Chiefs announce 2011 field staff
Randy Knorr
The 2011 season will mark Knorr's debut as a Triple-A manager after five seasons as a skipper down the Nationals' chain. He guided the Double-A Harrisburg Senators to a 77-65 record and a trip to the Eastern League playoffs last season. Knorr spent three seasons (2006-08) as the manager of the Class A Advanced Potomac Nationals. His other season of managerial experience came in 2005 with Class A Savannah, then the Nationals' South Atlantic League affiliate. In 2009, Knorr was the bullpen coach for the big league club.
Knorr, a former catcher, was the Toronto Blue Jays' 10th-round choice in the 1986 First-Year Player Draft. He spent parts of 11 seasons in the big leagues after making his Major League debut in 1991 with the Jays. He played with five different big league teams (Toronto, Houston, Florida, Texas and Montreal) hitting .226 in 676 at bats with 24 home runs and 88 RBIs. He earned World Series rings with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1992 and 1993.
Knorr played in 182 games with Syracuse in 1991, 1992, 1995 and 1996. Half of those appearances came in 1991, his Triple-A debut season. During that year, Knorr hit .260 with five home runs and 44 RBIs while splitting time behind the plate with Ed Sprague. The next season, Knorr hit 11 home runs in just 61 games with Syracuse.
Greg Booker
Booker coached the Chiefs' pitchers in 2010, his first year with the Nationals. Under Booker's watch, Chiefs hurlers finished 2010 with an ERA of 3.84, fifth best in the International League. Booker, a North Carolina native, has extensive coaching experience with Indians, Padres and Rockies organizations. He also played in the Majors for nine seasons, the bulk of which came with the San Diego Padres. Booker suited up for San Diego from 1983 to 1988 and part of 1990. He also threw with Toronto and San Francisco, compiling a career ERA of 3.89 in the Majors. Booker also is the son-in-law of former Major League manager, Jack McKeon.
Jerry Browne
Browne oversaw the Chiefs hitters last season, his first in Triple-A, after spending the previous two years in Potomac. This season will be Browne's sixth in the Nationals' system. In 2006 and 2007, he was the hitting coach for the Nationals' South Atlantic League affiliate. As a player, Browne spent 10 years in the Majors, from 1986-1995, with the Rangers, Indians, A's and Marlins. Browne hit .271 in his career as a second baseman and outfielder.
Coming up
Knorr, Booker, Browne and the Chiefs take the field in the 2011 home opener on April 13, 2011 against the Pawtucket Red Sox at 2 p.m. at Alliance Bank Stadium. Full-season and partial ticket plans are available by visiting the stadium box office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., by calling the Chiefs ticket office at 1-315-474-7833, or by visiting www.syracusechiefs.com online.