OCT. 29: Scott Miller of Bleacher Report tweets that Sofield is now emerging as the favorite in the Padres’ search.
OCT. 28: Former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire and current Pirates third base coach Rick Sofield are the two finalists for the Padres’ managerial vacancy, reports Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune. Gardenhire is the current favorite, Lin hears, though general manager A.J. Preller hasn’t made a final decision yet. (The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s Rob Biertempfel had previously reported that Sofield “appeared to be” a finalist.) An official announcement could come either on Thursday or Monday — both of which are travel days for the two remaining World Series teams. (Major League Baseball strongly discourages clubs from announcing significant news on the days that postseason games are played.)
Gardenhire sat out the 2015 season but reportedly wants to get back into the managerial world. He has also interviewed with the Nationals, though he’s not one of the reported finalists there. Gardenhire has extensive postseason experience from his time with the Twins, having led the club to six AL Central Division titles in 13 seasons and also bringing the team to a Game 163 tiebreaker that was lost to the White Sox in 2008. However, as Lin notes, Gardenhire has a disappointing 6-21 record in the playoffs, having only captured one series victory (against the A’s in 2002).
Sofield, on the other hand, has never managed in the Majors, though he does have six seasons of minor league managerial experience. He’s served on manager Clint Hurdle’s coaching staff in each of the past three seasons for the team’s trips to the postseason. Lin notes that Sofield is known for an “energetic” style.
Whoever is hired will have the ability to bring in his own coaching staff, and Lin writes that pitching coach Darren Balsley and bench coach Dave Roberts would be candidates to join Black were he able to land the managerial gig with the Nationals. Hitting coach Mark Kotsay is a candidate to be retained, he adds.
D-Backs Triple-A manager Phil Nevin also received a second interview in San Diego but no longer appears to be in the running. Also interviewed by the Padres were former big leaguers Alex Cora and Tom Gordon, D-Backs third base coach Andy Green, newly minted Mariners skipper Scott Servais (still an assistant GM with the Angels at the time) and Kotsay. With the exception of Gardenhire and Sofield, each of the interviewees had fairly recent Major League experience as a player. (Both Gardenhire and Sofield played in the Majors as well, though Sofield’s career ended in 1981 and Gardenhire’s ended in 1985.)
Was hoping that The Braves would fire Fredi Gonzalez and hire Gardenhire.
Braves just extended Fredi through next season two months ago. Don’t think you should get your hopes up on that happening in the near future.
Wow, I did not know that. I guess they are REALLY committed to not being competitive until 2017.
Either of those two would be a good choice for our team. I am wondering if Gardenhire would be as reticent to allow the Padres front office to make lineup calls on a game to game basis as Black was. That may be the final determining factor in who is hired.
Gardenhire last played in 1985 not 1995.
So, now MLB decides what news articles can be written by the general press? Well rich boys will be rich boys, I guess.
Pads fans – please enlighten Nats fans about Dave Roberts. From what little I’ve seen, would like for him join Bud Black in DC.
Without Dave Roberts, good luck with Bud Black. He has NO IDEA how to make a lineup and make in game offensive decisions. Bud is basically Don Mattingly without the baseball reputation. Dave Roberts at least would add a bird in his ear in regards to offense.
As a long time Padre fan, I am SO glad not to have Bud around as manager. I would take him any day as a pitching coach though.
I missed typed my Mattingly / Bud Black comparison. The only similarity is they are “nice” guys. Other than that, they are complete opposites and would complement each other nicely. One around offense and one around pitching. Both missing a vital piece to be a manager.
Roberts is more of a ra-ra guy. He’s fiery and energetic whereas bud black is more cool and even-handed. roberts was a great first base coach before he moved to bench coach duties.
Thanks for the replies. My impression of Roberts was “hustle” matching your “fiery and energetic.” Hoping he agrees to move East and doesn’t stick around for Green.
gardenhire would be good anywhere he goes, twins lost a good manager, well respected in MLB