With the World Series now over, at 12:01am tomorrow, the Hot Stove season officially begins. While many people will be speculating on what players will sign where, I want to take a more concerted approach at the vacancy in Boston. The one with pretty big shoes left to fill.
There have been dozens of names floated around regarding the next manager for the Boston Red Sox. What I wanted to do was take a look at all of them and quickly write off a few, then examine my top 5 candidates for the position.
Having said that, really easily here - Joe Torre and Bobby Valentine are not going to be the next manager. Torre has far too cushy of a job working for MLB and Valentine both has a great gig going for ESPN, but also would not fit in with the Sox mentality. There are three more candidates that are pretty easy to write off as well, Bud Black, manager of the Padres, Eric Wedge, manager of the Mariners and finally Brad Mills, manager of the Astros. All of them are already managing ball clubs and it is highly unlikely that their respective ownerships would allow them lateral moves.
Now, after that list comes the herd of solid leaders, but guys that would not fit properly for Boston. First - Demarlo Hale - Red Sox bench coach. I think it is fairly obvious that the brass is moving away from the management team that was in place here. Though Hale is an excellent coach, his name is tied to all of the drama and the collapse of the 2011 team. He very well may be a manager some day, just not in Boston.
Torey Luvollo, the first base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays has been the hot rumor this week. The problem is, Buster Olney has reported that his sources indicate Luvollo is not going anywhere. I trust Olney. I think he knows what he's talking about and really, the only manager the Sox wanted from the Jays was John Farrell - and that door was slammed shut.
Dale Sveum, the Brewers hitting coach, Tim Walloch, the Dodgers 3rd base coach, Joey Cora, the Marlins bench coach, Don Wakamatsu, the Blue Jays bench coach and Trey Hillman, the Dodgers bench coach all suffer from the same issue - none of them are a "high profile" candidate. What I mean by that is, though they have all either played the game or have been in baseball for quite some time, they just all seem to lack that special something that a manager needs here in Boston.
When I think of a successful coach in Boston, especially on the heels of the September to forget, I think that the Sox need a manager who is either a player/manager - someone of elite playing status in his day OR perhaps a coach that has presence about them. Here are my top 5 candidates, in descending order.
5) Mike Maddux/Texas Rangers Pitching Coach
Aside from being the older brother of the great Greg Maddux, Mike Maddux spent 15 seasons in Major League Baseball, two of which were spent in Boston. It is worth noting that his only post season playing experience came while in Boston in 1995. What Maddux brings is his pitching knowledge and discipline, which clearly has been working in Texas. They just keep churning out great pitcher after great pitcher. Maddux has been to the World Series with the Rangers two years running now and seems to have great composure, I just worry about how his demeanor would fare in Boston.
4)Pete Mackanin/Philadelphia Phillies Bench Coach
Mackanin's name has been floating around since the day Terry Francona rode out of town. Mackanin has the experience of dealing with egos as well as great pitchers in a high profile sports town like Philadelphia. The problem I see with him is his age. I hate to say that, but I do think its true. He is the oldest candidate being mentioned. That can work for him, garnering instant respect, or against him. I think he is an excellent coach - I just don't have that feeling about him. I know it isn't a very good explanation, but its what I've got to go on, my gut.
3) Ryne Sandberg/Philadelphia Phillies Triple A Manager
Sandberg is my personal favorite horse in this race. However, I think that Theo Epstein would be stupid not to bring Sandberg back to Chicago and win the fans over instantly. The fans already look to Theo as their savior, what better way to earn him instant credibility than to bring a Cub legend in to be the face of this new generation of Chicago Cubs?
2) Sandy Alomar, Jr./Cleveland Indians First Base Coach
Alomar lost out the managerial job with the Blue Jays to John Farrell. He has been coaching ever since his 20 year career ended in 2007 with the New York Mets. The man is a multiple time all-star and borderline Hall of Fame catcher. He has a high baseball IQ and knows pitchers. I love the idea of having Alomar come in here and taking the reigns. I think the players would respond to him immediately.
1) Dave Martinez/Tampa Bay Rays Bench Coach
This job is Martinez's to lose. Would the Red Sox love to have Joe Madden here? Absolutely. That isn't happening, so why not go after Madden's protege? Martinez spent 15 years playing in the big leagues, but more importantly, he has spent 4 seasons (since 2007) learning the Joe Madden brand of baseball in Tampa Bay - something that John Henry would love to see in Boston, for sure.
Dave Martinez is exactly what Boston needs right now. He is young, sure footed and has been around baseball for a long time. He can relate to the players on this roster and lead them as he has learned to under the tutelage of Joe Madden, a manager many consider to be the best in the game today.
Okay, I usually don't react to baseball news on a dime, but I have come across a couple of things tonight while trolling Twitter that has prompted me to react. First of which being the fact that, according to ESPN Chicago as well as several other sources, new President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs Theo Epstein gave a "courtesy" call to Ryne Sandberg today to inform him that he was NOT a candidate for the Cubs vacant managerial position.
