmup pitches once he arrived to the mound.  The home plate umpire (Fieldin Culbreth) asked the league about allowing Smith to throw more warmup pitches and they said “no”.

The next hitter was pinch hitter Ryan Doumit who singled to drive in both runs and gave the Brewers the 5-4 lead.  It also spoiled a solid performance by Matt Garza who allowed 5  hits in 6 1/3 innings and was charged with four of the five runs.  The loss goes to Brandon Kintzler.

The Brewers dropped 3 of 4 to the Braves in the series and are now 2-5 on the road trip.  The Brewers have lost 12 of their last 15 games at Turner Field.

The Brewers will send Marco Estrada (3-2, 3.64) to the mound for game 1 of a three game series in Miami against Marlins right hander Tom Koehler (4-3, 2.25).

 

Brewers get rid of bullpen coach

By

The Milwaukee Brewers fired bullpen coach Stan Kyles today.  Minor League pitching coordinator Lee Tunnell replaces Kyles on an interim basis.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said, “It is important that we make every effort to try to improve our bullpen performance.”  “While Stan is not solely responsible, I felt this change was the first step and was necessary.  Stan has been a loyal member of the Brewers organization for 11-years.  His hard work and dedication has been an integral part of the Brewers’ success and is greatly appreciated.  His professionalism, knowledge and personality will be missed.”

Tunnell is in his fourth season on the Brewers organization.  Prior to that, he’s spent time with the Cincinnati Reds and Texas Rangers.

Brewer relievers have gone 15-26 with a 4.80 ERA this season.  The bullpen has recorded the most losses and blown saves (20) in the Major Leagues and ranks 28th ERA and 29th in opponent batting average (.274).

Kyles had served as the Brewers bullpen coach since 2009.