McAdam: Ron Roenicke and Jerry Narron re-unite after five seasons

Jerry Narron is no stranger to Boston and to the Red Sox. Narron served as the team's bench coach for Grady Little in 2003.

Just as importantly, Narron is no stranger to Ron Roenicke, having served as Roenicke's bench coach in Milwaukee for more than four seasons.

There's a comfort and familiarity between the two, which is part of the reason Narron was hired by the Sox to serve as Roenicke's bench coach Saturday. Narron had served as the bench coach for former Red Sox bench coach and interim manager Torey Lovullo, now managing the Arizona Diamondbacks, the last two seasons.



"He's really good and I wouldn't do it just because he's familiar with me,''  Roenicke told reporters. "I do it because he's really good. I trust our guys too, but it's different. It's something that I know has worked - in-game, in the clubhouse, advice. he's got a great baseball mind. He's a lot smarter than I am which helps me to go to him when I want to. All of that helps make things go smoother here.''

Narro, 64, had seen his coaching responsibilities changed with the Diamondbacks, with Luis Urias taking over the bench coach's role and Narron re-assigned as an extra coach. Narron didn't want that reduced role and had planned to take some time off -- until Roenicke called. (Ironically, Urias interviewed last month for the Red Sox' managerial vacancy before the team decided to promote Roenicke from within).

Thanks to their background, it figures to be a smooth and quick transition for both Roenicke and Narron.

"Being around Ron for almost five years in Milwaukee and being his bench coach there,'' Narron told reporters, "I have a real good idea how he wants to run things and how he (runs) a game. He's an outstanding manager, he's a great communicator. I'm looking forward to it.''

Roenicke and Narron were put together in 2011 by former Brewers GM Doug Melvin, who had had Narron in Texas earlier. Narron has major league managerial experience in both Cincinnati and Texas.

"I didn't know him at all,'' Narron recalled, "and it's hard to get the job without knowing someone. But we had a pretty good relationship. He used his staff really well. He gives us a chance to do our job.''

Narron joins a team already several weeks into their own routine and the Grapefruit League schedule already underway, but predicted he would catch up quickly.

"It won't take long,'' he said. "I know everybody here wants to win. Everybody here's a pretty good worker from what I hear, so it won't take long to get up to speed.''