BUTCH HOBSON, MANAGER
After guiding the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs to a tie for the league high in wins (74) in 2008, Butch Hobson was named Atlantic League Manager of the Year for the third time in his career in the organization’s inaugural season. After compiling a 79-61 record in 2009, the Blue Crabs cruised to their first division championship in franchise history, capturing the first half Liberty Division title with a 42-28 record, better than the second place Long Island Ducks by five games to clinch a playoff spot for the first time. The Blue Crabs then outlasted the Ducks three games to two in a classic Liberty Division Championship Series for their first playoff series win. After coming up short of the Atlantic League title in the Championship Series, the expectation level continues to rise as Hobson returns to his post as Blue Crabs skipper in 2010 for a third season.
Hobson, 58, had an eight-season Major League playing career as a third baseman, mostly with the Boston Red Sox from 1975-1980, and stints with the California Angels in 1981 and the New York Yankees in 1982. After retiring as a player following the 1986 season, Hobson began his impressive managerial career, highlighted by managing the Red Sox from 1992-1994. Before joining the Blue Crabs, Hobson managed the Nashua Pride first in the Atlantic League and then the Can-Am League, leading the club to league championships in 2000 and 2007. In Nashua, Hobson earned his first two Atlantic League Manager of the Year Awards in 2001 and 2005.
A native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Hobson was selected by the Red Sox in the eighth round of the 1973 draft following an illustrious baseball career at the University of Alabama. Hobson also played three years of football at Alabama under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant. His senior year, Hobson strayed from football to concentrate on baseball, and would ultimately be named to the University of Alabama's All-Century baseball team.
Hobson made his big league debut with the Red Sox in 1975 and had his best season in 1977, when he set team records for a third baseman with 30 home runs (8th in the American League) and 112 RBI (4th in the AL). In 738 career Major League games, he batted .248 with 98 home runs and 397 RBI.
Hobson’s managerial path to the majors began with the New York Mets Class A Columbia team in 1987 and 1988. He re-joined the Red Sox organization in 1989 and managed at Double-A New Britain for two years and Triple-A Pawtucket for one season. During the 1991 season with Pawtucket, Hobson guided the PawSox to the International League Championship Series, before falling to Columbus. However, Hobson was named Baseball America Minor League and International League Manager of the Year that season.
Following the 1991 season, Hobson was named manager of the Boston Red Sox, replacing Joe Morgan. In three seasons as the Red Sox skipper from 1992-1994, Hobson compiled 207 wins before the 1994 player strike intervened, cancelling the remainder of that season.
"My goals are be simple – to get players back to the next level and to win a championship," says Hobson. "I want to find the type of players that our fans can relate to. Hard-nosed, blue collar guys are the type of guys we will go after. We will spend most of our time on the field, not in the clubhouse."
MARTY JANZEN, PITCHING COACH
Former Toronto Blue Jays hurler Marty Janzen was named the second pitching coach in Blue Crabs history prior to the 2010 season, bringing a Major League pedigree to the team, and a definite familiarity with Butch Hobson-led teams. Janzen, a veteran of 13 professional seasons as a starter and reliever, wrapped up his playing career in 2005, reaching the big leagues with Toronto during the 1996 and ’97 seasons.
Originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the New York Yankees in 1991, Janzen would have two separate stints with that organization, with his time in Toronto in-between. His playing career also featured stops in the Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Anaheim Angels organizations, reaching at least Triple-A at every stop. Janzen also has considerable Atlantic League experience, suiting up for Butch Hobson managed Nashua Pride clubs in the Atlantic League in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2005. Janzen helped the Pride to the 2000 Atlantic League Championship, and has also pitched for the Camden Riversharks (2004) and Atlantic City Surf (2005) in the ALPB.
“Marty is a guy who pitched well for me over the years, and he always wanted me to keep him in mind if a chance to coach came up,” said Hobson. “Well now we have an opening, and I think with all of his experience he’ll fit right in and be very good for us.”
In 13 seasons, Janzen compiled a combined record of 71-62 in the minors and majors in 278 career games pitched (177 starts). His 929 career strikeouts stand next to just 430 walks. With nearly 1,200 career innings pitched, his experience should continue to improve a Blue Crabs pitching staff that finished either first or second in the league in team earned run average as a staff during its first two seasons.
“I loved playing for Butch because he’s a hard-nosed, intense guy and I approach the game the same way. This is something I always wanted to do, and when Butch asked me to be his pitching coach I was literally at a loss for words,” said Janzen. “I’m honored, and won’t take one moment of it for granted.”
JEREMY OWENS, PLAYER/COACH
Veteran outfielder Jeremy Owens, considered by many in baseball circles to be a prime candidate for a minor league coaching or managing position once his playing career ends, will be starting his coaching career a little early in 2010 while remaining as the Blue Crabs starting centerfielder. Owens will take on coaching duties in the spot vacated by former Orioles great Andy Etchebarren, who departed the Blue Crabs mid-season last year to become manager of the York Revolution, also of the Atlantic League.
The player-coach arrangement for Owens is a first for the Blue Crabs, and comes on the heels of Owens being named team captain during the 2009 season, to the unanimous approval of the Crabs clubhouse. For Owens, who is the Blue Crabs all-time leader in home runs (43), and walks (125) through two seasons, the move to player-coach is a logical one after being awarded the team’s captaincy in ’09. The durable Owens also set a franchise record for games played in 2009, appearing in 137 of the team’s 140 regular season outings, while winning the Atlantic League home run title with 28, knocking in 80 RBI. He also begins 2010, his third season with the Blue Crabs, in the top four of the franchise’s all-time leaders in games played, runs scored, hits, extra-base hits and RBI.
The naming of Owens as captain last season marked a special occasion for Hobson, who through his long and successful managerial career has only named a captain on two other occasions. The first was Jeff Bagwell (1990 New Britain Red Sox of the Double-A Eastern League) and outfielder Glenn Murray (2000-06 Nashua Pride of the Atlantic and Can-Am Leagues.)
“Jeremy Owens is the kind of player people respect because of how he plays the game, and because of the gentleman he is,” said Hobson at the time. “I think he was probably already the captain of the Blue Crabs before I named him captain, but I thought it was time to put a “C “on his shirt and have him recognized,” Hobson continued.
“It’s an honor, and I get goose bumps just thinking about it,” said Owens at the time of his appointment.
Owens will be entering his 13th professional season, which includes time in the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays organizations. Originally drafted by San Diego in the eighth round in 1998, Owens sports 182 career home runs and 669 RBI in nearly 1,500 games played entering this season. In 2005, Owens played his first season in the Atlantic League, helping the Somerset Patriots to a championship by batting .290 with 24 home runs and 77 RBI in 137 games.
