(AP) WASHINGTON--John Wayne once said that a man's gotta do what a man's
gotta do. Yesterday, Aaron Weiner, better known as Washington's
owner/GM/manager did what he had to do: he stepped down as manager.
"It's kind of nice that I get to step down from the team I own," Weiner
said. "It makes the whole transition much nicer."
Stepping into Weiner's spot on the field will be Daniel Boyce, who has had
two other previous managerial jobs in other leagues. Boyce, who was
recommended by PVBL PR Official John Carson, said he thought the Sea Dogs
would be a good opportunity for him.
"I am extremely excited to be named manager of a defending champion,"
Boyce said. "These players obviously know how to play."
Weiner said the selection process was easy.
"Well, Mr. Boyce has a lot of experience managing a team," Weiner said.
"He'd have had to for me to trust him with the Sea Dogs. I also think
that since he's willing to have sort of a laissez-faire attitude with the
veterans on our team, they'll respond to him very well."
Chuck Knoblauch, the captain of the Sea Dogs since their inception, said
Weiner had talked about a move for several months.
"I knew he wanted to concentrate more on the front office part of the
game, and that he couldn't do that so much with all the managerial stuff
he had to do," Knoblauch said. "Mr. Boyce, however, is a very intelligent
man, a very competent guy. I've got a lot of confidence in him."
Boyce said that he would most likely keep the style of play that the Sea
Dogs are known for; that is, high movement on the basepaths and lots of
run manufacturing.
"I plan to use base stealing, squeeze plays and double steals as manager,"
Boyce said. "Speed-related strategies."
Weiner said that it was important to have a manager who would keep the
style of play the same.
"Well, the players are used to running a lot," Weiner said. "They find it
important that they're in the game all the time. Mr. Boyce has made it
clear to me that he isn't going to change a thing."
The Sea Dogs have the second-best record in baseball at the time of the
move, just percentage points behind Phoenix in the Data Division.
