Mariners hire Mike Brumley as third-base coach

The man who has worked most closely with new Mariners third-base coach Mike Brumley says he looks forward to the "intelligence" he'll bring the team.

Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu, who worked with Brumley in Arizona, Anaheim and Texas and played against him in the Pacific Coast League, said Friday the latest addition to his staff brings a wealth of knowledge. Brumley, 45, was a utility infielder and outfielder for eight seasons with a half-dozen teams, including the Mariners in 1990, and has extensive minor-league managing and coaching experience.

"I respect his intelligence and his understanding of the game, that's first and foremost," Wakamatsu said. "He brings a tremendous knowledge of the base runners and of fielding. He has a different way of looking at things, and I think he's someone who's about as close to me as you can get when it comes to how I look at things."

Brumley replaces Bruce Hines, the only member of the coaching staff who was not kept on after the season.

Wakamatsu said his new coach also brings some computer knowledge to the position, having worked with various data programs in his most recent job as a minor-league field coordinator for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"He's done quite a few things in this game," Wakamatsu said.

As a player, Brumley teamed with Roger Clemens on the 1983 Texas Longhorns team that won the College World Series. One year later, the Red Sox made him a throw-in to the trade that sent Dennis Eckersley to the Chicago Cubs for Bill Buckner.

Brumley's major-league fielding experience as a shortstop is something the Mariners hope can help him in his additional role as an infield instructor. He comes to a Mariners team that was already one of the best defensively in the majors and Friday saw three players named as winners of the 2009 Fielding Bible Awards.

Mariners center fielder Franklin Gutierrez, right fielder Ichiro and shortstop Jack Wilson were all named top players in the majors at their positions by a 10-member panel.

Geoff Baker: 206-464-8286 or gbaker@seattletimes.com.