Sarbaugh relishes Scrappers challenge

Mike Sarbaugh is about to embark on a journey unlike any other: managing his first professional baseball club.
"Right now, I look outside and I see 2 or 3 inches of snow," said Sarbaugh, of Sinking Spring, Pa. "It still hasn't sunk in yet."
But it will shortly.
Sarbaugh will leave next week for Winter Haven, Fla., where the Cleveland Indians have begun spring training drills in preparation for the 2004 season.
For Sarbaugh, 36, this will be a new experience. Never before has he overseen a group of young, promising professional baseball players.
The Indians have given him that chance this season with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
Ready to lead
"A couple of years ago, I told them that I was looking to get into managing and if something became available to keep me in mind," Sarbaugh said.
When Ted Kubiak, the Scrappers manager last season, was assigned a defensive coordinator role within the organization, the opportunity for Sarbaugh presented itself.
"I've been a coach in the organization for nine years," Sarbaugh said. "I just thought I was ready to be a manager."
Sarbaugh has spent the past four years as the hitting coach for the Double-A Akron Aeros, working under managers Eric Wedge, Chris Bando and Brad Komminsk. Sarbaugh was also a coach for five years at the Class-A level.
"It's a great ballpark, great fans. I was fortunate in the last couple of years to have some good teams there," Sarbaugh said of the Aeros and Canal Park. "Winning the [Eastern League] this past year, I couldn't have asked for a better way to go out."
Now, Sarbaugh is coming into an unfamiliar setting -- short-season ball.
Not since his playing days began in 1989, when he was drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers, has he spent time at this level.
But he knows what the focus becomes in rookie ball.
"It's just getting adjusted to playing every day -- living out of hotels, just the lifestyle," Sarbaugh said. "Your body gets tired, and you learn how to fight through that.
"Hopefully I'll be able to help the new players with those situations when they arise."
Playing days
Sarbaugh's professional playing career lasted six years, his last four in the Indians organization. He played his way to the Triple-A level but never made that final step to the big leagues.
The added value that Sarbaugh brings into his first year as a manager is the experience of playing many positions. In the minors, he played everywhere except center field and pitcher.
"I'm very comfortable helping guys at different positions, giving them advice on different ways to play the positions," he said.
Sarbaugh has already taken a close look at some of Mahoning Valley's former standouts during last fall's instructional league. He was impressed with outfielders Ryan Goleski and Brad Snyder, third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and catcher Javier Herrera.
So what does Sarbaugh, the hitting coach, look for in a player?
"A lot of it is their approach at the plate," he said. "They all have some talent to get where they are. The mental part of the game is a separator.
"First-year players are going on their raw ability until they get a feel for playing every day."
Coaching staff
Sarbaugh will be assisted this season by Bando, Jim Rickon and pitching coach Ken Rowe.
The coaching staff will be in Winter Haven through spring training. It will remain there when the full-season clubs leave, working with roughly 50 players in extended spring training.
Much of the Scrappers roster will be filled with players from the June draft and others on rehab.
It's Mike Sarbaugh's responsibility to shape them into true professionals.
XBrian Richesson is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at richesson@vindy.com.