Between 2000-2005, Ron Roenicke served as the Los Angeles Angels third base coach and starting this coming season, he will retain his old position with the club starting this spring. During his last stint with the Angels, Roenick won the World Series in 2002, the team's first and only championship to-date.
After departing the ball club in 2010, the Covina-native was then named the manager of the Milwaukee Brewers. He got his tenure off to an absolutely phenomenal start as he won 96 games, which was the most wins in franchise history. But of course, those kinds of expectations are hard to maintain for anyone and as a result, the pressure became too much. Wins decreased substantially in each of the following seasons and after getting off to a 7-18 start at the beginning of the 2015 season, Roenicke was let go.
The Angels themselves are going through a massive shake-up. Bringing back Roenicke means that Gary DiSarcina will be moving to the first base side of the diamond. Dino Ebel and Alfredo Griffin have also moved positions within the staff with the former being the new bench coach and the latter focusing on coaching the infield.
There have even been moves made as far as player personnel is concernced. In the biggest move of the offseason thus far, Erick Aybar, along with the organization's two top pitching prospects, were traded to the Atlanta Braves for the game's most premier defensive short stop in Andrelton Simmons.
Cliff Pennington also got signed by the Angels today to add depht to the middle of the infield. At 31 years of age, Pennington will not be play every day but will be a key part of the team should any infielder go down injured for a long period of time, he will be able to fill in nicely.