December 3, 200421 yr 12/03/2004 6:04 PM ET Dunlop named bench coach By Joe Frisaro / MLB.com MIAMI -- After considering a number of choices from outside the organization, the Marlins promoted from within on Friday to fill the position of bench coach. Harry Dunlop, previously the bullpen coach, was named bench coach. Taking over as bullpen coach is Luis Dorante, elevated to the Major League ranks after being the manager of Class A Jupiter the past three seasons. Also on Friday, Brian Chattin was named director of player development. Dunlop, 71, switches spots before ever putting on a Marlins uniform. He was hired as bullpen coach on Nov. 9. A longtime friend of manager Jack McKeon, Dunlop takes over the position previously held by Doug Davis, who is now the organization's minor league catching coordinator. Dunlop has been on McKeon's staffs previously with the Royals, Padres and Reds. "He's known Jack a long time, and Jack has a lot of confidence in him and a lot of trust in Harry," general manager Admin Beinfest said recently. "He's someone Jack wanted to have on his staff, not only as a baseball man, but as a confidant and someone he's very comfortable with." The Marlins had been courting Admin Bowa to become the bench coach. They offered him the position, but Bowa fell out of the running when he never returned calls to the organization. McKeon gave Bowa his first managerial job with the Padres. The naming of Dunlop and Dorante completes the staff. Mark Wiley was hired on Nov. 9 as the pitching coach. Remaining from last season are Perry Hill (first base/infield), Bill Robinson (hitting), Jeff Cox (third base) and Pierre Arsenault (bullpen coordinator). Dorante, the lone Spanish speaker on the staff, spent time the month of September with the Marlins. He was brought in to help out with the expanded rosters at the completion of the Class A season. Chattin has been in the organization as a baseball operations assistant. Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
December 4, 200421 yr It's official, we have the oldest coaching staff in baseball. I like it though :thumbup
December 4, 200421 yr Author Is Jack putting together a shuffleboard game or a coaching staff? 626447[/snapback] :cool Who says you can't do both? Instead of cards, how about shuffleboard on the charter plane?
December 4, 200421 yr Author Most of our coaching staff should be in old folks homes. :plain 626448[/snapback] Most of our players should be in school :plain
December 4, 200421 yr Author I call at least one heart attack this year. 626462[/snapback] DVH: "Miggy hits it well, and there is no doubt! It is up, up, and away! A home run to win the game for the Marlins!" *Randomly selected coach has minor heart attack* Juanky=Evil
December 4, 200421 yr I call at least one heart attack this year. 626462[/snapback] That's funny, but cruel...
December 4, 200421 yr I call at least one heart attack this year. 626462[/snapback] I say 3, your dad going down first. /evil-er
December 4, 200421 yr Its a good move by the Marls to bring in one of Jack's "lackeys" rather than someone imposed on him by management.
December 4, 200421 yr WTF is going on? We need a damn spark. Bring in some youth for crying out loud. :banghead
December 4, 200421 yr We need a damn spark. 626651[/snapback] They get it from the pace makers. Between all the coaches they'll have about 2.5 hearts between them all.
December 4, 200421 yr Author I like this move. McKeon is gonna have some spark this year. He is going for 1,000 wins (Marlins need to get 70-some wins) and the playoffs are reachable via the competitive division or wildcard.
December 4, 200421 yr Pictures of our coaching staff recently spotted at a Bingo game in North Miami Beach:
December 4, 200421 yr the playoffs are reachable via the competitive division or wildcard. 626663[/snapback] Is there some secret way of getting into the playoffs you should tell us about? Maybe if the Marlins don't win the head to head matchups in the East, but finished ranked higher in the BCS, they can go to one of the big games?
December 4, 200421 yr A 71 year old Bench Coach is not a bad idea. He's too old to worry about second-hand cigar smoke. And he's a Jack crony, selected by Jack. Doug Davis wasn't. I'd like to see Davis write a book about his year stuck as Bench Coach for Jack. Davis has good minor-league managing credentials. Now, he's thrown the bone of minor-league catching coordinator. We're going to lose him. So...no grooming of Jack's successor. Doug Davis would probably say that's just as well.
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