The Cardinals will interview fewer than ten candidates for their managerial opening and they’re hoping for resolution within ten days, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Here are the details on who will be competing with Ryne Sandberg for the position…
- Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona, Cardinals third base coach Jose Oquendo, Triple-A Memphis manager Chris Maloney, former Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny and White Sox coach Joe McEwing are candidates for the position, Strauss reports.
- The Cardinals haven’t requested permission to interview Rays manager Joe Maddon or bench coach Dave Martinez, according to Strauss.
- The interviews for Tony La Russa’s successor begin on Thursday.
Matheny’s in on this? Damn, he’s awesome and all, but has he been coaching at all since he retired? I don’t think it would be a great idea to take someone in who doesn’t have any experience whatsoever. Francona is a interesting option as well, but ultimately, the job will probably go to Oquendo.
I always wanted Matheny to be the next pitching coach
Getting Maddon would be freaking awesome, but doubt that will happen!
No RYNO on this list now??? im fine with it
“The Cardinals will interview fewer than ten candidates for their managerial opening and they’re hoping for resolution within ten days, according to Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Here are the details on who will be competing with Ryne Sandberg for the position…”
MLBTR Kinda makes it sounds like Ryno is the favorite?
“Here are the details on who will be competing with Ryne Sandberg for the position…”
GENIUS
WOW
TITO?!
Francona.
I don’t think I’m the only one who was hoping to see Pop Warner’s name on this list.
Yes.
“No. No chance.”
link to news-leader.com
I don’t know if it’s a good thing or not that there was some interview with David Eckstein that basically implied that Pujols is only a lock to come back to St. Louis if Oquendo gets the gig. If those are the choices, I think Oquendo would probably be the best of the bunch, but I have a strong feeling St. Louis management is gonna want an experienced guy in the majors if they expect to compete in the next couple seasons rather than let a guy figure out how to be the boss at the big league level…
Oquendo managed the Dominican Republic team (including a lot of Major Leagers) in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. Does that count?
Not really, same way being a superstar in Japan doesn’t mean you’re going to be a superstar in MLB or demolishing the Arizona Fall League doesn’t save you from washing out as a highly regarded prospect.
I’m not saying I wouldn’t be thrilled for Oquendo to be the guy in charge, I’m just thinking that management isn’t going to go that route.
Rather have Maddon than any of these guys. My top three would be Maddon, Tito, and Oquendo. I feel those are all safe choices (yes, even Oquendo — he knows the team pretty damn well) and worth the effort of pursuit.
Maddon said he’s not leaving the Rays. And I don’t see why he would leave Tampa for the Cards anyway.
Possibly because St. Louis is a storied franchise coming off a World Series win, about to add a 20 game winning pitcher? Hmmm…
Arriving at the helm of a mostly disastrous Tampa franchise where you were able to watch young players develop into stars and lead them to a pennant is a much better story IMO. He seems like a guy that would rather write the “story” than join it later, and the Rays are quite a story.
He’s probably not leaving, but if Albert Pujols comes back St Louis is the most desirable place to manage in baseball the team is set to win for the next several years. Also Maddon was a cardinals fan growing up.
Still Maddon is very happy where he is, and he doesn’t sound like the type of guy who would jump ship like that.
may be the most desirable job… but that’s a double-edged sword
high expectations, no room for failure etc…
that said, Francona or Oquendo would be fine. Francona has the experience with high expectations; Oquendo knows the players and the organization.
There was an interview with him a few years back where he talked about the Cardinals being his dream job. He’s been a Cardinals fan since his father took him to a World Series game when he was a kid (interestingly, the Cardinals were not playing in that World Series).
It’s just gotta be Ocquendo. Why change the culture of a world series club?
Also, while Francona has an impressive resume and the events in boston were certainly not mostly his fault, it has to be acknowledged that it happened under his watch. I would want to make sure that all of the personal problems that he suffered from have been resolved.
On the other hand, the cards have had a hall of fame manager for 31 years straight, adding Tito to that list would likely extend that impressive streak.
And losing Pujols to free agency wouldn’t be changing the culture of a world series club? I think the Cards are going to be a very different team next year. I do like Oquendo for the job though for that reason!
It’s extremely unlikely that Pujols leaves the cardinals. It’s definitely possible, but I just don’t see the possible suitor who can give Pujols everything he needs to leave the cardinals.
It’s Francona’s job if he wants it.
Incorrect. Francona has a lot of bad press on him right now as stated above. Even though he didn’t “hand the guys beers”, it still happened under his management. Francona would be a GREAT fit, but he’s no shoe-in if he wants it. It’s hard to turn down Oquendo when he’s been with the club over 20 years.
I say F it, bring Cox outta retirement 😛
If the Cardinals thought he had “a lot of bad press on him” they wouldn’t have even asked him for an interview. Get real dude.
That doesn’t mean he’s any kind of favorite to get the job.
Pretty obvious Francona will be in STLs dugout next year.
Terry Pendleton should be on the list
From what I have read this seems to be the order of Most wanted managers.
1. Joe Maddon
2. Terry Francona
3. Jose Ocquendo
4. Ryne Sandeberg
5. Mike Matheny
6. Chris Maloney
7. Joe McEwing
What are your thoughts on this list?
Dont need a mgr that would think beating the scrubs was like winning the world series. Oquendo has my vote, probably the best bet on keeping Pujols!
Dont need a mgr that would think beating the scrubs was like winning the world series. Oquendo has my vote, probably the best bet on keeping Pujols!
Valentine is not on the list! My vote is for Francona first if he wants it, and Oquendo if he passes on it. You simply cannot ignore the results Francona has gotten in Boston… he is a classy coach that has shown he can win in the toughest of places. We do not need a manager in Oquendo who will feel the need to prove himself. This can often lead to bad decisions and overthinking and hurt the team.
with his family issues, I think the Cardinals will consider themselves lucky if he sticks around for the 2012 season. He’ll probably retire if they hire a manager he doesn’t really want to play for, probably will stick around if it’s Oquendo or another internal hire.
He was always LaRussa’s guy, I mean if he’s been the pitching coach forever without even interviewing for a manager’s job anywhere in the majors, I doubt this is his time.