As a new year of Mahoning Valley Scrappers baseball gets ready to move forward each season, a whole new cast of characters appears, usually in the form of players.  Minor League Baseball is the melting pot of sports.  There are plenty of Latino prospects mixed with the Americans.  There is an Australian catcher – it is the usual array of language and customs being assimilated in the Youngstown area.

Scrappers Manager Ted Kubiak (above) has some additional pieces of the puzzle to assemble this season.  Last years hitting and pitching coaches, Tony Manzilino and Greg Hibbard, have been reassigned by the Indians organization.  Enter Shaun Larkin and Scott Erickson as the new hitting and pitching coaches.

Erickson spent last season at the AA level for the Indians in Carolina.  Erickson was a very successful big league pitcher who threw for 15 years.  He came up with the Minnesota Twins, and later pitched for the Baltimore Orioles.  He has a World Series title and a wealth of experience to offer the Scrappers.

“I am happy to be here”, said Erickson.  “This is going to be a little different in the sense that when I was at Double A last season, the pitchers thought they were good enough to be that high.  Obviously, they aren’t in the majors yet, so they needed some work.  At this level, it is going to be more of a teaching process.  Once we analyze what the pitchers are good with, we can focus on their weaknesses and make them better.”

“Scott is a great addition to the staff”, said Kubiak.  “He is a great pitching coach and we are lucky to have him here.  He will be a great supervisor of our pitching staff this season and I think the players will benefit from what he will offer.”

Shaun Larkin is no stranger to Eastwood Field.  Larkin was a Scrapper and played here in 2002.  This will be his first shot at coaching and he is happy that it is in a familiar surrounding.

“Ted didn’t know it was me on the phone”, recalled Larkin.  “I called to let him know that the Indians organization was offering me a chance, and he was very surprised, but warm to the idea.  He is a great manager and I got to play for him here in 2002.”

“Coach Larkin will do well with us”, declared Kubiak.  “He is a positive presence and has already offered good input through our meetings.  He will do just fine.”

So Kubiak faces all of the changes with open arms and knows that this team will be exciting.

“They will play hard, they will not showboat, and will want to win”, said Kubiak.