Goffie and the Boz

No, it's not a new TV show that was shutdown by the writer's strike. It's the new manager/pitching coach combination for the Chattanooga Lookouts, Cincinnati's Southern League affiliate. And there is an Appleton tie-in.

Goff will manage Lookouts

Mike Goff, who spent the past two summers coaching with the Seattle Mariners, is the new manager of the Chattanooga Lookouts.

That means he will be adjusting from plane trips across the country to bus rides throughout the Deep South.

"The way the airports are now, bus trips won't bother me a bit," Goff said.

Former Seattle and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Bosio is Chattanooga's new pitching coach, while Jamie Dismuke will be returning for his fifth consecutive year as Lookouts hitting coach.

Goff was the first manager of the Timber Rattlers, a spot he held in 1995 and 1996. He moved on to be the co-ordinator of minor league instruction for the Mariners. Then, he was the first base coach and the bench coach for the M's.

Bosio was the featured speaker at the Rattlers' "Welcome Home Banquet" a few years ago and spent last season as the pitching coach at Lawrence University in Appleton.

Goff is looking forward to getting back to making out that lineup card:

"My true love has always been managing," Goff said. "When I took over coordinating with the Mariners, I didn't expect to do it for that long, but I had good bosses, enjoyed it and had the opportunity to go to the big leagues."

Lookouts owner Frank Burke doesn't know anything about Goff except that he comes highly recommended and with a wealth of baseball experience.

"I don't know if he knows what he's getting into as far as dealing with me, but I'm looking forward to meeting him," Burke said. "We've had great experiences with our managers."

This is the Reds' system, so that means he'll be seeing a lot of ex-Dragons. Also, the Mariners have the affiliate in West Tennessee. Those should be some interesting games. The first one isn't until May 21.