Quade to headline annual Cubs Caravan luncheon

Chicago Cubs manager Mike Quade, a former Arlington Heights resident and Prospect High graduate, will headline the fourth annual Cubs Caravan luncheon on Jan.12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The first-year Cubs manager will be joined by several playings, including Andrew Cashner, Koyie Hill, Sean Marshall, James Russell and Randy Wells, among others.

Tickets for the luncheon are $100 each and include a buffet lunch at Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse (33 W. Kinzie Street, Chicago) and the opportunity to sit at a table with a Cubs player, coach or member of the front office staff. Cubs announcer Len Kasper is expected to emcee the event.

“The Cubs Caravan luncheon is a great chance for fans to get up close to our players and coaches to talk about the upcoming season,” said Mike Lufrano, Cubs senior vice president, community affairs.

Proceeds from the lunch benefit Chicago Cubs Charities. Tickets are available for purchase beginning Friday at 10:00 a.m. by calling 773-404-CUBS. Space is limited to 120 guests. Players and personnel appearing at the luncheon are subject to change.

Minor League staff

The Cubs also announced the club's minor league coordinators for the 2011 season on Friday.

• Dave Bialas returns as the minor league field coordinator for the 10th-consecutive season and his 17th year in the Cubs organization. A 39-year veteran of professional baseball, he has 13 seasons of minor league managerial experience, compiling a 912-881 record and leading his teams to six league championship series.

• Dennis Lewallyn was promoted to minor league pitching coordinator. The 2011 season marks his fifth season in the Cubs organization after serving as Double-A Tennessee's pitching coach from 2007-10. Lewallyn takes over for Mark Riggins, who was promoted to major league pitching coach.

• Tom Beyers was promoted to minor league hitting coordinator after two seasons as Tennessee's hitting coach, including a 2010 campaign in which the Smokies led the Southern League with a .285 team batting average, 120 home runs and 749 runs scored.

• Franklin Font enters his third season as infield coordinator after coaching or managing in the Cubs organization since 2002.

• Carmelo Martinez enters his 14th season in the Cubs organization, and his fourth as Latin American field coordinator. The former major league outfielder and first baseman spent 10 seasons at Mesa, handling managerial duties in 1999-2003 and 2006.

• Marty Pevey begins his second season as catching coordinator after managing the Single-A Peoria Chiefs in 2009, his first year with the Cubs organization. Pevey brings 13 years of playing experience and 10 seasons as a manager to the position.

• Lee Tinsley joins Chicago as the organization's outfield/baserunning coordinator, bringing with 10 years of coaching experience following a 14-year playing career that included five major league seasons with Seattle (1993, 1997), Boston (1994-96) and Philadelphia (1996).

• Doug Jarrow enters his fourth season as Chicago's strength and conditioning coordinator.

• Justin Sharpe returns as minor league athletic training coordinator for the seventh-consecutive year.

• Chuck Baughman enters his sixth season as rehabilitation coordinator, and his 11th year with the organization, after joining the club as Single-A Boise's athletic trainer in 2001.