FanPost

New Bench Coach

We've got a Brave in our organization now...Hope he turns out better then Chuck T...

The Oakland A's today named Bob Schaefer as the bench coach for the 2007 season.

The 2007 season will mark Schaefer's ninth on a Major League coaching staff and his sixth as a bench coach.  He previously served as bench coach for Kansas City in 1991 and from 2002-05.  Schaefer also coached first base for the Royals from 1988-90 and had the added responsibilities of infield coach during his final four seasons with the Royals organization.  The 62-year old Schaefer has seven seasons of minor league managerial experience, including two seasons at Greensboro (1980-81), one year at Jackson (1983), two years with Tidewater (1984-85) and single seasons with Glenn Falls (1986) and Memphis (1987).  He was named South Atlantic League Manager of the Year in 1980 and 1981 and Eastern League Manager of the Year in 1986.

Schaefer comes to the A's from the Atlanta Braves organization where he spent last season as the Special Assistant to the General Manager.  He was also a Special Assistant to the GM with Baltimore from 1999-2001 and spent six seasons in the Boston Red Sox organization from 1993-98, the final five as Director of Player Development.  Schaefer was selected by St. Louis in the 1966 June draft and spent three seasons in the Cardinals organization as a shortstop.

Schaefer is the first addition to the A's coaching staff since Bob Geren was named manager on November 17.  He joins returning coaches Brad Fischer, Rene Lachemann and Curt Young.