By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 01:58 p.m. EDT, Sep 02, 2009
As expected, Aeros manager Mike Sarbaugh was named the 2009 Eastern League Manager of the Year today.
In just his second season as manager with Double-A Akron, Sarbaugh (who also previously served as the team's hitting coach for four seasons in 2000-03) guided the Aeros to a league-best record of 83-53 and a fifth consecutive postseason berth.
Sarbaugh, who was selected by Baseball America as the ''Best Managerial Prospect'' in the Eastern League entering the season, began his managerial career in 2004 and won the New York Penn League Championship with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.
Sarbaugh then took on the low Class-A level, as he moved up to manage the Lake County Captains in 2005. Before coming back to Akron, Sarbaugh led the high Class-A Kinston Indians during the 2006 and '07 seasons. His '06 squad won the Carolina League title and in '07, Sarbaugh was selected as the Carolina League Manager of the Year.
All told, Sarbaugh's career managerial record is 449-321 (.583) in six seasons.
Up next, look for odds-on favorite and Aeros catcher Carlos Santana to claim the league's Most Valuable Player Award, which will be announced Friday.
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians and Aeros blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters.
