Gibson, Price face each other as managers

PHOENIX -- D-backs manager Kirk Gibson served on the same Arizona coaching staff with Bryan Price from 2007-09.

Thursday night at Chase Field, Gibson squared off against him for the first time as an opposing manager as the Reds and D-backs opened a four-game series.

"He's got a great mind, he's got a great sense of humor," Gibson said. "He'll be up against the challenges that every manager [has]. He hasn't even managed 100 games yet. I think he has conviction in what he believes in. I think he has a good way of delivering that to his team."

Gibson served as bench coach for Bob Melvin while Price was the pitching coach. Price resigned in early May 2009 to protest the fact that Melvin was fired and A.J. Hinch was hired as manager.

Gibson stayed on Hinch's staff and eventually took over as interim manager one year later when Hinch was dismissed.

Price, meanwhile, joined Dusty Baker's staff in Cincinnati and was hired this past winter as manager.

"If you look at a team like his, you come in there with a new staff and a new manager," Gibson said. "He's probably much different than Dusty was. So it's going to take some time for them to understand each other and get synced up. I think they started off a little bit slowly and they've been OK. He won't give in. He's a very determined, smart individual, and he'll figure out how to make it work."