Mariano Duncan
Encyclopedia
Mariano Duncan Nalasco is a retired second baseman
and shortstop
who played for several Major League Baseball
teams during his 12 year career. He was the infield coach and 1st base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
under Managers Grady Little
and Joe Torre
. Mariano currently serves as the hitting coach for the Tennessee Smokies
, the Chicago Cubs
' Double AA team.
as an undrafted free agent on January 7, 1982. He played in the Dodgers minor league system for three seasons with the Lethbridge Dodgers
in 1982, Vero Beach Dodgers in 1983 and San Antonio Dodgers
in 1984. He stole 56 bases for Vero Beach and 41 bases for San Antonio. He made his major league debut, starting at second base, for the Dodgers on April 9, 1985 against the Houston Astros
, and was 0 for 4 in his debut. He got his first major league hit on April 10 against Astros pitcher Joe Niekro
.
He stole 38 bases in his rookie season and finished third in the rookie of the year voting.
with Tim Leary on July 18, for Lenny Harris
and Kal Daniels
.
on April 14, 1992. He played three seasons for the Phils before being claimed off waivers by the Reds on August 8, 1995.
. He spent a season and a half with the Yankees.
Coined the phrase, "we play today, we win today... das it!" which became the mantra for the 1996 World Series champion New York Yankees. Many of the players wore t-shirts with the slogan under their uniforms daily.
on July 29, 1997 for minor leaguer Angel Ramirez. He spent a half of the season with the Blue Jays.
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
and shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
who played for several Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
teams during his 12 year career. He was the infield coach and 1st base coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
under Managers Grady Little
Grady Little
William Grady Little is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007...
and Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
. Mariano currently serves as the hitting coach for the Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2011 season...
, the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
' Double AA team.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Duncan was signed by the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
as an undrafted free agent on January 7, 1982. He played in the Dodgers minor league system for three seasons with the Lethbridge Dodgers
Lethbridge Expos
The Lethbridge Expos arrived in Lethbridge, Alberta 65 years after the city had last hosted a professional baseball team. In their debut 1975 season the team went 35–37, third in the four-team Pioneer League, under manager Van Kelly...
in 1982, Vero Beach Dodgers in 1983 and San Antonio Dodgers
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
in 1984. He stole 56 bases for Vero Beach and 41 bases for San Antonio. He made his major league debut, starting at second base, for the Dodgers on April 9, 1985 against the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, and was 0 for 4 in his debut. He got his first major league hit on April 10 against Astros pitcher Joe Niekro
Joe Niekro
Joseph Franklin Niekro was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He was the younger brother of pitcher Phil Niekro, and the father of Minor League Baseball pitcher Lance Niekro. A native of Blaine, Ohio, Niekro attended Bridgeport High School in Bridgeport, Ohio and attended West...
.
He stole 38 bases in his rookie season and finished third in the rookie of the year voting.
Cincinnati Reds
Duncan was traded by the Dodgers to the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
with Tim Leary on July 18, for Lenny Harris
Lenny Harris
Leonard Anthony Harris is a former Major League Baseball utility infielder who is currently the hitting instructor for the Great Lakes Loons. He is best known for holding the record for the most pinch hits in a major league career...
and Kal Daniels
Kal Daniels
Kalvoski Daniels is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from 1986–1992. He spent time with the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs during his seven year career.Daniels was born on August 20, 1963 in Vienna, Georgia...
.
Philadelphia Phillies
Duncan signed with the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
on April 14, 1992. He played three seasons for the Phils before being claimed off waivers by the Reds on August 8, 1995.
New York Yankees
On December 11, 1995, Duncan signed with the New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. He spent a season and a half with the Yankees.
Coined the phrase, "we play today, we win today... das it!" which became the mantra for the 1996 World Series champion New York Yankees. Many of the players wore t-shirts with the slogan under their uniforms daily.
Toronto Blue Jays
Duncan was traded to the Toronto Blue JaysToronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
on July 29, 1997 for minor leaguer Angel Ramirez. He spent a half of the season with the Blue Jays.
Highlights
- Member of the Reds' 1990 World Champion team1990 World Series- Game 1 :Tuesday, October 16, 1990 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, OhioUntil , this was the last World Series to be scheduled to begin play on a Tuesday, and the first since . The schedule called for the seven-game series to be held Tue–Wed, Fri–Sat–Sun, Tue–Wed. Games 5, 6, and 7, however...
, the Phillies' 1993 National League Champion team1993 World Series-Game 1:Saturday, October 16, 1993 at SkyDome in Toronto, OntarioThe Series' first game sent two staff aces—Curt Schilling for Philadelphia and Juan Guzman for Toronto—against one another. The result was less than a pitcher's duel, however, as both teams scored early and often.The deciding plays...
and the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
' 1996 World Champion team1996 World Series-Game 1:Sunday, October 20, 1996 at Yankee Stadium in Bronx, New YorkGame 1 and Game 2 were originally scheduled for Saturday, October 19 and Sunday, October 20, respectively. Rain on October 19, however, washed out Game 1. The schedule was moved up one day, with Game 1 and Game 2 rescheduled for...
.
Coaching career
- 2003: Gulf Coast DodgersGulf Coast DodgersThe Arizona League Dodgers are the Rookie Level minor league affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They were formerly known as the Gulf Coast Dodgers and played in Vero Beach, Florida, at Dodgertown . Dodgertown includes Holman Stadium, which is also the former spring training home to the Brooklyn...
- 2004: Jacksonville SunsJacksonville SunsThe Jacksonville Suns are a minor league baseball team based in Jacksonville, Florida. The team is currently a member of the Southern League and is the class Double-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins Major League Baseball team...
- 2005: Las Vegas 51sLas Vegas 51sThe Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars, are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League...
- 2006-2010: Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
- 2011: Tennessee SmokiesTennessee SmokiesThe Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2011 season...
See also
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions