SAN DIEGO -- Dave Roberts is returning to the field as first base coach of the San Diego Padres.
The former major leaguer will move over from his current role as a special assistant in the baseball operations department.
Roberts said he developed a rapport and mutual respect with manager Bud Black, "and his offer to me was huge."
"Ultimately it was too good of an opportunity to pass up," Roberts said. "I look at the past season and how much fun I had with the players and working with staff. It's an opportunity to be more hands on. It's exciting."
During last spring training, Roberts worked with the Padres on their baserunning techniques and worked with the outfielders.
Roberts said he'll bring to his job "just the knowledge of playing and also being on the bases, just relating to these guys. I've lived it, I've had good times, I've had tough times. I just want to bring the experience as well as the energy and passion that I have for the game. I'd like to believe that I can convey that to the players and I'd like to think they'd be better for it."
Roberts is best known for his stolen base for Boston in Game 4 of the 2004 AL championship series against the New York Yankees that sparked the Red Sox to an elusive World Series championship.
Roberts has recently battled Hodgkin's lymphoma, undergoing chemotherapy and then radiation treatments.
He believes he has it beaten.
"All my scans are clear," he said.
He played 10 seasons in the majors for Cleveland, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston, San Diego and San Francisco. The speedy outfielder retired after 2008 and worked in television last year for the Red Sox.
Roberts was a career .266 hitter with 243 steals.
He replaces Rick Renteria, who will become the bench coach. Former bench coach Ted Simmons is leaving to pursue a managing job or return to scouting.
샌디에이고 파드레스가 전 메이저리그 외야수 데이브 로버츠를 1루 베이스 코치로 선임했습니다.
로버츠는 2008년을 끝으로 은퇴 후 구단의 특별 보좌역으로 있었습니다.
2004년 보스턴 레드삭스의 일원으로 월드시리즈 우승에 기여하기도 한 로버츠는 림프종을 앓기도 하였으며,
선수생활동안 클리브랜드, LA 다저스, 보스턴 레드삭스, 샌이에이고 파드레스, 샌츠란시스코등에서 10시즌을 뛰었습니다.
파드레스의 현재 1루 베이스 코치인 릭 렌테리아씨는 벤치코치로 임명되며, 벤치 코치였던 테드 시몬스는 스카우팅쪽으로
옮길 것이라고 합니다.
기사출처 : ESPN(http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5659485) / 기록출처 : MLB닷컴(http://mlb.com/)
