Knorr moves on to the major leagues

When Washington Nationals manager Manny Acta sought to name a new bullpen coach, he went to someone whose coaching resume included a stint as Washington bullpen coach in 2006, minor league managerial stops with the Low-A Savannah Snad Gnats and High-A Potomac Nationals and a league championship with Potomac in 2008.

That man was Randy Knorr.

"When he first came to me, I was very surprised," Knorr said.

Knorr returns as Washington's bullpen coach, joining hitting coach Rick Eckstein, bench coach Jim Riggleman, first base coach Marquis Grissom and third base coach and infield instructor Pat Listach as new members of Washington's coaching staff.

"I'm excited about being part of the team they're on," Knorr said. "It'll be a little different than when I was the manager. I can give them ideas from time to time and they can give me ideas. I'm excited."

The Washington Nationals could use some excitement. They come off a major-league worst 59-102 season. Injuries and lack of offensive production were two reasons the Nationals regressed from a 73-89 season in 2007.

Knorr hopes Washington's players come to spring training eager to put the past behind them and that the coaches are on the same page in their plan to reverse the team's fortune.

"We are hoping the guys we have bring a lot of energy and see things through a different light," Knorr said.

"As coaches, we'll get a chance to bounce things off each other. We'll try to improve and have some fun."

Knorr became the bullpen coach in 2006 after then-Washington manager Frank Robinson fired John Wetteland.

At the time, Knorr was in his first season as Potomac's manager. He left with three games remaining in the first half and was replaced by Edgar Caceres, who guided Potomac for the remainder of the season.

"I learned a lot being up there in 2006," Knorr said. "I got to talk to the other coaches and managers. Hopefully I can go up there and pick Manny's brain like I did with Frank. I'm always open to getting better."

And there is no need for Knorr to conduct a get-to-know-you session with his fellow coaches. He and Listach were teammates with the Astros in 1997. Knorr and Grissom were in the major leagues at the same time in the 1990s and Knorr has worked with Eckstein in spring training.

Though his duties will be different from those he had at Potomac, Knorr will miss managing. But he hopes to take what he learned here to aid him in his new role.

"I'll ask myself what did I do here to help me in different situations," Knorr said. "I did that back in 2006 and it kept me in the game. I'll be telling them who I think will be ready. By talking to Manny, I'll be seeing what he likes to do. I think I'll catch on fast."

But being a major league coach is not the only thing on Knorr's mind. He still thinks about Potomac's 2008 Mills Cup title and how a 10-game win streak in April set the tone for a 79-win regular season and 6-1 postseason.

That run to the title was also made possible by pitching coach Randy Tomlin's and hitting coach Jerry Browne's commitment to developing players.

"They came out and got a taste of winning early and ran with it," Knorr said. "They had a lot of fun.

"The coaches made the clubhouse a place where players wanted to come and when they did that, it made it easier. There was never any pressure on the players. They were the underdogs and they kind of liked that."