The Phillies have an opening in the dugout after surprisingly removing Pete Mackanin from that role and transitioning him to a front office role. Philadelphia had extended Mackanin just four months earlier, making the decision all the more unexpected. We’ll track the majority of the managerial chatter pertaining to the Phils here over the course of the search and update accordingly as the hunt progresses…
Finalists
- If the Phillies opt for a manager with Major League experience, ESPN.com’s Buster Olney tweets that the “industry expectation” is that John Farrell will get the job.
- MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reports that Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler is also a finalist for the position, along with Wathan. Both impressed the Phils with their first interviews, and it sounds as if the Philadelphia brass will conduct one more round of interviews with this pair (and any other yet-unknown finalists) before making a final decision.
- The Phillies are “zeroing in” on Triple-A skipper Dusty Wathan for the job, per Nightengale (via Twitter). He’ll join Kapler, at the least, in a second wave of interviews. Wathan only briefly cracked the majors as a player, but has once again climbed the minor-league ladder since moving to the coaching ranks with the Phillies back in 2008.
Will Interview/Have Interviewed (Still Under Consideration)
- Recently fired Red Sox manager John Farrell interviewed for the position on Oct. 25, reports Zolecki. It’s not yet clear whether Farrell’s sitdown with the Phils will result in another interview.
- Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler is also slated for an interview, as Zolecki reports. Kapler took his position with Los Angeles after missing on the team’s managerial opening, but has continued to be cited as a possible candidate elsewhere ever since.
- The Phillies already have one strong internal candidate in Jorge Velandia, reports Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. Currently a special assistant to GM Matt Klentak, Velandia interviewed for the opening on Wednesday and is a “strong candidate,” according to Salisbury, though other interviews are sure to be conducted with external candidates. Nonetheless, Salisbury writes that the 42-year-old Velandia is well versed in player development and has embraced the analytical side of the game. His work with Klentak and the rest of the front office should bode well for communication. He’s spent time on the Phillies’ big league coaching staff in the past and has also spent six seasons as a manager in the Venezuelan Winter League.
- Current Phillies third base coach Juan Samuel has also interviewed for the opening, as Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Daily News recently reported. Samuel, 56, has been on the Phillies’ coaching staff since 2011 after coming over from the Orioles, where he worked with Andy MacPhail, who was then the Orioles’ president and now holds that same role with the Phillies. Samuel spoke to Brookover about his own openness to incorporating more data-driven decisions into on-field decisions. “If you have something available to you that gives you an advantage over other clubs, you should definitely use it,” he said.
- Both Salisbury and Brookover list Triple-A manager Dusty Wathan as another internal candidate that is expected to interview. It’s not known yet whether the 44-year-old has interviewed, but he’s spent the past 10 seasons managing at various levels throughout the Phillies’ system, so he obviously has plenty of familiarity with the Phillies’ homegrown players and a number of the front office execs that have been with the club for an extended period of time.
Preliminary Candidates (Interview Status Unknown)
- The Phillies have spoken with Mariners third base coach Manny Acta, Jon Heyman of FanRag writes (and clarifies on Twitter). Acta, who managed the Nationals from 2007-09 and the Indians from 2010-12, was in the running for the Mets’ job before it went to Mickey Callaway.
- In addition to a few of the other names already covered here, Heyman hears that the Phils have some level of interested in Red Sox bench coach Gary DiSarcina and possibly former Tigers manager Brad Ausmus. Boston is in the midst of its own managerial hiring process, with the club leaving coaches like DiSarcina free to explore their options with other organizations.
- The Phillies are interested in speaking to Rockies bench coach Mike Redmond, per Heyman. There’s been no definitive word of an interview, but the former Marlins manager has been building his dugout resume since calling it quits as a player back in 2010. At 46, he’d give the Phillies a considerably younger voice than they’ve had under recent skippers like Mackanin, Ryne Sandberg and Charlie Manuel.
Not in the Mix/No Longer in Consideration
- Ryan Lawrence of PhillyVoice.com reported recently that the Phillies won’t consider bench coach Larry Bowa or former GM Ruben Amaro Jr. for the post. Klentak has stated a desire for a “new voice” and a “new style” in the dugout, Lawrence notes, which wouldn’t be accomplished with the 71-year-old Bowa. As for Amaro, while he’d been previously connected to the role and is reportedly on the Tigers’ radar, Lawrence definitively characterized the chances of Amaro being on the team’s radar as nonexistent.
- USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets that Phil Nevin is no longer in the running after interviewing recently. FanRag’s Jon Heyman tweets that Athletics third base coach Chip Hale, who also interviewed for the Philadelphia vacancy, has been eliminated from the running as well.
- Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway interviewed for the post but has since been hired as the new manager of the Mets.
I think Chase Utley would be a good Manager, he is about done as a player so possibly a good fit, hell if he wants to pinch hit, he can do that too
I’ve heard a number of people say that. Utley is one of my favorite players ever but I personally just think he’d be a horrible manager. He tends to lead by example and not very outspoken. I think his comminication skills would lack. Not sure whether all of that would lead to good managerial skills. Has me thinking of how Ryne Sandberg was as a manger. Just my thoughts.
Schmidtty
Schmidt already tried managing in the minors. It did not go well at all. Historically, great players have been horrible managers. You’ll notice there are hardly ever any Hall of Fame Players who end up as successful managers.
Ted Williams famously said he was one of the worst managers in the game. He acknowledged his skills involved unconscious mastery, so he wasn’t capable of explaining to others how to do as he did. He likewise said he had no patience with inexperienced kids.
This is true of many great players, whose greatness stems from a combination of freakish ability and unconscious mastery of their trade, neither of which can be taught.
Many of the best managers have been catchers, due perhaps to the fact the catcher has to be aware of the placement of all the players during the game, along with the art of calling the pitches. Regardless of the manager’s former position, the man must have the ability to communicate. Without that and a desire to motivate others, there is no future for that player as a manager.
Loved that analysis. Well put.
I agree with Kevin. While Utley was a fantastic player during most of his Phillies’ days, he likely wouldn’t make a great manager. He seems too quiet and reserved on the field, and leading by examples works when you’re playing but not so much when you’re sitting on the bench calling the shots to others. And based on the love the fans have for Utley, I doubt management would hire him…after all with rare exceptions managers, especially first-timers, are hired to one day be fired, and the team probably doesn’t want to deal with the backlash of firing Utley.
Whats with this obsession over Utley managing? Utley is a quiet guy and not the manager type. I wouldn’t want him to manage my team. Besides he has 1 more season in him and it will be as a Dodger
Just a suggestion, what about Rollins, or Howard?
Not sure if either is even interested, but I’d just as much stay away from them as I would from Utley. Again, players I loved, but both had their flaws as players in the sense that I don’t think they’d be good teachers of the fundamentals of the game.
If there is one former player I’d be really interested in bringing back, it’s Carlos Ruiz. Not as a manager, but as bench coach or bullpen coach. He’d be phenomenal for both the pitchers and catchers.
Why not try a real manager instead of Utley or Howard or Rollins
Yeah try Howard because he knows so much about the finer things of the game and can coach a team up to manufacture runs and save them with defense and handling of the pitching staff…SMH
Plus he was in The Office. What other manager can claim that on a resume? Eat fresh.
Kruk or Schilling. Cliff Lee could manage and be a lefty specialist.
No one is hiring the PR Schilling, and Cliff Lee didn’t exactly end on a good note with the organization, plus he’ll never pitch again
Not that I think either one would make a good manager, but how did Lee end on a bad note? He got hurt and couldn’t pitch. Happens to a lot of pitchers.
He sold that condo ASAP and hightailed it back to the backwoods of Arkansas. He hasn’t been to Philadelphia since he retired.
And what does that have to do with anything? He moved to Philadelphia for work, but Arkansas is his home. His family is there, his kids go to school there, it’s where everything he knows is. Why would he stay in Philly if he was no longer working for the company located there? Let’s see…sit in an empty condo in a strange town—does Cliff Lee seem like the big-city guy to you?—without your friends and family, when the likelihood is you never work in that industry again, or go home and be with your family? Take your kids to school, go to their soccer games, see your family and friends? What would you do? I don’t see any bad blood just because the guy realized his career was likely over and went home to be with his family and make up for the time he’s missed being away so much. Nothing wrong with that.
Maybe if they needed a hitting coach, Howard could be a good choice, but not a manager.
He had the option to undergo surgery and pitch most of the final season of his deal, but opted to sit out and collect the money then retire
I think Utley would be much better suited as a bench coach where he’d command the respect of the players without having to deal with the press on a daily basis. But he’d probably only consider doing that for someone he already knows and has a good relationship. Just as an example somebody like Raul Ibanez.
I wouldn’t wish this version Phillies on Chase Utley. Just because the player is popular, doesn’t mean he will be a good manager. Alan Trammell was very popular as a player for the Tigers. However, he goes down as the worst manager in the history of MLB.
There really is no need to write an entire article listing the potential managers the Phillies might hire. They’re not hiring Juan Samuel, Mike Redmond, Buck Showalter or any of the other countless names that will be brought up, discussed, and potentially interviewed. Just like Charlie Manuel and Ryne Sandberg were “manager in waiting”, the Phillies manager next season will be Dusty Wathan. They’ll talk about how they did the most exhaustive managerial search in history—like they did when they hired Manuel—and end up with the guy everyone knew they would hire to begin with.
Everyone who was in the organization when they handled Manuel is gone. The person making the decision, Matt Klentak, has no big connection to Wathan. Klentak was with the Angels and Orioles for a number of years and likely has a better relationship with other potential managers than Wathan. If the decision is based on relationships then Tim Bogar and Gary DiSarcina are more likely.
Not everyone is gone…the three guys at the top, the ones who Montgomery reported to, and who MacPhail/Klentak report to, are the same guys.
If the new manager is anybody but Wathan I’d be absolutely stunned.
Matt Klentak was an intern in Baltimore, hired by Andy MacPhail.
Remember the Phillies exhaustive search for a GM?
Turns out it was Andy MacPhails Orioles intern who was the “best” candidate.
There’s no evidence that any of the ownership had any say when Dave Montgomery ran the team. In fact, every report says the opposite was true. But ownership isn’t the same guys. Claire Betts and two of the Buck brothers have passed away since then. The Bucks’ ownership has passed on to their sons. They had no involvement with the ownership group in 2004.
Only one person in the ownership group remains from then and that’s John Middleton. He owned a much smaller share than he does now and didn’t have any influence in team affairs. There’s nothing to say he preferred Manuel or had any input.
Likewise there’s no evidence who Middleton prefers now or if he’ll have any input into the managerial hire. The man who runs Middleton’s team, Andy MacPhail, sounded like the decision to fire Mackanin was Klentak’s and not his. I’m sure he approved Klentak’s decision but he didn’t make it.
MacPhail sounded like it’ll be Klentak’s call who gets hired. If Klentak is going to go with someone he knows Wathan is a less likely choice. Jorge Velandia is a name few know but apparently he’s tight enough with Klentak to get an interview. He’s worked with Klentak in the front office and would be an extension of him in the dugout.
If Klentak goes with someone from his Angel days the choice could be Gary DiSarcina. There’s enormous fan pressure on the Phillies to get Mike Trout at some point since Trout is such a high profile Eagles fan. Klentak might be thinking it’d be nice to have a manager Trout approves of.
Sorry, but it’s been made clear that Middleton had started showcasing his power even back then. It’s been pointed out that he was the driving force behind signing Thome, so it’s likely he was involved in more of the day to day operations that just sitting back and watching.
In any case it could be a brand new method of doing business, but I don’t think we’ll ever really know. I believe Wathan will be hired regardless of who else interviews, so we won’t know whether he truly blew everyone else away and the new management liked him, or he was just the obvious choice that everyone knew was going to be the manager.
Middleton owned less than 20% of the team at the time. So he couldn’t make decisions that the other partners didn’t approve of. The partnership agreement prohibited him from interfering with team operations. Those decisions were made by Dave Montgomery. He really couldn’t assert influence until he ousted Montgomery.
I think Wathan’s a long shot. Klentak’s firing of Mackanin showed he was in charge and he has little connection to Wathan. Valendia would be my pick if it’s internal and Disarcina if it’s external. Of course Disarcina has yet to interview, so he might not be on the radar.
Oh god so now you want to hire a manager you think Trout may approve of in 4 years because then and only then would he come to the phillies? The next manager will be fired by then
Or he could ask for a trade in a week, month, or year. Trout is a free agent after 2020, however. If you hire the right manager he’ll still be managing the team in 2021.
Are you saying you don’t like wathan? My understanding is he’s pretty solid.
Not at all. I’m not saying that Wathan is a good choice or a bad choice. I’m just stating that this whole interview process is a sham, and that Wathan will be announced as the new manager in the next few weeks, probably just before the owners meetings (I believe they’re first, before the winter meetings).
this, one hundred percent. We already know that Wathan is the guy. What better choice than to have the guy who managed these guys for years? He knows them, he knows how to handle them, he can communicate with them, and anyone like a Redmond or a Samuel is just another dumpster fire waiting to happen.
I think Dino Ebel would be a good fit in Philly. Plus there’s the Angels connection between him and Klentak
Based on what???? Other than the fact they both worked for the Angels.
I’d like to see Carlos Ruiz hired as a bench coach or bullpen coach at some point when he retires. I think he’d be phenomenal for both the pitchers and catchers.
Agreed
I’d like to see him as a bullpen catcher.
Back to Utley. He would sell tickets at least immediately. He wouldn’t be the first star hired right after retiring. There is a photo from the last time he was here – with all the phillies young players. I would also make Ruiz pitching coach. Give the fans something while this poor excuse of a rebuild.
Right. Everyone goes to the park to see the manager sit on his ass. I like quail.
I’m hearing that Utley has been working with the Dodger’s young guys. I think the era of the loud mouth Earl Weaver, Dallas Green type of manager is over.
Utley is respected, is a Phillies legend and a pretty sharp guy from what I’ve heard. He’s also been a leader on the field for years and is young enough to relate to these very young players. And they’ve all watched him play and kick ass, so instant credibility. That’s unlike Sandberg who is much older. These guys never saw Sandberg play, he retired before many of them were born. Apples and oranges comparison there based on age. He most certainly has the tools to be a good manager. I don’t think he’s even being considered, but my money says he’d be as good a candidate as any being looked at.
You have some valid points. But Utley hates talking to the media. Not that it’s necessarily a requirement to be manager. But I’d imagine he’d have to do at least post-game at the very minimum. I get the sense that he wouldn’t even want to do that on a regular basis. And like someone else mentioned above, a manager is basically hired to be fired at some point. If he doesn’t succeed, the Phillies will have a PR nightmare on their hands and it could possibly tarnish Utley’s legacy with the team.
True, but the Phils could always kick him upstairs if it wasn’t going well. I envision him being a Phillies Exec at some point. Although, if he is anti-media as you say, he has 50 million reasons to go retire to his own private island. Love the guy, hope he stays engaged after he wraps it up in LA. Someone is going to snatch him up. If not us, probably the Dodgers.
True, but the Phils could kick Utley to the front office if things were not going well. I see him as an exec with them one day. If we don’t grab him soon I suspect the Dodgers will. He’s from So Cal so he might be inclined to stay there.
Ryne Sandberg played through 1997 and managed for the Phillies from 2013 to 2015. Aaron Nola was the youngest player who played for Sandberg and he was 4 years old when Sandberg retired. Michael Young was the oldest who played for him. He was 20 when Sandberg played his last game.
Unfortunately, being a respected legend who “kicked ass” aren’t necessarily the best qualities in a manager. In fact, those wouldn’t even be on my list. I want a manager who understands when and how to do the shift, when to make a pitching change and to whom, and when to sit a starting hitter. There are other qualities certainly but while a person who leads by example helps when that person is playing it doesn’t help when they’re managing.
I have no idea if Chase Utley would be a good manager because the qualities a manager needs don’t show when someone is a player. If he can explain who he’d integrate analytics into managing he should get an interview.
I was referring to a guy like Sandberg managing this current young team. I don’t think they’d relate to him like they would to Utley. The Sandberg Phillies team was filled with guys on the wrong side of their career peak. He walked into a losing situation with that team.
Two audiences your trying to appease with this hire, players and fans. He’d work well for both.
Analytics tend to come from the stat geeks in the front office and I’d certainly hope after playing the length of time Utley has at a his level of excellence he’d have a good feel for pitchers, etc.
I’m mainly looking at the qualities one might look for in a leader. E.g. Track record of excellence, leads by example, intelligent, experienced, commands respect, etc. It would sure seem he exemplifies all of these qualities. It’s subjective, but I think he’d be a great fit.
Larry Bowa should be the only choice – he literally personifies Phillies baseball!!!
Old, tired, can’t get along with anyone baseball.
Mickey Callaway has done great with the Tribe pitching staff, but I don’t believe he will make a good fit at manager.
I’m going to give you a big dark house candidate, why not Jim Thome.
Because big Jim doesn’t want it. He can play dad to his kids and make a couple bucks popping into the studio every so often, no need for he headaches of being a manager.
Years ago the players retired and wanted to stay involved in the game because they didn’t make a fortune and that’s all they knew. These guys now make enough money the generations behind them will live comfortably.
Being groomed for the White Sox by the owner.
Chili Davis
Lenny Dykstra wanted to manage before he got into investment advice.
Philly loves Nails.
I know it would never happen, but would love to see Ron Washington.
Sandy Alomar Jr. should get a chance, he’ll make a great manager.
Juan Samuel would be a really good manager.
Only he won’t be able to get runners thrown out at the plate from the dugout.
What’s John Felske up to?
I hope Kapler gets a shot somewhere. I am not sure what sets Phil Nevin apart from the other managerial candidates, aside from having 7 team jerseys?
I think Kapler could be a good young manager to grow with this core. Would make a lot of sense as the Phillies move towards a heavy analytics influence
They need to update this.
Ask for a refund.
Please don’t take Gabe away from us!
“USA Today’s Bob Nightengale tweets that Phil Nevin is no longer in the running after interviewing recently.”
I’m guessing Nevin threw another temper tantrum to ruin his chances.
No interview for Anthony Scaramucci?
The Mooch!
Best choices are Wathan or Kapler. I think Kapler has the higher upside for the team though
why don’t they just sign Samuel already
No chance; he’s a fossil whose chances are behind him. He should have embraced analytics much earlier, even though he still doesn’t understand them now.
Honestly I think the Phillies just need a tee-ball coach. Good grief. Or hire the hotdog guy from the stands or even the batboy for crying out loud. Looks like there is nobody that wants to coach for that team. He’ll ask Pete Rose
Just another Ryne Sandberg. BUST
Gee, I hate to quote myself, but:
“Matt Klentak was an intern in Baltimore, hired by Andy MacPhail.
Remember the Phillies exhaustive search for a GM?
Turns out it was Andy MacPhail’s Orioles intern who was the “best” candidate.”
The Phillies are a fraud, among other things even more unsavory.
Stop please. I’m begging you
Phillies seem to be lagging behind the other rebuilding team, the firing and hiring of their managers is just magnifying this.
Absolutely right. This has to be the clunkiest rebuild I’ve ever seen. Gives the appearance that the organization can’t decide on a direction for itself. Usually when a manager is fired 4 months after he’s given an extension it’s because someone else has come available that they really want (see Cubs/Rich Renteria/Joe Maddon), but that doesn’t seem to be the case. It’s like they told Mackanin, “We don’t know who we want, but it’s not you.”
Isn’t that the way it is with most teams when they fire the manager? Doesn’t it make sense to cast as wide a net as possible and open up possibilities?
Mackanin didn’t get an extension. The Phillies exercised the 2018 option in his contract. When the Phillies hired Mackanin they gave him a one year contract with an option. I’ve never heard of a manager having his first contract be for only one year before. Even the Nationals gave Baker two years.
In 2016 they didn’t give him an extension. They exercised the option and gave him another option. From the beginning Matt Klentak was telling Mackanin that he was only around temporarily. That was always the message.
Exercising the option was smart. The Phillies didn’t want any controversy about the manager overshadowing the season and got none.
Let the AP know he wasn’t extended.
“PHILADELPHIA — The Phillies have extended manager Pete Mackanin’s contract through next season with a club option for 2019.
Mackanin is 121-161 since replacing Ryne Sandberg on June 26, 2015. He was in the final year of a contract before signing a new, two-year deal on Thursday.”
No matter though. He ain’t managing anymore.
Who cares what the AP writes? Mackanin had an option for 2018 and the the Phillies exercised it. They added a 2019 option. If you want to call that an extension call it an extension. They obviously didn’t exercise it.
Discussing whether it’s an option or extension is irrelevant to the point that they only guaranteed one additional season. When other teams sign their managers to extensions it’s for multiple seasons. Mackanin not getting more than one season was a sign they intended to fire him.
MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki reporting the Phillies are meeting with John Farrell today. Dusty Wathan might want to wait on printing those business cards.
Zolecki reports that while the team is still interviewing new candidates that it may come down to Wathan and Kapler.
Watham came up with many of these players and has had success with them in the minors. He led the Lehigh Valley IronPigs to the International League Playoffs despite having over half his roster called up to Philadelphia. He knows how to get the best out of the young players that the Phillies have. That has a lot to do why he is a leading candidate for the Phillies job
And just where did the Phillies come up with these two? Come on now y’all could a lot better. Go out and Hire a college or high school coach. Or atleast Ron Washington
Kapler is a analytical genius, and Wathan knows the entire roster already.
Wathan coaches the current roster silly
Will be interesting to see how long it takes Matt Klentak to call Joe Girardi if he hasn’t already.
Your paragraph about Kapler taking the director of player development role AFTER missing out on the managerial role is incorrect. Kapler began his role of director of player development for the Dodgers at the start of the 2015 season. I know bc he was one of my bosses.
If Kapler doesn’t get it, hopefully they hire him as a strength and conditioning coordinator. Dude is ripped. If he gets some players back in shape, the Phils could surprise in 2018.
Trim the fats and wake up the bats.
Please hire Girardi don’t let the Nats get him.
Everyone can feel the Phillies sudden rushed announcement coming today to end the outcry from the fan base to hire Joe Girardi. If it isn’t today then prepare for the odd weekend announcement during the Series.