We've got a lot of these to consider, so I'll get right to it.
Today we're looking at Braves AAA manager Dave Brundage and two Rays: Bench coach Dave Martinez and third base coach Tom Foley.
Follow the jump for scouting reports and more!
Dave Brundage:
The basics: Brundage spent ten seasons as an outfielder in the Phillies and Mariners organizations but topped out in AAA. He spent four seasons as a player in AAA before retiring and managing in the Mariner organization in 1995, and with the exception of one attempted comeback (1998), he's been managing in the minors ever since.
Brundage has managed for 12 seasons, nine of them at AA or above. He's 895-842 in 1737 career games.
Brewer connection: None
Scouting report: This report comes from CB Wilkins of Talking Chop.
Obviously the talent he's had on any given team has been mostly out of his control, but Brundgae generally leads his teams to winning records, and that has a lot to do with the fact that he gets the most out of his players. As a manager he stresses fundamentals, expecting his team to play solid defense and to do the little things, hit and runs, taking the extra base, bunting, to win games. He fan of putting the pressure on the other team in whatever way he can and would generally prefer to build a team around contact and quickness.
Any manager can usher the top flight prospects toward the Majors, but the really great ones take the average players and help them become Big Leaguers. You don't need to look any further than Martin Prado, who turned himself into a prospect while playing in Richmond under Brundage in 2007. Prado focued on the fundamentals and that helped him go from an organizational roster-filler, to a Major League utility player, to a National League All-Star. For a Major League team to be successful it has to get the most it can out of the fringe players. The stars are going to be stars, but the team's fortunes really rely on how the rest of the team plays, and that's where a manager like Brundage can make a huge difference, getting the most out of every player on the roster.
Dave Martinez:
The basics: Martinez was a longtime major leaguer and journeyman, playing 16 seasons for nine teams and retiring in 2001. According to his B-Ref page, he had both the first hit and inside the park home run in Rays franchise history. He was hired as the Rays' bench coach in 2007 and has been there ever since, making two playoff appearances and a World Series appearance with the team.
Brewer connection: None
Scouting report: This comes from Tommy Rancel of ESPN 1040, Bloomberg Sports and Bright House Sports Network.
When Joe Maddon took over as Rays' manager before the 2006 season Bill Evers, a coach under Lou Piniella, remained as Maddon's bench coach. After two seasons, Evers was replaced with former Devil Ray Dave Martinez. Although he wasn't officially hired until '07, Martinez had spent time with the team in spring as an instructor.
The fact Martinez was hired by Andrew Friedman to be the right-hand man of Joe Maddon says a lot in itself. One of the more openly progressive statistical organizations in baseball, Martinez had buy into the Rays' belief system or he wouldn't have been hired.
It is hard to say what type of in-game manager he would be since he hasn't had a full-time opportunity yet. That said, Joe Maddon has been tossed a few times over the past two seasons - giving Davey some on the job training. From what we have seen, Martinez follows a similar usage pattern in the bullpen and with pinch-hitters as Maddon. In addition, to his duties as bench coach Martinez has also helped the Rays baserunning game.
Tom Foley:
The basics: Foley was a 13 year major leaguer from 1983-1995, and has been a coach with the Rays organization for the entirety of the team's existence.
Brewer connection: None
Scouting report: Tommy Rancel has us covered again here.
A hold over from...well every coach before Joe Maddon, Tom Foley has been in the Rays' organization since the very beginning. The fact that four seperate managers with four seperate styles decided Foley was worth keeping should tell you something about how he is regarded amongst his peers.
Like Martinez, it's hard to gauge on what type of manager Foley would make, but numbers show he is one of the most aggressive third base coaches in the league. He has interviewed for Rays' manager in the past and was also on the Pittsburgh Pirates' radar at one point in time.
Despite Martinez having a little in-game experience, knowing how he, or Foley, would handle a pitching staff on an everyday basis is unknown; however, both would be a nice fit for a youthful Brewers' lineup.