Here’s a look at some of the rumors surrounding the game’s open managerial positions, including speculation about some current skippers…
- Don Mattingly may be Jeffrey Loria’s preferred choice to manage the Marlins, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reports. Loria has “apparently developed a relationship with Mattingly, and is intrigued by the possibility” of having the Dodgers manager shift into the Miami’s dugout next season. This would, of course, hinge on whether Mattingly is even available, though Heyman suggests that L.A. could look for a change at manager if the team fails to win at least one playoff round.
- Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto said that managing is “more about environment, leadership and energy” than it is about an analytical background, telling reporters (including MLB.com’s Greg Johns) that “too much is made of analytics. That’s a little overblown.” Dipoto’s ideal manager would blend both the old-school and new-school methods of thought: “It is not all about the data you’re provided or what you’re seeing with your eyes, it’s somewhere in between. A prerequisite will be to find someone who can balance those in an effective way.”
- It was no surprise that Dipoto parted ways with Lloyd McClendon, Larry Stone of the Seattle Times writes, given that McClendon was likely not as receptive to analytics as Dipoto would’ve preferred. Stone lists Bud Black, Scott Servais (who’s more likely to join the M’s as a front office member), White Sox third base coach Joe McEwing, Angels third base coach Gary DiSarcina and long-time Mariners Raul Ibanez and Dan Wilson as possible managerial candidates, though Angels special assistant Tim Bogar looks like the favorite, as was reported yesterday.
- Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters (including George A. King III of the New York Post) that Joe Girardi’s job is safe for 2016. “[Girardi] is signed for two more years and managed the team to the playoffs. It’s not his fault we didn’t hit. He managed a perfect playoff game,” Cashman said. Girardi is under contract through the 2017 campaign and is owed $4MM in each of the next two seasons. He is 735-561 with six postseason appearances (including the 2009 World Series title) over his eight seasons as New York’s manager, though this year’s AL Wild Card Game loss was the Yankees’ only playoff game since 2012.
- The White Sox have spoken to Indians first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. about becoming the team’s new bench coach, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Raul Ibanez is also reportedly a candidate for the bench coach job. Jim Margalus of the South Side Sox blog breaks down Alomar’s candidacy and wonders if the White Sox could install Alomar as manager if a slow start gets Robin Ventura fired next year. Margalus also opines that Alomar may not want to commit to a coaching job quite yet since he could be a candidate for one of the open managerial spots around baseball.
Yamsi12
I’d think anything less than a World Series appearance would cost Mattingly his job.
YourDaddy
Someone may want to tell Dipoto that the 6 teams with the best records in baseball also happen to be the 6 teams with the largest “analytics” staffs. Coincidence? Not.
rufus061307
I think that you would have a very hard time coming up with those headcounts.
jr428
Maybe in the FO, but not their managers, their managers have a healthy balance of both old school and new school trains of thought, which Dipoto is looking for in a manager.
gomerhodge71
I don’t understand why Girardi’s job wouldn’t be safe. He’s one of the top 3 in the game right now.
jljr222
Because fans need someone to blame. He didn’t have a good month of September managing, he made some oddball moves at times, but I trust him to handle this team and media better than anyone else. Not his fault we didn’t have any middle relief for him to go to late in the season or Shreve completely fell off a cliff.
jtt11 2
Let’s be honest Yankee fans, anything less than a WS and our manager will be questioned. It’s the Yankee way. Personally, I’ve never been a huge fan of Joe G. I recognize that I have a bias against him. But let’s be real here, look at the team, it wasn’t good. Joe G actually got us to the playoffs dispite all the Injuries, old age, and noobs.
some things to consider:
1- We had to keep chris capuano on speed dial.
2- Only chase headley, Gardner, and Didi had more than 525 at
bats…
3 – our rotation was comprised of a fading star (CC), an injured sophomore (tanaka), a work in progress (evoldi), a michael pineda (Pineda), a 4-5 coming off tjs (nova), and a 21 year old lottery ticket (Severino). Coming into the season, only cc had made more than 100 starts.
4 – the injuries/missed games/old age of Beltran, tex, and Ells, coupled with the lack of an every day 2b and the need to rest McCann meant that girardi had to rely on the 4th and 5th Ofs, Steven drew, and a back up catcher with around 100 mlb at bats.
That doesn’t seem like recipe for a run at the division title or a playoff berth. We could easily have been at the bottom of the division.
Ray Ray
Mattingly isn’t a good manager with an unlimited payroll. How exactly will he be a good manager while searching the couch cushions for dimes in Miami?
willi
The ” Only ” relationship that Loria is concerned about is making Money,