Manager Don Money Orchestrates the Sounds

Manager Don Money does much more than coach baseball. As the leader of the Nashville Sounds, he orchestrates a mind-boggling array of difficult tasks that only a baseball expert could accomplish. He runs a ball club and all its complexities competing at the highest levels of baseball in the world. And that is just the beginning.

For starters, Money has coached and managed at all three main levels of the minors, from high-A ball to now AAA, and knows the nuances of every level, including the majors. He himself played in the majors for 15 years, for the Phillies and Brewers, and was a four-time All-Star.

"Our job here is to prepare these guys for the next level," said Money from his office in the Sounds clubhouse, in the midst of writing reports and sipping steaming hot coffee. "It's a 30-person family here. In AAA the guys are a little older."

The casual observer may think that Money and his two assistants, Rich Gale and Sandy Guerrero, just coach baseball and go home. Not even close.

It's a long season, with 140-plus games, long road trips, bus rides and plane flights and 3 AM departures and late night hotel stays. His typical day is 12 hours-plus, filled with game prep, BP, coaching, reports, planning, communication with Brewers' executives.

So far this year, the Sounds roster has already had over 70 roster moves (players going up or down). Money is the point man with the Brewers for all those moves. He and his staff basically decide who is next in line to fill spots with the Brewers.

And in the midst of it all, he has fun. During an interview, two players, starters Adam Stern and Brendan Katin, step into his office to post something on his wall, asking Money something about the game only an hour away.

"See what I have to put up with?" Money cracked loud enough for the players to hear. They apologized and began singing his praises. In a long season like theirs, camaraderie is key.

During games, in which Money not only manages but also coaches third base, he has fun with fans. They know he sometimes randomly tosses a ball to fans above the dugout. Sure enough, in the game that night, he followed through. About 30-40 sets of hands reached for it, with one fan getting a nice souvenir from the manager and former Major Leaguer.

All is all, what Money and his staff do is impressive.