WHAT IF: Torre & LaRussa ARE Being Interviewed For The Sox Gig?

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?

Cherington Has Proven Me Wrong

Ben Cherington has proven me wrong in regards to the Boston Red Sox managerial search. Back on October 29th I posted a blog predicting Dave Martinez of the Tampa Bay Rays would take over the reigns in Boston, becoming the Red Sox 42nd manager in club history. It seemed like a solid choice at the time.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and this morning on the Remy Report, Jerry linked to an article posted on ESPN Boston stating that Ben Cherington was quoted as saying "I wouldn't rule out adding another person, but there are no plans to." This was in response to the 5 managerial candidates that the Red Sox are interviewing for the position: Pete Mackanin, Dale Sveum, Sandy Alomar Jr., Torey Lovullo and Gene Lamont.

In my original piece I had written off Sveum as being not "high profile" enough, while I stated that according to information posted by Buster Olney, Torey Lovullo appeared to be staying put in Toronto. Sandy Alomar was number 2 on my list while Pete Mackanin was number 4. Gene Lamont was not even on my radar, which says something considering I listed a total of 17 names that were heavily rumored to be "in" on the position.

Of the remaining five candidates my prediction world has been rocked upside down. I still maintain that I do not find Mackanin or Alomar (as much as I like him) to be the man for the job. Gene Lamont would probably have to fall into the 5 spot for me, considering my lack of consideration beforehand. Dale Sveum does not come across to me as the type of manager that would be able to walk into the Red Sox organization and steer this ship. I do think he would make for a fine manager of the Chicago Cubs.

That leaves Torey Lovullo, a man I had written off because of what appears to have been a bad tip. Why does he appear to be the best fit for this team? First of all, he has been in the Red Sox organization, formerly managing the Pawtucket Red Sox. He is well aware of the expectations fans in Boston have of their team. Secondly, he is an 8-year veteran of Major League Baseball, playing 8 seasons between 1988 and 1999. Third, he is only 46 years old. He is young enough to relate to this team.

Lovullo has been coaching for 10 years, breaking in with the Cleveland Indians organization back in 2001. He has been widely considered a rising star in the managerial ranks, doing a fine job everywhere he has been. Lovullo comes across as a man that can handle the pressure in Boston and be able to handle some pretty significant egos in the process.

So, Ben Cherington you proved me wrong. Dave Martinez is not the next manager of the Boston Red Sox; Torey Lovullo is. That is my final answer and I am sticking to it.