The looming Triple-A battle was listed as a reason, but we're not exactly sure what prompted the following changes:
*Ricky Bennett is no longer an Assistant GM, and is now the Director of Professional Scouting.
*The former Director of Professional Scouting, Fred Nelson, is now Assistant GM/Director of Player Development.
Ed Wade downplayed the demotion angle:
"It's two good baseball guys being asked to fulfill different responsibilities. Ricky will coordinate the pro scouting and will have major league coverage himself but oversee the assignments of our guys out there...
..."Fred has been a farm director and brings a lot to the table with a different voice, and we wanted to have him come in and establish policies. There's a lot on the plate with the AAA situation. He has some hires to make and other things, so Fred has a full plate of responsibilities."
Hires, you ask? That's because the following personnel will not have their contracts renewed:
-Round Rock manager Marc Bombard
-Minor league pitching coordinator Britt Burns
-Corpus Christi manager Wes Clements
-Greeneville hitting coach Pete Rancont
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
