With several GM and manager positions opening up at the end of the season, teams have begun identifying potential candidates. Let's take a look at who is generating interest..
- The Marlins will not allow the Mets to interview Jennings, a source tells MLB.com's Anthony Dicomo.
- Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com (via Twitter) hears that Marlins assistant GM Dan Jennings is still in the running for the Mets GM job. Earlier today it was reported that the Mets had asked for permission to talk to Jennings and fellow Marlins execs Larry Beinfest and Mike Hill but are likely to be denied. However, Crasnick tweets that Jennings does not need Florida's permission to interview with several clubs and the Mets are on his list.
- Juan Samuel is getting plenty of attention from teams, writes Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun. The former O's interim skipper will "likely interview" for the vacancies in Pittsburgh and Seattle. After Baltimore fired manager Dave Trembley, Samuel led the squad to a 17-34 mark. Samuel could also interview in Toronto as he is close with several members of the Blue Jays organization, including Cito Gaston.
- Speaking of the Blue Jays, former Toronto manager John Gibbons could wind up in Seattle. Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun tweets that the Mariners have asked for and received permission to interview him from the Royals where he is presently the bench coach. The 48-year-old had an even .500 record with Toronto, leading them to a 305-305 record from 2004 through 2008.
Marlins players and fans should be really happy that they have two of Baseball’s smartest personnel in Michael Hill and Larry Beinfest.
Too bad they have one of Baseball’s cheapest and douchiest owners in Jeffrey Loria…
Yeah I know isn’t that ironic? Two of Baseball’s smartest guys are working for the Mr. Burns of Baseball.
That’s not ironic at all.
How is that not ironic?
It’s not a reversal of expectations. It’d be ironic if they left a team with a really stupid owner citing the fact that they left specifically because the owner was too dumb, and then joined another team, only for that team to be bought out by an even dumber owner.
It’s totally ironic, like rain on a wedding day or a free ride when you’re already there.
Why would he spend money when people in Florida don’t like baseball. Smartest thing the rays and marlins owners could do is move their teams.
I hadn’t really thought about John Gibbons as a candidate for the Mariners. They will be looking for someone with experience at a reasonable price for the rebuilding 2011 season. I’m looking forward to interest in Willie Randolph, Bobby Valentine, Eric Wedge, and possibly Joey Cora (Would be nice!).
I actually thought John Gibbons did a good job with Jays. He knows how to use the bullpen and he doesn’t take crap from players i.e Lily and Hillennbrand(sp?).
I would like to see him get a chance without Riccardi sitting above him sometimes pulling his strings.
I would be really interested in what Tim Wallach and Ryan Sandberg good bring to the Jays game. Sandberg but also be a good mentor for a guy like Hill
Juan Samuel is an intriguing choice for a manager. He really gets the respect of his clubhouse. It’s very obvious by how excited his players get playing for him. He was not only a player in the majors, but he was an excellent one. If you were a baseball fan in Philly of a certain era, Samuel is huge.
growing up I HATED JUAN SAMUEL with a passion, and to me that trade was the beginning of the end for the mets best era. lenny was my favorite met. but his maverick style didnt jive too well with certain people that wanted the “family experience” at Shea. ( hence the reason why Cone was traded too. )
growing up I HATED JUAN SAMUEL with a passion, and to me that trade was the beginning of the end for the mets best era. lenny was my favorite met. but his maverick style didnt jive too well with certain people that wanted the “family experience” at Shea. ( hence the reason why Cone was traded too. )
I’m hoping the M’s are possibly interviewing Gibbons and Samuel as a way to drive the price down on their more realistic candidates (Valentine, Randolph, Wedge, Simmons.) Otherwise, we won’t see a winner here anytime soon. Neither Gibbons nor Samuel would be good for a rebuilding team; they couldn’t work anything with Toronto or Baltimore, respectively. Valentine, Randolph or Wedge would push the young players to their potential, and Simmons is a no-nonsense guy too. They’ll interview Cora out of respect for what he did here, but he shouldn’t be a legit candidate. I just don’t want to see the names Ken Macha, Jerry Manuel or John Russell on their lists. There’s something to be said for previous MLB managerial experience, but not for retreads like those guys.
Let the names fly. Obviously HAS to be a guy with experience (preferably postseason experience). Bobby V’s a no brainer. Alls I know is no first timers. Potential candidates have be good with young players. So the names that I’ve heard bandied about so far.
-Macha
-Russell
-Valentine
-Randolph
-Wedge
-Samuel
-Simmons
-Gibbons
-Brenly
-Farrell
Keep in mind not all of these names are just for the seattle vacancy. Who else is out there?
Bob Melvin
Samuel is a good spark for any team.
The problem only is his expierence but he should do fine
Gibbons had a .500 recored in about 1,000 games. In a division with the yankees, red sox and Rays thats pretty good. He wouldnt be my first choice as a GM, but wouldnt be a bad backup plan
610 games, 490 games away from 1000 but yea, I guess it’s decent. Rays weren’t that good until 08′. Wasn’t the biggest fan of Gibbons during his time as the Jays manager, would like to see how another team does with him as manager. Maybe it’s cuz he tried to fight his own players! I loved Ted Lilly..
610 games, 490 games away from 1000 but yea, I guess it’s decent. Rays weren’t that good until 08′. Wasn’t the biggest fan of Gibbons during his time as the Jays manager, would like to see how another team does with him as manager. Maybe it’s cuz he tried to fight his own players! I loved Ted Lilly..
610 games isn’t about 1000. There were some serious clubhouse problems when Gibbons was with the Jays (Shea Hillenbrand, Ted Lilly to name a couple of the more prominent ones), so I’d be wary of him. It could have been the players’ egos though because anytime I’ve heard him talk he doesn’t sound like too big of a douche. Either way I’d make sure he can keep a clubhouse together first
610 games isn’t about 1000. There were some serious clubhouse problems when Gibbons was with the Jays (Shea Hillenbrand, Ted Lilly to name a couple of the more prominent ones), so I’d be wary of him. It could have been the players’ egos though because anytime I’ve heard him talk he doesn’t sound like too big of a douche. Either way I’d make sure he can keep a clubhouse together first
Not a Brewer’s fan and this has nothing to do with this thread, but for those who care, Bob Brenly is close to becoming the Brewers manager.
your right guys i misread the numbers.. still 600 games with a .500 recored in the east isnt bad
Out of curiosity, I was looking at player-managers and of course the last one was Pete Rose. I just wonder if there is any current player that would qualify for the role these days? I doesn’t even have to be a superstar, it could be someone like John McDonald, a glove off the bench.
Guys like Doug Mientkiewicz would be right for that role, but I think his playing career is over–there was always talk about Paul Molitor taking the duel role at the end of his career, but he never accepted it. Some oldtimers like Lou Boudreau and Bucky Harris had success in that capacity but the general thought is that once a guy becomes player/manager, his game-playing stats suffer. Ty Cobb spent a great deal of time in his biography lamenting the fact that he accepted the duel responsibility with Detroit.
Some current players who have plenty of respect in their clubhouse are Derrek Lee, Geoff Blum and Brad Ausmus–all guys nearing the end of the line. I can see this trio getting managerial nods in ten to twelve years when they’ll be the Listachs, Sandbergs, Wallachs and Readys: guys itching for their first managerial job.