By Mary Jekielek Insprucker
John Tamargo, the new manager of the Durham Bulls, knows replacing Bill Evers, the Bulls’ all time winning manager, and the only manager the Bulls have had since the jump to AAA in 1998, will be a big job. However, he’s not worried about filling any shoes and plans to make his own footprints. “I’m what you call a grinder,” said Tamargo. “It’s a long season with a 140 game schedule so we have to get better and work harder. I’m a fundamentalist and I want it done the right way. I’m aggressive and passionate about the game. I may even get into a few arguments with the umpires.”
Since 1982, Tamargo has coached or managed at the minor and major league levels with the Mets, Astros, and Brewers. He has a 15-year managerial career in the minors including 11 in the Mets’ system, and has a lifetime managerial mark of 912-859 (.515). In 2005, he managed at Brevard County, the Brewers’ affiliate in the Class A Florida State League. From 1999-2004 he served as a major league coach for the Astros.
The graduate of Tampa Catholic High School was drafted as a catcher by the St. Louis Cardinals in the sixth round of the 1973 free agent draft. He played five seasons in the major leagues with St. Louis (1976-78), San Francisco (1978-79), and Montreal (1979-80).
The 55-year-old, who is fluent in Spanish, managed several seasons in the Venezuelan Winter League, taking Magallanes to the title in 1996. “That was a very difficult experience because you are in a situation that is difficult because the fans are very passionate about baseball,” said Tamargo. “Unfortunately, the situation was a real eye-opener. They would shout at you and throw ice. It was a beer in the face type of thing. When you won they loved you, but when you lost they didn’t so it was a two-headed monster.”
The Georgia Southern Alumnus hit .242 with 4 homers and 33 RBIs in 135 major league games. “From Georgia Southern I was drafted by the Cardinals. It was a great feeling. All I ever wanted to do was play professional ball,” said Tamargo, who has been married to the same woman, Vilma, for 34 years and states it’s a bigger accomplishment than anything he did in baseball.
One of Tamargo’s sons, Jeff, is an assistant superintendent at a golf course. His other son, John Jr., followed in his footsteps. He played baseball at the University of Florida, was drafted by the New York Mets, and is now coaching the Houston Astros’ AA team. “He always wanted to play pro ball. My wife’s dad taught John because I was gone a lot,” said Tamargo, who enjoys restoring and driving classic cars.
Although he is looking forward to managing the Bulls, Tamargo’s first choice is playing ball. “I’d rather be playing not only because the money was so good, but because you only have to take care of yourself,” he said. “It’s different as a manager because you have to take responsibility for 25 guys on the roster.”
However, such responsibility is not without recompense. “When you see improvement, or a guy learns something you taught and they get to a different and better level, it’s real rewarding,” Tamargo said. “I’ve been there. When I tell a kid something and see them put it into play it’s great.”
Tamargo does see challenges as the new manager of the Bulls. “The hardest part will be handling personalities,” he said. “The young players think they should be in the big leagues, and the older players cut from the big leagues think they shouldn’t have been. I think it just comes down to understanding where they’re coming from. I’ve been a big league player so I know when to coddle them or jump them. It’s a fine line to get the guys to do what they have to do to get better.”
Tamargo said his secret to success would be camaraderie. “I’ll have an open door,” he said. “I’ve been in situations where you don’t open the door and stuff festers in a clubhouse. I’ll let everyone know I’m available.”
Just how available and any game preparation traditions Tamargo would not disclose. “The clubhouse is like a family and you keep as much inside as you can. It’s a different and personal relationship.”
Although Tamargo has an easygoing manner, there are things he refuses to put up with as manager. “I won’t tolerate a guy that doesn’t hustle and put the team first. Some A, AA, and AAA players think they’re bigger than the game and we can’t have that.”
Through the years, Tamargo said his favorite place to play was Wrigley Field. “It was a neat place because of the fans, the smell of the ballpark, and it was different than any of the other parks.” But now he’s ready for Durham. “It’s all very exciting.” The Bulls have experienced tremendous success since joining the International League eight seasons ago. The team made six playoff appearances from 1998-2004, including five division titles and two Governors’ Cup Championships.
As far as his best career memory Tamargo said, “It was in 1979 when I homered and won the ballgame on opening day in San Francisco in the bottom of the ninth.” His worst memory – “The big one that hurt was coaching the Florida State League in 1993. We had a chance to win the championship and lost on the last day of the season. As a young coach I wanted to advance; I wanted to win so badly. Also, I felt we had a better team than the one that beat us.”
Where did he think he would be at 50? He is one of the few interviewees I have asked this question of who responded they were right where they thought they would be. “I’ve been playing ball since I was 9-years-old and that is when I knew I wanted to play in the big leagues. I knew I would get there somehow.”
Tamargo also told me something else many interviewees have not – that is, something he has never told another reporter. “I am actually left handed, but growing up my brothers forced me to use my right hand because they said there was no room for a left handed catcher in the big leagues.”
After his coaching years are through Tamargo said he would be happy to stay in the game, perhaps by traveling and evaluating talent.
As for the mystique of baseball being the all-American game Tamargo said, “It all starts with no time limit so there is always a chance for a team to come back and win.” |
