The Blue Jays, Marlins, Pirates, Brewers and Mets are still looking for managers. Here's the latest, with more updates to come throughout the evening:
Pirates
Former Brewers skipper Ken Macha told Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe (via Twitter) that he is no longer in the running for the Pirates job.
Mets
Josh Byrnes and Sandy Alderson, the two finalists for the Mets GM job, both submitted lists of four or five managerial candidates in their initial interviews, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Both lists included Mets Class A manager Wally Backman, according to sources.
Blue Jays
Update: DeMarlo Hale has been told he is no longer in the running for the job, according to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com (on Twitter). That means it's down to John Farrell and Brian Butterfield.
Peter Gammons said on WEEI that the Blue Jays may decide on their next manager by tonight. Alex Anthopoulos leans toward DeMarlo Hale and assistant GM Tony LaCava and others lean toward John Farrell, according to Gammons.
Farrell, the Red Sox pitching coach, is the favorite to manage, but Hale, the Boston bench coach is still in the running. One person not being considered: Sandy Alomar Jr. The former catcher was one of four finalists for the job, but he won't be getting it, according to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com (on Twitter). That leaves Farrell, Hale and Blue Jays third base coach Brian Butterfield.
Kind of wanted Butterfield to get the job when I heard he was candidate. And I think the Blue Jays pitching coach did a good job anyway
It’s gonna be pretty funny if Butters ends up getting it after that huge manager hunt
This is copied from my post yesterday.. im to lazy to re type but its worth the read…
I heard a great explanation of why butterfield can’t be the big boss
In his time in Toronto, players loved him, he was their big brother not their coach, everyone called him butter, and he had a great relationships with players
to come in to camp next year as the dad and not the big brother is a diff story. Having to change the angle of respect, going from being the guy that the players talked to when they were upset they’re not playing, to the guy actually sitting them down is a drastic change that is best suited to be done in a new place.
It was a good enough reason for me, but sad to see him go for sur
Not surprising Alomar is out of it, since he’s only has one year of any coaching experience.
Not entirely true. While he was listed as only a bullpen catcher/instructor, he pretty much was a coach in NY.
His job in Cleveland is not much different. Instead of sitting in the bullpen the whole game, he sits in the dugout for half the game and stands at 1B for the other half making sure players understand the signs the 3B coach is giving. lol
But at the end of the day, he’s a catching instructor for both clubs. This is why the Mets tried hard to keep Alomar around last year.
Do agree, never saw Alomar as a managerial candidate already. The shear fact he was even a candidate let alone made it this far in the process truely shocks me.
If Farrel, Hale or Butterfield get the job I hope they try and pursue Sandy Jr. as a coach
Why would Alomar leave Cleveland to go to Toronto if he doesn’t get the managerial job? That makes no sense.
Personally, I think it’s sad that Alomar has even made it this far. He’s never been a manager and he’s in the final three? Give me a break.
Go, go Butterfield!
I don’t believe any of this. How does this knob know? AA is notorious for keeping things close to the vest, so who’s spilling the beans. Naturally, that’s what they don’t tell you.
I’ll wait to hear it from the Blue Jays’ front office.
I’m pretty sure AA isn’t being a dictator here. While he does have final say, he’s not the only one with input so that’s likely where this info is coming from. AA isn’t the only guy in the room for these talks and interviews.
So you’re saying that someone on his staff is leaking this stuff? No doubt others have input into the decision (LaCava, for instance, is probably the Farrell advocate that Law says is in the Jays front office, since he worked with (or for) him in Cleveland), but AA makes the rules and the rules say “no talking.” So if there’s been talking, then I doubt AA is happy about it.
Personally, I think these guys (Gammons included) just speculate and publish their speculations as fact.
Not saying someone on the staff is leaking the info. Could be an assistant, or heck eevn a college intern (you’d be suprised what some of them can hear).
Leaks are inevitable in MLB. Heck, the CIA can’t prevent them.
Gammons’ spidey senses were tingling.
You guys think that it is only AA that has all of the knowledge into who the next GM is going to be. You think GM’s micromanage their teams? There must tens of people working with and under AA with the same idea of what direction he is going. Why do you think things leak out so easily. Gammons and other reporters could easily know the gist of what is happening. LMAO you guys think it is one dictator with all of the answers and secrets..omg
Bingo.
Man I’ll be happy when all the “LMAO”, “OMG” and “LOL” comments finally die out.
So yet another recycled Gammons rumour.
Why is it that nothing is coming out of Toronto? Can’t put much stock in Twitters out of Boston.
Nothing is coming out of Toronto because no one pays any attention to Canada :P
ha, j/k
I think we’re not hearing much over here because AA is keeping exceptionally quiet. I think the only time we will hear anything is when a decision has been made by the club.
Will they just please hire someone already !
I prefer that they’re taking the time to really find the right fit, unlike some of the other clubs. That being said, I’m eager to hear who it’ll be.
I hope somebody told Alderson they tried the Art Howe thing already…
Um, I think you mean Josh Byrnes although I’m sure Eric would make a fine GM or mascot.
Oh, good. I’m not crazy. I read Eric, too. Then refreshed the page and it was corrected to Josh. Thought that would be a rather quick ascension for Eric Byrnes.
I’m so sick of this Wally Backman talk. Ryne Sandberg, a Hall of Famer, spent 4 years working his way up managing in the minors. Yet Backman thinks one year with a Class A team is enough to get him a ML position. Give me a break. Not to mention he’d be a yes-man to management, would have a mutiny in the clubhouse by August, and only has some fan support because of ’86 nostalgia.
Backman was qualified enough to manage a big league club……all the way back in 2004. Obviously he cost himself his chance back then, and he’s had to slowly work his way back and rehabilitate his image since then, but lets not act like he’s not qualified.
Backman has also worked his way through the minors and the Independent Leagues to get back to the majors.
2002 Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox double A Southern League affiliate) to a 79–61 record.
2004 he led the Lancaster Jethawks, the Arizona Diamondbacks High A team, to an 86–54 record and was named Sporting News “Minor League Manager of the Year”.
Began his managerial comeback with the South Georgia Peanuts of the independent South Coast League. The Peanuts won their league with a 59–28 record.
2008 Joliet JackHammers
2010 Brooklyn Cyclones leading them to a league-best 51-24 record, winning the McNamara Division of the New York Penn League by 12 games
He has won everywhere but Joliet and managed for 5 years in the minors. Sandberg is qualified and so is Backman. Wally gets the mention more in connection with the Mets because he was a former player for them but personally I would not have a problem with either of them.
I wonder if Byrnes or Alderson considered Ryne Sandberg as a managerial candidate. I’d LOVE to see Ryno manage the Mets. Forget Backman. He ain’t ready to take the reins of being manager in the big leagues. Maybe down the line, but not now. I wonder why the Cubs didn’t take a chance on Sandberg.
Not surprised about macha, I think I’m right about Bannister or Sveum.
Shouldn’t Pittsburgh as city hire new Owners for the team before they hire a Manager?
Man I’m funny.
Maybe, but owners can’t be fired. If it was possible, the Wilpons would be LONG gone from the Mets.
I think Tony Pena should be the favorite to get the Pirates job. Hopefully, he keeps pitching coach Ray Searage. He seems to be the only guy capable of turning Charlie Morton around.
Don Long NEEDS to go.
Now that the Yankees are out of the playoffs (always a pleasant sight!), the Pirates are free to interview (and hopefully hire) Tony Pena for their managerial vacancy. Make it happen, Neal!