Roenicke chosen to steer Brewers

MILWAUKEE – Ron Roenicke showed he can win as a fill-in manager. Now he gets a chance to do it every day.

The Milwaukee Brewers hired the Los Angeles Angels’ bench coach to be their new manager, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Associated Press on Tuesday. The person requested anonymity because the team has not yet announced the move.

The 54-year-old Roenicke has been a member of the Angels’ coaching staff for the past 11 seasons, including the past five as bench coach. He won each time he subbed for Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia, a perfect 7 for 7.

Roenicke replaced Ken Macha, who was fired after two disappointing seasons, a tenure that came in the wake of the team’s 2008 playoff appearance – its first since 1982. He inherits a team with pitching problems and a prince – Prince Fielder – facing an uncertain future.

The Chicago Sun-Times first reported Roenicke’s hiring.

Roenicke was seen as a long-shot candidate in the Brewers’ search. Other reported candidates included Chicago White Sox bench coach Joey Cora, former New York Mets manager Bobby Valentine and former Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin.

Roenicke has never been a full-time major league manager outside of his successful games filling in for Scioscia. He was the Angels’ third base coach for his first six seasons with the club and became bench coach when Joe Maddon left for Tampa Bay.

Roenicke began his coaching career with the Los Angeles Dodgers.