Ex-Sounds Manager Marty Brown To Japan?
Date Posted: 9/25/2005

As reported by Wayne Graczyk in the Japan Times

Hiroshima Carp manager Koji Yamamoto has announced he will be stepping down at the end of this season, and press reports have indicated the leading candidate to replace him is former Carp infielder-outfielder Marty Brown. Currently the field boss of the Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, Brown played for Hiroshima from 1992 to 1994 and was well-liked by the fans and team management in that city.

Playing third base and right field for Hiroshima 11-13 years ago, Brown posted a batting average of .256 with 50 homers and 165 RBIs over three seasons.

His best year was 1993, when he slammed 27 home runs, drove in 83 and hit for a .276 average. Since retiring as an active player, he has worked his way up the managerial ladder in North America.

Brown began his field leadership career in 1997 with Class-A Erie in the New York-Penn League and jumped to Triple-A in 2001 with Nashville in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization.

He also managed there in 2002, then moved to the Cleveland chain and took over at Buffalo in 2003. In 2004, he led the Bisons to a regular season 83-61 record and won the Governor's Cup championship.

He was named International League Manager-of-the-Year and Baseball America's Minor League Manager-of-the-Year.

Brown's career managerial record is 633-582 (.521) with a 374-341 (.523) mark in Triple-A. In 2005, he led Buffalo to an 82-62 (.569) finish, second best in the IL.

Over the years, Brown has kept in touch with the Carp and in fact sent two of his Bisons players to Hiroshima.

Most Japanese reporters think it is better than a 50-50 chance the Carp will hire Marty and, if he does get the job, the 42-year-old Brown would be the second American to serve as the Carp field boss.

Luis Medina, now a scout with the Kansas City Royals, was a teammate of Brown with the Carp. He says, "I know Marty is interested," referring to the idea of Brown managing Hiroshima.

Marty Brown has put in his study time, has the experience and track record, and we should know within a couple of weeks if Japan's Central League will have its first American manager since Don Blasingame piloted the Hanshin Tigers in 1979-1980.

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Related Links:
 • Complete Article From Japan Times Online