Kennedy, 52, was a four-time All-Star catcher during a 14-year playing career, manning a demanding position that has become a pipeline for commanding a roster after retirement.

"We have the best view of the field," he said after San Antonio's 7-3 win over the parent-club San Diego Padres on Thursday night. "We feel the flow of the game, I think, a little bit different than, say, outfielders might.

"You are the manager on the field, is what you are. You have an idea of what's going on."

It's a primary reason why 12 of the 30 major-league teams that will open their seasons tonight and tomorrow employ former catchers as managers.

The latest entry, hired during the offseason, is Pirates head man John Russell, a one-time Texas Rangers backstop who caught Nolan Ryan's sixth no-hitter in 1990.

"We're involved in every play, every pitch," Padres catcher Henry Blanco said earlier this week. The Venezuela native, now 37, is in the twilight of a 12-year, seven-team career, and admits that he has the itch to follow fellow catchers like Kennedy, Bob Brenly, Bob Geren, Joe Torre and Mike Scioscia into management.

"(Kennedy) was a good catcher, a good ballplayer," Blanco said. "He was very aggressive, and it's good to learn from people like that. You have all that knowledge that you can pass on to the kids."

Last season, Torre, in his first season with the L.A. Dodgers, captured his 11th division crown. With six pennants and four World Series won, the 17-year playing veteran, best known for guiding the Yankees from 1996-2007, is the most successful current catcher-turned-manager in the game.

Former Astros backup Bruce Bochy, now managing the Giants, led the Padres to the 1998 National League pennant as well as NL West titles in 2006 and 2007. Ex-San Francisco catcher Bob Brenly, as a rookie manager, led the Diamondbacks to a World Series title in 2001.

Kennedy, for his part, understands the strength of evolving from behind the plate to behind the lineup. But he adds that there are weaknesses.

"The first thing that happens is it's the first time you have to play both sides," said Kennedy, who is coaching or managing in his sixth organization. "Before, you got to sit down. You play defense, you sit down; you play offense, you sit down.

"But now you're playing offense and defense," he added. "You get really tired because you're not used to it."

rcoliver@express-news.net