Former M-Braves manager to spruce up Super Bowl

Former Mississippi Braves manager Phillip Wellman, now a coach with the Double-A Springfield Cardinals, will be on your Super Bowl plate Sunday. Wellman appears in a Volkswagen commercial playing the part of "baseball manager." Wellman is a good guy, so I have no problem giving you a (sarcastic) scouting report of his "performance": He has no rhythm and, thankfully, no attempt makes at singing. But he still has a good arm.

Gardner making history as 7th-year Biscuits manager

Billy Gardner will make Southern League history when he returns to the Biscuits for a seventh season as manager.

Gardner will be the first in the league's 50-year Double-A history to serve seven continuous years. The 46-year-old is already the winningest manager in the city of Montgomery's professional history. He has a 426-406 record.

The Rays announced their minor league staffs today and are sending Gardner, hitting coach Ozzie Timmons, pitching coach R.C. Lichtenstein and athletic trainer Kris Russell back to Montgomery.


Timmons will be in his fifth year with the Biscuits. Lichtenstein and Russell are in their second.
TAMPA BAY MINOR LEAGUE COACHING STAFFS
Durham -- Charlie Montoyo, manager; Neil Allen, pitching coach; Dave Myers, hitting coach; Mike Sandoval, trainer.
Montgomery -- Billy Gardner, manager; R.C. Lichtenstein, pitching coach; Ozzie Timmons, hitting coach; Kris Russell, trainer.
Charlotte -- Brady Williams, manager; Bill Moloney, pitching coach; Joe Szekely, hitting coach; Scott Thurston, trainer.
Bowling Green -- Jared Sandberg, manager; Kyle Snyder, pitching coach; Manny Castillo, hitting coach; Chris Tomashoff, trainer.
Hudson Valley -- Michael Johns, manager; Steve Watson, pitching coach; Dan DeMent, hitting coach; Jeremy Spencer, trainer.
Princeton -- Danny Sheaffer, manager; Darwin Peguero, pitching coach; Reinaldo Ruiz, hitting coach; Nick Flynn, trainer.
GCL Rays -- Jim Morrison, manager; Marty DeMerritt, pitching coach; Wuarnner Rincones, Hector Torres, hitting coaches; Brian Newman, trainer.

Durham's coaching staff the same as last year

Triple-A Durham and the Rays have revealed their coaching staff for this year. Charlie Montoyo is back for his seventh season as manager. Neil Allen returns as pitching coach, Dave Myers as hitting coach and Mike Sandoval as athletic trainer.

Earl Weaver was a Montgomery Rebel

Earl Weaver, the Hall of Fame manager who died today at age 82, was also a former Montgomery Rebels player.

In 1956, Weaver had a .241 average in 32 games for the Rebels, who moved in midseason to Knoxville, Tenn. That August, Weaver became the team's manager, his first managerial job. He was 25 years old.

Weaver was a managerial great, winning four American League pennants and the 1970 World Series with the Baltimore Orioles. In 17 years with the O's, he had five 100-win seasons.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.

Biscuits set single-game sales date

Mark your calendars. The Biscuits will start selling single-game tickets March 23.

Rays' spring tickets on sale next week

The Rays start selling single-game spring training tickets next week.

At 9 a.m. Central next Friday, tickets are available at raysbaseball.com. Next Saturday at 9 a.m., they're also available by phone at 888-FAN-RAYS or 800-745-3000.

Tickets cost $10-$27.

Albernaz back in Rays' fold

Catcher <strong>Craig Albernaz</strong> has re-signed with the Rays. He and four more former Biscuits will be non-roster spring invitees:, catcher <strong>Mark Thomas</strong> and pitchers <strong>Marquis Fleming</strong>, <strong>Adam Liberatore</strong> and <strong>Kirby Yates</strong>.

Former Rebels in class with all others for 2013 Hall

Former Montgomery Rebels Jack Morris and Alan Trammell came up short of the Hall of Fame when the annual voting was announced today.

Nobody reached the 75 percent plateau needed in voting by the Baseball Writers Association of America. It's the first time since 1996 that no former player was elected by the writers.

31 to attend Rays' winter camp

The Rays' fourth annual winter development program starts Monday and here are the 31 players scheduled to attend.

Pitchers (14) -- Jeff Ames, Damion Carroll, Alex Colome, Frank De Los Santos, Nolan Gannon, Taylor Guerrieri, Jesse Hahn, Parker Markel, Mike Montgomery, Jake Odorizzi, Felipe Rivero, Enny Romero, Nick Sawyer, Blake Snell

Catchers (2) -- Luke Maile, Justin O'Conner

Infielders (8) -- Tim Beckham, Spencer Edwards, Tyler Goeddel, Jake Hager, Patrick Leonard, Brandon Martin, Richie Shaffer, Riccio Torrez

Outfielders (7) -- Kes Carter, Bralin Jackson, Mikie Mahtook, Wil Myers, Josh Sale, Andrew Toles, Drew Vettleson