What if this line of "B" list managerial prospects is nothing more than a smoke-screen by the Red Sox front office?What if, right now, behind closed doors somewhere, Larry Lucchino is on the phone with Tony LaRussa or Joe Torre, trying to convince them that they are the right candidate for the vacant Red Sox job?
What if the first round of interviews was nothing more than pandering, trying to buy time to work a deal with one of these two coaching legends?
Listening to the radio on the way home today I heard these possibilities being tossed around, and it made me curious. Both men have the cache' to want their names kept private in the event that neither landed the position. Torre, being under contract with Major League Baseball, has a bit more at stake than LaRussa, whom is currently retired.
What this would mean for the Red Sox is a bit complicated. First, it would tell you that Ben Cherington is really just a face. He wields no actual power and Larry Lucchino is pulling all of the strings behind the scenes. Why else would he allow Cherington to go through the charade of interviewing candidates for the position that nobody seems all too excited about?
What if the Sox are on the phone with Toronto, offering up Will Middlebrooks and Anthony Ranaudo so that they could offer the managerial job to John Farrell?
I am having a hard time believing that the finalists for the Red Sox managerial job are: Torey Lovullo, Sandy Alomar and Gene Lamont with the outside possibility of Bobby Valentine. I'm not buying it. Something is going on behind the curtain.
I can certainly understand discretion in the selection. The problem is, if any of these conspiracy theories prove correct, what does that tell us about Ben Cherington's role with the team?
I doubt they would give up that much!!! He is a free agent next year. Maybe hire a older manager for one year?? I could see that. But with this ownership ..who knows???
ReplyDeleteAny "talk show expert" who explores these two as candidates is blowing smoke.
ReplyDeleteTony LaRussa - 67 years old. He just retired. Tony just took a team from the doldrums to the championship. He retired on top. Money is not an issue, nor is it an attractant. Sure-fire Hall of Famer. He's not available. GET OVER IT.
Joe Torre - 71 years old. Accomplished all he can accomplish with the Yankees. After a foray with the Dodgers, he's now working as an executive with MLB. He is also regarded as the prime candidate for MLB commissioner. Money is not a factor, and is not an attractant. Also, sure-fire Hall of Famer. He, too is not available as a manager.
GET OVER IT.