Sakata will manage Giants' triple-A team in Fresno
Advertiser Staff
Kalani High graduate and former major leaguer Lenn Sakata continues his rise in the San Francisco Giants' organization.
Advertiser library photo
After spending the past three seasons managing at the Giants' single-A level, the 48-year-old Sakata agreed last week to manage triple-A Fresno of the Pacific Coast League.
Lenn Sakata won a World Series ring with the Baltimore Orioles in 1983.
"I thought it would be (double-A) Shreveport," said Sakata, who spent 11 years in the majors and lives in Hawai'i during the offseason. "It was agreed upon earlier, with the possibility of triple-A. So I was surprised I'm not going to Shreveport.
"They were considering moving me to triple-A in September, but they were still making adjustments with other minor league positions."
Last season, Sakata guided the San Jose Giants to a 77-63 overall record and second-half title (40-30 record) in the California League's Northern Division. The championship playoffs were canceled in wake of the Sept.11 terrorist attacks.
In 2000, at the Giants' other California League team in Bakersfield, Sakata led the Blaze to a 80-60 record and the second-half title.
In 1999 at San Jose, his first year in the organization, Sakata led the Giants to a 74-65 record, and came within one game of winning the California League title .
Fresno finished 68-71 last season, second behind Sacramento in the PCL's Southern Division.
