Bench Coach helps the Manager with daily duties. A bench coach watches over the Manager and helps him with other aspects of the team. For instance, the bench coach will be responsible for scouting and player acquisition and can also help with the pitching coach and general manager.
What are the Responsibilities of a Bench Coach?
The bench coach is a member of the coaching staff responsible for the operation of the bench, which is usually positioned behind the dugout on the third base side of the field. They are also responsible for managing the pitchers of the team. The bench coach is a vital component of the baseball coaching staff, as the position is frequently responsible for executing the game plan on the field.
Assistant
In the Major Leagues, an assistant is a position that exists in most big league organizations. The assistant usually works with one of the assistant managers and/or coaches to help implement the strategies of the manager on the field.
A bench coach is on the field with players and coaches in warmups and stretching routines. The bench is also out on the field during team introductions. Also, a bench coach is often charged with preparing an offense or defense for upcoming games and can coordinate teams for scrimmages.
The bench coach is another name for the head coach’s assistant, who’s charged with game planning, motivating, and maintaining the offensive and defensive schemes of the team.
In college football, the head coach’s assistant will usually have a position known as the offensive coordinator (or quarterbacks coach, as a position), who’s tasked with running the offensive plays and developing the offensive game plan. The offensive coordinator is also responsible for the implementation of the game plan during the game. The defensive coordinator is responsible for devising the game plan for the defense and will run it during the game.
When Does a Bench Coach Take Over the Manager’s Responsibilities?
If a Manager can’t attend the game for personal reasons, the bench coach will assume managerial responsibilities and the Manager will be off of the coaching for the particular game.
The manager will be the person who tells the team when and how long they will be on the field.
Who Was the First Bench Coach in MLB History?
George Huff was the first baseball coach in the Big Ten, hired by the University of Illinois.
How Much Does a Bench Coach Make?
Coaches are paid very well for what they do. In major league baseball, a bench coach can make between $150 – $250k a season. Bench coaches can also make less than a pitching or hitting coach, but typically make more than a first base or third base coach.
To put the salary difference in perspective, the managers on the major leagues make significantly more than their coaching staff. Here are some of the highest-paid managers to manage games in baseball history.
Why are Bench Coaches Important?
Don Zimmer as a Bench Coach
In 1999, the Yankees lost their manager after getting hit by a bus. The team decided to go with Joe Torre, the manager from 1996-1999. The Yankees won 91 games and got into the playoffs. While Joe Torre was injured, Don Zimmer managed the team to a 21-15 record, including a five game sweep of the New York Mets. Zimmer will go down as the coach who helped the Yankees win four world titles.
Conclusion on the MLB Bench Coach
The bench coach runs the dugout while the manager is away and needs a trusted backup. The bench coach is a second-in-command who helps a manager in every aspect of running the game, and has the ability to take over if the manager is injured or needs to meet with the owner.
Third base coach
The three third base coaches are the lowest ranking member of the coaching staff. The third base coach is responsible for instructing the base runners and providing running strategy.
