Wisconsin Radio Network

Wisconsin News and Sports

You are here: Home / Archives for Matt Erickson

Erickson returns to manage Timber Rattlers

By

Matt Erickson

The Milwaukee Brewers announced their minor league coaching staffs on Thursday and Appleton native Matt Erickson will return to manage the Class A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers for a ninth straight season.

Erickson, who was the Timber Rattlers hitting coach in 2009 and 2010, has been with the Rattlers since the team’s affiliation with the Brewers began.  The Timber Rattlers have been to the Midwest League playoffs three times under Erickson’s direction.  Wisconsin won the 2012 Midwest League Championship with Erickson at the helm.  He is the longest-serving manager in the history of Appleton Professional Baseball.  His regular season record with the Rattlers is 536-574 (.483).

Erickson will be joined by former Brewers relief pitcher Jim Henderson, who pitched for the Timber Rattlers in 2009.  He was named the Timber Rattlers pitching coach for the 2019 season.  Dave Joppie, who managed the Kane County Cougars in 2004 and 2005, enters his third season in the Brewers organization as the hitting coach of the Rattlers.

Henderson made his MLB debut on July 26, 2012 against the Washington Nationals, the organization with which he started his pro career.  Henderson appeared in 111 games over three seasons with the Brewers and collected 31 saves.  He pitched in 44 games for the New York Mets in 2016, his final season in the majors.  This will be his first full-season as a coach in the Brewers minor league system.

AUDIO: Matt Erickson is glad to be back for a 9th season with the Timber Rattlers :22

Rattlers’ Erickson hits milestone victory

By

Talk to Matt Erickson about becoming the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers all-time winningest manager and he’ll joke about the fact that

Matt Erickson

Matt Erickson

he’s been around for so long that he should have the most wins.

But Erickson deserves far more credit than what he’s willing to take.  The Timber Rattlers split a Midwest League double-header with the Burlington Bee’s last night at Fox Cities Stadium.  The victory came in game two, a 3-2 victory which is number 216 for Erickson.  He passed Gary Thurman for most wins in franchise history.

The Appleton native grew up a Milwaukee Brewers fan, played in the organization, including a short stint in Milwaukee, and is now a manager in the Brewers chain with the Class (A) Timber Rattlers.

Erickson is in his fourth year managing the Timber Rattlers.  He led Wisconsin to the 2012 Midwest League title.

AUDIO: Erickson on his 216th win in Appleton :17

Erickson returns to manage Timber Rattlers for 4th straight season (AUDIO)

By

The Milwaukee Brewers and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers announced today that Appleton

Matt Erickson

Matt Erickson

native Matt Erickson will manage the Class “A” Timber Rattlers in 2014.  Erickson started his coaching career in 2009 as the Rattlers hitting coach, returns to manage the club for his fourth straight season.

The Appleton West grad has a 204-209 record in 413 regular season games with the Timber Rattlers.  He is currently second in career regular seasons wins as a manager in Appleton.

Erickson was the manager of the Timber Rattlers when they won the Midwest League title in 2012, the first pennant in team history.

The Timber Rattlers will open the 2014 season on Thursday, April 3 at Fox Cities Stadium against the Peoria Chiefs.

AUDIO: Matt Erickson press conference 5:25

Timber Rattlers open 2013 season tonight! (AUDIO)

By

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers begin defense of their 2012 Class A Midwest League

Mgr. Matt Erickson

Mgr. Matt Erickson

Championship tonight when they face the Chiefs in Peoria.  Manager Matt Erickson will have a chance to work with a lot of talent to start the 2013 season, but that talent is really young.

AUDIO: Matt Erickson on his young roster :19

The Timber Rattlers will return just six players from last year’s championship team, most of them weren’t starting position players.  The only player who somewhat qualifies is center fielder and 2012 1st round draft pick Mitch Haniger.  Haniger played in 14 games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury. [Read more…]

Erickson discusses Timber Rattlers championship season (Video)

By

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 2012 championship baseball team received their Midwest League Championship rings during a pre-game ceremony prior to Friday’s 4-1 Milwaukee Brewers loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Timber Rattlers field manager Matt Erickson, who will be back on the field again this season in Appleton, discussed last year’s championship season on the Brewers official team website, as his players received their hardware.

Timber Rattlers open season with Erickson bobblehead

By

Last season, manager Matt Erickson led the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers to their first

Matt Erickson bobblehead

Matt Erickson bobblehead

pennant.  When the Rattlers open their newly renovated stadium this season, Erickson bobbleheads will be handed out to all fans who attend.

The Milwaukee Brewers Midwest League affiliate opens the season Thursday, April 4 at Peoria.  The home opener is April 8th against the Cedar Rapids Kernels.

The bobblehead features Erickson holding the Midwest League Championship trophy.

The Appleton native is returning for his 3rd season as manager of the Rattlers in 2013.

 

Erickson back for a 3rd season in Appleton

By

Appleton native Matt Erickson is back for a third season as the Wisconsin

Matt Erickson

Timber Rattlers field manager.

He led Wisconsin to a 78-61 record in the 2012 regular season and claimed its first playoff spot since 2005 by winning the first half Western Division title.  The Rattlers went 7-2 in their playoff run to claim the first Midwest league pennant by a team from the Fox Cities since 1984.  In two seasons, including the playoffs, Erickson is 152-135 as the Rattlers manager.

The rest of the staff from last year is back in place for this season.  Pitching coach Dave Chavarria, hitting coach Dusty Rhodes, athletic trainer Jeff Paxson and strength & conditioning specialist Christian Polega are also back in the dugout with the Timber Rattlers this season.

Wisconsin’s 2013 season begins with a road game against the Peoria Chiefs on Thursday, April 4.

Fans welcome Midwest League Champs! (AUDIO)

By

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers returned home to Fox Cities Stadium Monday

Fans welcome back Rattlers

afternoon at the 2012 Midwest League Champions.  The Timber Rattlers earned that title for the first time, wrapping up the best of 5 series with Fort Wayne, three games to one.

The eight previous baseball titles won by a professional baseball team in the Fox Cities were all won by the Appleton Foxes.  The Foxes last won in 1984.  They became the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 1995 with the first title for the Rattlers coming this past weekend. [Read more…]

Timber Rattlers grab Midwest League Championship opener

By

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers managed just 4-hits last night but plated the

Fox Cities Stadium

game winning run in the 10th inning on a wild pitch, beating Fort Wayne 3-2.  The Rattlers grabbed the opener in the best-of-5 Midwest League Championship series at Fox Cities Stadium.

AUDIO: Mgr. Matt Erickson on winning with only 4-hits :19

Rafael Neda raced home from third with the winning run in tenth.  Neda started the game winning rally with a single.

It’s a quick turn-around for the Rattlers.  They’ll host game two this afternoon (12:05pm first pitch) at Fox Cities Stadium.

 

Midwest League Championship series is set

By

The Wisconsin Timber Rattlers will face the Fort Wayne TinCaps in the

Rattlers Mgr. Matt Erickson

Midwest League Championship series, which opens on Wednesday night at Fox Cities Stadium. 

Fort Wayne defeated Lake County 13-6 on Monday night to win the Eastern Division title.

Wisconsin and Fort Wayne played three games in 2012, all in Fort Wayne.  Wisconsin went 1-2, with their only win coming July 15th in an 8-2 victory.

The Timber Rattlers set their pitching rotation for the best-of-5 championship series.  RHP Jacob Barnes pitches the opener on Wednesday night, with Fond Du Lac native Chad Pierce pitching the only other home game on Thursday afternoon.

The Timber Rattlers are the Class A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.