The White Sox acquired one Martinez (Osvaldo) this week as compensation when the Marlins hired manager Ozzie Guillen. Now they're eyeing another one to replace Ozzie on the bench. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, Rays bench coach Dave Martinez is at the top of Chicago's managerial wish list.
The White Sox also like Yankees bench coach Tony Pena for the job, Rosenthal continues. However, Martinez is the team's number one choice at the moment. Martinez's Rays and Pena's Yankees are both still alive in the playoffs, so the Sox wouldn't be able to approach either coach yet.
Rosenthal hears from another source that Terry Francona's availability hasn't affected Chicago's search, and that the Sox remain focused on their original list of candidates. For more of today's rumors on Francona and the Red Sox, click here.
What’s the deal with Dave Martinez? I don’t know much about him, but he sounds like a very popular target right now.
He is Joe Maddon’s right hand man so teams would be hiring him hoping that he learned what makes Joe such a good manager and is able to apply it in other places.
I see. Maybe Boston should take a hard look at him also. I agree with Tito though, Hale deserves a good look first.
Reinsdorf is a joke if he doesn’t at least talk to Francona…he loves to take the cheap way out.
Yep. Adam Dunn’s contract really exemplifies that. And Konerko’s
Wow two contracts…He didn’t even allow the Sox to carry high payroll until after 05 and he has owned the team since the 1980s
And Peavy’s, and Buehrle’s and Alex Rios….a new manager will need to motivate the Club house after 2 years of Ozzie mailing it in ( at best) or intentionally hurting the team via his awful lineup selection to get back at KW. Who would be best to do that? That’s the question that will need to be addressed.
I agree about Ozzie being the main issue…I don’t necessarily care if they don’t hire Francona but I think they need to at least consider him..they can backload his contract if need be and Francona isn’t an overly greedy guy…I think we have the pieces to win now if they get the starting roation settled and Dunn/Rios straightened out so I’m inclined to get a veteran manger.
I think they’ll obviously consider him, given his history with the club and Jerry. Remember, this is how Kenny Williams operates- he’s going to keep it close to the vest. The fact that they did say publicly that Francona’s leaving does not not alter their plans leads me to believe that they are working something on this. Kenny would like, I think, one last dig at Ozzie, and this would be it.
You are spot on about Kenny he loves to throw the media off the trail..I remember last year he said we had no more money and he went out and signed Crain to a 12 million dollar deal.
You mean that Reinsdorf that was so cheap that as owner of the Bulls he penny pinched them to 6 championships? Or the one who spent 120 million on payroll this year for the White Sox? He spent big, and he lost big this year. Things like Buehrle’s FA and Tito’s expected salary are big things for a team that way overspent this year.
Jerry’s not the problem here. There are plenty of others to point fingers at. One of them now lives in Miami
There have been plenty of years where Reinsdorf has penny pinched with the Sox payroll, he kept the payroll artificially low for years and he was dumb to let Jerry Krause breakup the Bulls and run Phil Jackson out of time
Actually no he doesn’t. He has not been cheap with the Bulls or the Sox. I think the notion that he is “cheap” has more to do with the sound of his last name more than anything else.
I am sure they are going to talk to Francona, its Kenny Williams we are talking about, he never lets people know what he is planning.
Weird…that’s not how you spell “Terry Francona”
Who ever ends up manager, bench coach or hitting coach (??) at least it’s a change and the players hopefuly react better. As far as my choice Francona is my dream manager but it’s ultimately up to the players……
The Players should never have a choice on who the manager is, most baseball players are not the sharpest tools in the shed I don’t want them making personnel decisions.
I think if Francona’s available, they will take a serious look at him. Remember he started managing in the Chisox system ( he was Michael Jordan’s manager in Birmingham) and he has a good relationship with Jerry. Francona would be the anti Ozzie in the club house, something sorely needed.
The real concern is money. The Sox spent way too much last year and Buehrle’s free agency needs to be dealt with. Remember, this kind of plays with KW’s MO-feigning disinterest and sign him out of the blue.
very true…I hope you are right
Honestly I rather hire a top flight manager than spend money on some aging veteran who is on the downside of his career
Francona is the best manager available. He should be given an interview. If the White Sox do not give him a chance they are screwing up BIGTIME.
Isn’t that the guy who slept with Mrs. Ryne Sandberg?
yup
could be interesting if Ryno ever manages the Cubs
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I’d love to see Dave Martinez hire Ryne Sandberg as his bench coach with the White Sox….that’d be REAL interesting. Wonder if they are on speaking terms?