By Dustin Dow
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Former Reds All-Star Chris Sabo resigned as manager of the Florence Freedom professional baseball team and will be replaced today, one day before the team begins its inaugural season. A one-time teammate of Sabo, former Reds pitcher Tom Browning, will replace him as manager and also will be the team's director of baseball operations, the Associated Press reported.

"I think this is a real positive move," owner Connie Hildebrant told the AP.

Sabo cited a "professional difference with coaching style" in a resignation letter left on his desk prior to an exhibition game Saturday that was canceled because of rain.

Sabo's resignation came less than two months after general manager Jeff Hollis resigned April 1. Hildebrant has assumed those duties.

The Freedom, who are playing their first season in Hamilton while a stadium in Florence is being built, are scheduled to open the regular season Friday at Chillicothe.

The Freedom play in the Frontier League, a professional league unaffiliated with Major League Baseball.

Pitching coach Chris Hook, third base coach Eric Minshall and first base coach Jeremy Isons will remain at their current positions. Hook, contacted by telephone, declined to comment.

The team's first home game is June 3 at Hamilton's city-owned Foundation Field. The Freedom will play 45 home games in Hamilton before moving into a $4.5 million stadium in Florence for the 2004 season.

E-mail ddow@enquirer.com