The Tennessee Smokies will have a different manager this year, but he's a familiar face.
Buddy Bailey will be back with the Smokies after three seasons in Daytona with the Cubs Class A team. He managed the Smokies in 2008.
The Smokies announced Bailey's staff will include hitting coach Mariano Duncan, pitching coach Jeff Fassero and trainer Aaron Larson.
Here is more on Bailey and his staff from the Tennessee Smokies:
The Tennessee Smokies, Double-A minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, proudly announce today Buddy Bailey will return to Tennessee to be the team's manager for the 2011 season. Joining Bailey on next year's staff will be hitting coach Mariano Duncan, pitching coach Jeff Fassero and athletic trainer Aaron Larson.
Bailey will return for his second stint as Smokies' manager, having spent the 2008 season in Tennessee. He arrives to the Smokies after leading the Class A Daytona Cubs to the 2011 Florida State League Championship. Bailey brings along 23 years of minor league managing experience and over 1,500 victories.
After four years (1979-1982) as a catcher in the Atlanta Braves' minor league system, Bailey began his managerial career in 1983 at the Braves' rookie level Pulaski. He then managed at Sumter (A, 1985, 1987), Durham (A, 1986, 1988) and Greenville (AA, 1988-1990). Bailey left the Braves' organization to manage in the Red Sox organization for Lynchburg (A, 1991-1992), Pawtucket (AAA, 1993-1996, 2002-2004) then served as the Red Sox' minor league catching instructor, minor league field coordinator, roving catching instructor and advanced scout. Bailey then left for the Cubs' organization in 2006 to manage Daytona, Iowa (AAA, 2007), Tennessee (AA, 2006) and then spent the last four seasons back in Daytona.
Duncan returns for his second season with the Smokies. Prior to his stint with the Cubs' organization he was in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization for eight years, most recently as the team's first base coach from 2006-2010. He also coached at AAA-Las Vegas (2005), AA-Jacksonville (2004) and for the team's rookie league team in the Gulf Coast League in 2003. Duncan is a 12-year major league veteran infielder (1985-97) and was a member of two World Series championship teams, the 1990 Cincinnati Reds and 1996 New York Yankees.
Fassero comes to Tennessee having spent the 2011 season as the pitching coach with the Low-A Peoria Chiefs. Prior to his most recent stint, he served as the pitching coach at Boise in 2010. Fassero is a 16-year major league veteran pitcher (1991-2006) who has a career MLB record of 121-124 with a 4.11 ERA.
Athletic trainer Aaron Larson will begin his first season with the Smokies in 2012, his third overall in the Cubs' minor league system.
Three members of the Smokies' 2011 staff will remain within the Cubs organization, but in different roles. Manager Brian Harper will manage the Daytona Cubs and will be joined by pitching coach Marty Mason. Athletic Trainer Nick Frangella will assume his same role with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.
The Smokies will begin the 2012 campaign on Thursday, April 5 at AT&T Field against the Chattanooga Lookouts, and kickoff the home schedule on Tuesday, April 10 against the Jackson Generals at Smokies Park. Full and partial season tickets, group tickets and mini ticket packages are currently available by calling the Smokies Front Office at (865) 286-2300 or by visiting www.smokiesbaseball.com.