Don’t try to “first” me pal! I would love this hire. I have a hard time seeing someone come over from another team though. Why would another team put themselves in the position the Sox are in looking for coaching staff this late?
Who will be the next manager?
- Thread starter Mugsy's Jock
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Anyone on the current staff has to be hands off unless/until they have been cleared by MLB. I'm guessing the Sox may have inquired as to possible involvement of other coaches in what is being investigated. Maybe the league has share some of what they know, BUT the matter is not closed. Hopefully Cora has come completely clean with The Sox on the matter so they may not have to wait and see what MLB finds.
Heh, nice. I'm not sure the Mets could stop Meulens from a promotion from bench coach to BOS manager, but the Mets also may have a managerial opening in the very near future. If I was Meulens and offered both the Mets and Sox jobs, I would honestly take the Sox one because I would know that Brodie is itching to replace me with Hinch as soon as he possibly can.
The most Mets thing ever would be to lose their manager and bench coach weeks before P&C for something they weren’t involved in.
Didn’t realize Meulens spoke so many languages. Hard to know what the contractual terms are but they can’t force him to work there I guess, it’s all just money and paperwork if the Red Sox really want him.
Could we see if David Price wants to be pitching coach, or coach in charge of CPAP or something too? Maybe if Sale starts struggling again we can make him coach in charge of reaching things on high shelves?
Just seems a bit unfair that the Red Sox should be held accountable for bad decisions they make is all.
I get it. If Roenicke was caught with a smoking trash can lid, he's disqualified. But the larger point is assuming Roenicke is only modestly Cora-contaminated, he is probably an adequate short-term mahagerial solution to the problem. Given the various challenges Chaim knowingly inherited, (cutting payroll, Mookie, rebuilding the farm, etc) a rushed due diligence process of all ready picked over managerial candidates, a month from the start of ST, may only compound the challenges of 2020. Roenicke knows the lay of the land, the players, and has had managerial responsibility before. this team may not be one for a virgin skipper. And if it doesn;t work out, Chaim wil have had some time to think about the type of manager he would like to hire in 2021 to move the team forward.
I went with Jason Varitek
- he's already there
- he knows the players, the coaches, and organization
- he's very respected by all
- with a strong bench coach (Roenicke's fine with me) I believe he would have the leeway of OJT from the fans in an unprecedented situation
- And...if he wants to do it, I believe he'd be successful!
Considering that arbitration is in the rear view, Mookie is partially taken care of. Still lots to consider with him, but that largely depends on other teams. Rebuilding the farm isn't happening in the next couple of weeks , but rather over the next couple of years and the payroll issue is what it currently is and nothing else happens until other teams get involved as potential trade partners. The managerial hiring process shouldn't be considered a short term, stop gap measure unless it occurs mid season. In that case you need someone tomorrow who will have to do until you can find the right fit moving forward and often there is no sense of urgency in that situation because normally changes are made mid season after a team has shit the bed. IMO anything off season (and this is still off season) should be done with an eye toward the future. Chaim shouldn't need any time to consider the type of manager he wants, he should already know that. He should make the hire he believes in as this roster has the personnel to compete and a full season in which to do so.
I cast a provisional ballot for Ron Roenicke. IF the current coaching staff is cleared of any wrong doing he may be the 2020'a version of Joe Morgan. Purely wishful thinking on my part, but an in house, interim type somehow worked out before. Morgan Magic did win two Eastern Division titles.
If the Sox were completely tanking the season, having him on board could provide some entertainment.
Absolutely not, bordering on ridiculous, but precedent was set by John McGraw, player and manager from 1899 to 1906 and won a pennant and a World Series in the time.
Close-ish precedent.......Gil Hodges died a couple of days before the '72 season. Mets promoted Yogi from the coaching staff. Made it to the 73 WS and lasted through '75.
Bloom strikes me as the kind of guy who has a folder in his desk marked "managerial short list in case the incumbent dies tomorrow." So it might not be as rushed as some think.
Bloom strikes me as the kind of guy who has a folder in his desk marked "managerial short list in case the incumbent dies tomorrow." So it might not be as rushed as some think.
My two cents:
Chaim Bloom is not hiring Bruce Bochy. Young, rookie Mr. Analytics GM hiring Old, Established Mr. Set-in-his-Ways? Not happening.
Dustin Pedroia doe not have the temperament to manage an MLB team. Coach, maybe. But not manage.
Jason Varitek has other things going on in his life (daughters and family etc) and has said in the past he'd like to stay in baseball in some capacity and perhaps move into managing at some point in the future. This is not the future and this is not the situation in which he'd chose to be baptized.
Roenicke was Cora's bench coach. Cora has admitted to being a cheater. Guilt by association and the haters it will stir is not something this front office will want to toy with. The hire will be from the outside.
Brad Ausmus might be a good fit.
Hensley Meulens is also a possible fit.
Mikey Lowell....intriguing but no experience and there's not much time between now and Feb 12.
Chaim Bloom is not hiring Bruce Bochy. Young, rookie Mr. Analytics GM hiring Old, Established Mr. Set-in-his-Ways? Not happening.
Dustin Pedroia doe not have the temperament to manage an MLB team. Coach, maybe. But not manage.
Jason Varitek has other things going on in his life (daughters and family etc) and has said in the past he'd like to stay in baseball in some capacity and perhaps move into managing at some point in the future. This is not the future and this is not the situation in which he'd chose to be baptized.
Roenicke was Cora's bench coach. Cora has admitted to being a cheater. Guilt by association and the haters it will stir is not something this front office will want to toy with. The hire will be from the outside.
Brad Ausmus might be a good fit.
Hensley Meulens is also a possible fit.
Mikey Lowell....intriguing but no experience and there's not much time between now and Feb 12.
Houston considering Showalter. Good.
As a friend of mine once said, "He's just good enough for his teams to lose in the end."
I was trying to think of (outside) managers who have gone through some kind of recent tragedy (I don't consider Cora's departure a 'tragedy' per se, but a sudden disruptive event that will require rallying the team/players). Ausmus experienced the Skaggs overdose... Matheny the Taveras car crash death... those are the two recent examples that I thought of.
I'd be a 'no' to both of those guys. Similarly, I'm lukewarm on Roenicke or any of the current staff.
I don't think Lowell would take the job under these circumstances as his first managerial gig.
Perez? haha. Pena? He hasn't exactly lit it up elsewhere, with very mixed feedback on his coaching/managing.
I could warm up to Meulens. Capt. 'Tek may be satisfactory as an org guy taking one for the team, but if I were him I'd be concerned about taking this job at this moment in time if he has long-term managerial aspirations.
2020 is going to be a weird, "one-off" type of season for the Sox.
As a friend of mine once said, "He's just good enough for his teams to lose in the end."
I was trying to think of (outside) managers who have gone through some kind of recent tragedy (I don't consider Cora's departure a 'tragedy' per se, but a sudden disruptive event that will require rallying the team/players). Ausmus experienced the Skaggs overdose... Matheny the Taveras car crash death... those are the two recent examples that I thought of.
I'd be a 'no' to both of those guys. Similarly, I'm lukewarm on Roenicke or any of the current staff.
I don't think Lowell would take the job under these circumstances as his first managerial gig.
Perez? haha. Pena? He hasn't exactly lit it up elsewhere, with very mixed feedback on his coaching/managing.
I could warm up to Meulens. Capt. 'Tek may be satisfactory as an org guy taking one for the team, but if I were him I'd be concerned about taking this job at this moment in time if he has long-term managerial aspirations.
2020 is going to be a weird, "one-off" type of season for the Sox.
One more major plus for a McMillon candidacy: he's the guy who taught and transitioned Mookie from 2B to the OF. Didn't manage him for too long in 2014 at AA (he also was with Betts in Salem in 2013), but maybe there's a bond?
I'd probably stop watching them tbh.I'd rather a complete unknown than a known mediocre to bad manager.
Thanks for sharing, that’s too bad as he would have been perfect. I guess I would go with Mike Lowell or Tony Pena then.
Billy McMillon is my vote:
- As Pawtucket manager he is far enough removed from Cora issues unlike Roenicke or Febles
- Has been in the Red Sox system for many years working his way up from A ball to AAA
- Is familiar with many of the young kids who will likely become integrated into Boston in the near future
- Previous experience with Mookie could potentially help persuade Mookie if he is on the fence about re-signing
- As Pawtucket manager he is far enough removed from Cora issues unlike Roenicke or Febles
- Has been in the Red Sox system for many years working his way up from A ball to AAA
- Is familiar with many of the young kids who will likely become integrated into Boston in the near future
- Previous experience with Mookie could potentially help persuade Mookie if he is on the fence about re-signing
I think McMillon would have a very difficult time with the day in and day out dealings with the media that the job requires.
I know nothing of McMillon and I'm curious why you say that. Does he have a history of not being media friendly or savy?
Not trying to be a wise guy, but what do you base this on? I admittedly have never heard him speak, What am I missing??
FWIW, David Laurila said this in one of the other threads. I don't know if he has direct personal experience, but he's in the business.
I'm more concerned with the process than the candidate. Let Bloom pick his guy and don't interfere - whether it's someone he's worked with like Quatraro, a guy with experience like Ausmus, or someone new.
Just to throw some other ideas out there:
- Sam Fuld: young, famous for playing hard in Tampa. Current Major League Information Coordinator for the Phillies. He was interviewed for the Toronto job after 2018.
- Sandy Alomar Jr: great MLB career as a catcher, coaches in Cleveland under Francona, I think he's interviewed with us before?
Just to throw some other ideas out there:
- Sam Fuld: young, famous for playing hard in Tampa. Current Major League Information Coordinator for the Phillies. He was interviewed for the Toronto job after 2018.
- Sandy Alomar Jr: great MLB career as a catcher, coaches in Cleveland under Francona, I think he's interviewed with us before?
Other than his face, why are people down on Buck Showalter? Obviously it ended badly as most tenures do, but he was wildly successful in Baltimore with an absolutely terrible owner who tied managements hands.
He also handled the Freddy Gray business to perfection, which will always give him a pass in my mind. And may also be rather relevant to the skills of coaching in a city like Boston.
He also handled the Freddy Gray business to perfection, which will always give him a pass in my mind. And may also be rather relevant to the skills of coaching in a city like Boston.
I like Buck. He did a good job with the Yankees back when, and I think he has mellowed some over the years. I enjoyed hearing about his relationship with Adam Jones when he was with the Orioles.
I think he would be a great fit for the Astros. I think he has always been big on accountability. Probably what the Astros need for a couple of years, and I'm not sure Buck would be expecting a long term gig.
I think he would be a great fit for the Astros. I think he has always been big on accountability. Probably what the Astros need for a couple of years, and I'm not sure Buck would be expecting a long term gig.
Here is the problem that folks on this forum will have with Showalter. In 2016, the O's made the AL Wild Card game, a one-shot winner take all affair. The O's lost in extra innings:
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR201610040.shtml
If you look at the box score, nowhere does the name Zach Britton show up. The same Zach Britton that struck out 74 batters while giving up all of 1 home run in 69 relief appearances, a performance that got him into 4th place in the Cy Young voting that season. Showalter's excuse was that their best bullpen arm should be reserved until the Orioles got a lead (the O's were on the road). The lead never came because Buck inserted Jimenez and his 5.44 ERA to pitch the 11th.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/TOR/TOR201610040.shtml
If you look at the box score, nowhere does the name Zach Britton show up. The same Zach Britton that struck out 74 batters while giving up all of 1 home run in 69 relief appearances, a performance that got him into 4th place in the Cy Young voting that season. Showalter's excuse was that their best bullpen arm should be reserved until the Orioles got a lead (the O's were on the road). The lead never came because Buck inserted Jimenez and his 5.44 ERA to pitch the 11th.
And New England roots. I think Joe Castig reminded me that he went to Phillips Exeter and his mother was a state legislator approximately 3,968 times.
That's where I am. It's one thing to "saddle" the new GM with untainted Cora. But I really hope he's allowed to deal with this in whatever way he deems best --- caretaker, permanent, new, old, familiar name or not.
Yes. That was a historically bad decision -- tho curiously not one I would say was really that indicative of his overall decision-making. This wasn't Farrell constantly seeming a tick slow on in-game tactics or as if he didn't understand them. It seemed like an aberration, albeit a very, very big one.
In related news, if Belichick retired tomorrow, I would still welcome Andy Reid as my coach.
Edit: Broader point, if Showalter is good enough to interview with an organization as successful as the Astros, he's probably good enough to interview with the Sox as well. He know the AL East and he damn sure wouldn't be intimidated by the media (which I suspect would eat his postgame pressers up).
Showalter always seemed to me to be an arrogant SOB, going back to his Yankee days but continuing in Baltimore - and I got to see him plenty there, since I live nearby. Now maybe that impression changes when he's OUR arrogant SOB, but I doubt it - I think his act would wear thin before too long in Boston. And I doubt this is the kind of guy that Bloom wants to hire, as I think he's apt to have his own ways of doing things. I got the impression listening to him that he was less than completely open to all of the analytics that teams are using today, which is one reason why I think they let him go in Baltimore.
My view would be a hard "no" on Showalter, as well as Scioscia and Baker. Way too "old school." Fuld, Ted, Kotsay, Perez, Nunez would be on my interview list. Maybe Sandy Alomar Jr.
My view would be a hard "no" on Showalter, as well as Scioscia and Baker. Way too "old school." Fuld, Ted, Kotsay, Perez, Nunez would be on my interview list. Maybe Sandy Alomar Jr.
Showalter did a few Yankee games towards the end of last season, he was really interesting at times but he very quickly ran out of things to say and came off pretty badly overall. I would not hire him to manage in 2020 no matter my situation.
I loved Baker with the Nationals. Didn't really have the killer instinct in the playoffs that you want, but great regular season manager. We could do a lot worse on short notice. But fit with Bloom is paramount. Everyone needs to be pulling in the same direction.
With Cora, Bloom had a guy that would buy 100% into using analytics. Given that by all accounts Bloom is even more of an analytics guy than Dombrowski, I don't see how Bloom goes with anyone that is not as "all in" with the latest analytics as Cora was. That's just the nature of the job as it will be defined in Boston, and Bloom is not going to change that just to accommodate a name manager like a Baker or Showalter.
I agree and the analytics part of this equation is why Bloom was hired. I think everyone in the Sox hierarchy would see a Showalter/Baker type hiring as a step backward from the direction they're moving toward.
Bloom's process is definitely important. Let him chart the course.
I vote Roenicke, for a perceived sense of rapport in the current dugout, and ability to handle the media (though I can't point to where I've come to believe that.)
I am also intrigued by Sam Fuld, though Boston might be too big an assignment for his first ML manager's gig, no?
I vote Roenicke, for a perceived sense of rapport in the current dugout, and ability to handle the media (though I can't point to where I've come to believe that.)
I am also intrigued by Sam Fuld, though Boston might be too big an assignment for his first ML manager's gig, no?
As I voted, I like Varitek but after reading the Herald article on Baker I could see him as a great choice - strong dude who could manage through the present difficulties, young guys would get to play for a possible Hall of Fame manager, he's the old school balance to analytics, could finally get a ring. Maybe Varitek would be bench coach and take over in due time?