'Boss Hog' Sandberg Welcomed to Lehigh Valley

Nearly 800 enthusiastic baseball fans packed Billera Hall at DeSales University to welcome new IronPigs manager Ryne Sandberg, who on Thursday night was making his first public appearance since getting the top managerial slot in the Phillies farm system.

Sandberg and Phillies General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. were at the Center Valley school to attend the fourth annual Phillies Winter Banquet. Others at the event included Phillies Manager Charlie Manuel, IronPigs' first baseman Matt Rizzotti and Phillies Public Relations Director Scott Palmer.

Sandberg noted that the culture of the Phillies has not changed since he was a minor league player in the system. He was impressed with the organization when he signed with them as a player in the late 1970s, and he was impressed again when he interviewed for the AAA manager's job, he said.

Former Phillies manager Dallas Green was and continues to be a huge influence on him, Sandberg continued, adding that he was recently in Arizona for the funeral of Green's 9-year-old granddaughter, Christina Green, who was killed in the Jan. 8 massacre at U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' "Congress on Your Corner" event in Tucson.

Sandberg's wife, Margaret, said she and her husband are currently busy house-hunting in the Lehigh Valley, which she described as "quaint and easy to get around in." The Sandbergs plan to lease a home after they relocate here from Chicago, she said.

On a recent visit Coca-Cola Park, she said she was amused to see a "Boss Hog" sign posted on the door to her husband's new office.

Jon Schaeffer, Manager of Media Relations for the IronPigs, said the annual banquet is important because it helps raise the majority of the funding in support of IronPigs Charities. This year a total of $70,000 will be awarded to 17 nonprofit organizations that provide educational and recreational opportunities for Lehigh Valley youth. Since 2007, a total of $320,000 has been donated to charities thanks to the IronPigs' fundraising efforts, he noted.

In addition to helping fund worthy causes, the banquet also provided an opportunity for Phillies management to discuss their outlook for the upcoming 2011 baseball season.

At a media session before the banquet, Amaro was asked about Manuel's contract status. The issue has been discussed in recent months because Manuel's is only signed through 2011.

Amaro said both sides "are not quite there yet," but indicated that Manuel's future with the franchise is reasonably secure.

Manuel took the time to comment on several players and their prospects for the upcoming season.

Relief pitcher Danys Baez, he said, has a solid arm but has lacked control and is looking for a comeback year, which would be a big help to the Phillies' bullpen. Fellow reliever J.C. Romero recently told him his arm feels great, Manuel said.

Antonio Bastardo has a good arm but needs to get ahead of hitters, and Scott Mathieson has a big arm and will get scrutiny during spring training, he added.

The IronPigs' are scheduled to play their first home game of the 2011 season Thursday, April 7, against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees.