In terms of wins and losses, the 2011 Portland Sea Dogs did not impress. But the team certainly developed players for promotions and trades.

In other words, Manager Kevin Boles, pitching coach Bob Kipper and hitting coach Dave Joppie must have done something right. The Boston Red Sox thought so, at least, and announced Friday that all three coaches will be returning to Portland for the 2012 season.

“This was a good group who worked hard,” said Ben Crockett, Boston’s director of player development. “They kept the team focused all year and were competitive aside from one sub-par month (6-25 in May).

“On the whole, we saw growth and development from individual players.”

The Red Sox announced the staffs for all of their minor league teams. Arnie Beyeler , former Sea Dogs manager, will return for a second season as skipper of the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox.

Former Sea Dogs player Billy McMillon has been promoted to manager of advanced Class A Salem after managing Class A Greenville for the past two seasons.

Boles, 36, guided a young, pitching-thin Sea Dogs team to a 59-83 record. Still, several players improved last year, including two who reached the major leagues (pitcher Tommy Hottovy and catcher Ryan Lavarnway) and another who became one of Boston’s top prospects (third baseman Will Middlebrooks).

Prior to joining the Sea Dogs, Boles was a Class A manager for three years in the Red Sox system.

Kipper, 47, has been with the Red Sox since 1999, serving as the major league bullpen coach, and pitching coach for various teams, including two stints in Portland — 2003-04 and 2010-present.

Joppie, 46, will be entering his fifth season as the Sea Dogs hitting coach. He joined the Red Sox in 2006 as a Class A hitting coach.

The Sea Dogs will have one new face on the field staff. Brandon Henry is the new trainer, entering his sixth year with the Red Sox organization, the past two with Salem.

Beyeler, 47, who managed Portland for four years, guided Pawtucket to the International League playoffs last season.

McMillon, 40, played in Portland in 1995 (.313 average) and reached the majors the next year. He joined the Red Sox as a minor league hitting coach in 2008.

Staff Writer Kevin Thomas can be contacted at 791-6411 or at:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: ClearTheBases

 

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