Buffalo Bisons Manager Marty Brown Steps Down

Feb 24, 2013; Dunedin, FL, USA; A detailed view of the Toronto Blue Jays logo before a spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles at Florida Auto Exchange Park. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Break-ups are never an easy thing, but Marty Brown does it in style. Just a few days before the Christmas holiday and two months before Spring Training gets underway, Brown has officially stepped down as manager of the Buffalo Bisons, the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca was the first to break the news of Brown’s departure.

The moves comes as somewhat of a surprise, given the lateness in the offseason. However, Davidi speculates in his piece that Brown’s decision may be tied to having been passed over for the Blue Jays open first base coach job, which went to Tim Leiper last week. However, there had been no indication that Brown was considering exiting, with the now former Bison’s manager even appearing on Fan 590 just two days ago to discuss Masahiro Tanaka, whom Brown managed with the Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2010.

The 50-year-old Brown has managed the Blue Jays Triple-A affiliate since 2011. From 2011 through 2012, that role was served with the Las Vegas 51’s, and Brown followed the team to Buffalo when the Blue Jays moved the affiliate prior to the 2013 season. The Bisons would finish with a record of 74-70 in 2013.

Now the Blue Jays will have to do a quick search to fill the role prior to the onset of the spring. An early favorite would have to be Sal Fasano, who currently serves as the Blue Jays roving catching instructor but previously managed the team’s affiliates in both Lansing (A) and New Hampshire (Double-A), including an Eastern League championship and Manager of the Year award with the Fisher Cats in 2011.