Back in the swing of things, and one day away from December 1, I’m back with the latest updates from around Baseballtown.

Last week was a busy week around the organization. The most important news coming out of the week, however, was the fact the R-Phils now have a manager to lead them into 2011 — former Major League catcher Mark Parent.

Here’s his bio:

Mark Parent, 49, begins his second season in the Philadelphia
Phillies organization, and will become the 24th manager in Reading
Phillies history when he takes the field in 2011. In 2010, as the
first-year manager of Single-A Lakewood, the Ashland, Oregon native led
the BlueClaws to an 84-55 record and a South Atlantic League
championship – the club’s second in as many seasons. 

Originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 4th round of the 1979
MLB Draft, Parent played 13 Major League seasons before retiring after
the 1998 campaign. Over his 13-year career, he spent time with the San
Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs,
Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, and Philadelphia Phillies. His best
offensive season came in 1995, when he mashed 18 home runs and 38 RBIs
as a member of both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs (sent to
the Pirates as part of a conditional deal on August 31). 

As we inch closer to the season, I’ll have more with our manager. Expect an interview in the near future, and much more. I look forward to working him and the rest of our staff (Bob Milacki – pitching coach, Frank Cacciatore – hitting coach, and Chris Mudd — athletic trainer) in 2011.