Baltimore Sun: Why have a bench coach?

Insight from the Orioles Insider team at the Baltimore Sun, as to why teams usually have a bench coach.

Why have a bench coach?

Some things that the article doesn't talk about, mostly because they don't pertain in this situation with the Showalter and the Orioles:

• In the case of a young/rookie manager, management will often make the bench coach assignment themselves. They'll pair a young guy with a veteran type that they trust, to give them an ear on the bench and in the clubhouse.
• The bench coach, because he usually has rapport with the players and the manager, is a natural fit to take over in the case of a managerial change, in the "interim" role.

The following link is to an interview with Cardinals bench coach Joe Pettini, posted by Brian Walton at The Cardinals Nation. It's pretty specific to what Pettini's role is under Tony LaRussa with the Cardinals, but very interesting:

The Role of the Bench Coach