Since the Dodgers and manager Don Mattingly mutually agreed to part ways last month, the Dodgers have been conducting interviews to determine their next skipper. Farm director Gabe Kapler was said to be the early front-runner, although to this point, Los Angeles has also interviewed Padres bench coach Dave Roberts, Mets bench coach (and former A’s manager) Bob Geren and former big leaguer/current Nebraska head coach Darin Erstad. Last month’s updates on the search can be found here, and we’ll keep track of the November updates to the Dodgers’ managerial search in this post…
- The Dodgers will decide on their next manager no later than Monday, sources tell Buster Olney of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The club’s choice still appears to be between Kapler and Roberts.
Earlier Updates
- Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports tweets that a decision has been delayed until Sunday or Monday, as some members of the Dodgers’ ownership group are traveling.
- Bud Black “appears to be out of the mix,” ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reports (Twitter links), suggesting that Gabe Kapler and Dave Roberts are the two finalists. Second interviews with finalists are ongoing, with the club expected to make its decision this Friday or Saturday. With Kapler and Roberts apparently the final two names under consideration, Los Angeles seems set to go with a skipper that has not previously run a big league dugout at the big league level.
- Erstad has withdrawn from the search, telling Shaikin (Twitter link) that he’s committed to continuing with the University of Nebraska.
- Gibson is not one of the four finalists, per Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times, who tweets that the other four names just listed will be interviewed further next week.
- There are five names still in the mix at present, ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden reports (Insider link): Black, Erstad, Kapler, Gibson, and Roberts. The team will move forward with four finalists, meaning that one of those candidates will not make it into the second stage.
- Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi said the team expects to be down to 3-4 candidates by the end of the week, tweets Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times.
- Los Angeles will interview Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Martinez, of course, also served under Chicago skipper Joe Maddon with the Rays back when Friedman ran the baseball operations there. He joins a still-growing list of possible candidates for one of the game’s premium field staff positions.
- Former Diamondbacks skipper (and Dodgers World Series hero) Kirk Gibson will also interview for the job, ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden tweets. Gibson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s earlier this year, and discussed his treatment and life with the disease recently with Scott Miller of Bleacher Report. Needless to say, it’s remarkable and encouraging to hear that he is well enough even to be considered for the position.
- Bill Plaschke of the L.A. Times hears that Kapler is no longer the favorite. That distinction, Plaschke writes, instead goes to Roberts. According to Plaschke, Dodgers ownership voiced a strong preference for an honest managerial search instead of simply anointing Kapler, and Roberts “aced” his interview with Dodgers decision-makers. Of course, it’s also worth bearing in mind that Rosenthal’s recent update said the team was only half-done with its initial wave of interviews, so there’s still time for this to change.
- Bud Black, whose reported deal with the Nationals fell through last night, will interview for the Dodgers’ vacancy, reports Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports (via Twitter). The Dodgers are about halfway through the interview process, according to Rosenthal, and the team could interview as many as 10 candidates.
Just going through the motions? Let’s hope not.
latimes.com/sports/la-sp-world-series-notes-201511…
Please hire Bud.
The LA Times said that Black already had a 1st interview with the Dodgers, so is Rosenthal saying they are bringing him in for a 2nd interview?
Black will be a great hire wherever he goes. Among active managers or experienced managers who don’t currently have a job with at least 5 seasons he is 3rd in terms of Wins Above Expectancy.
Black will be a great hire and I’m a Dodgers fan. Just because he was with the Padres and had losing seasons doesn’t mean he isn’t a great manager. All that accounted with a bad team. Black is a great manager. look at what happen to Bochy.I don’t get why the majority of the Dodger fanbase keep saying that he sucks. Goes to show how poor the fanbase are at evaluating managers.
I’m not hearing a lot of Dodgers fans saying that. Of the available talent Black is probably the best and most experienced. The question is whether this FO respects experience or is looking for a tool. I also wouldn’t mind seeing Dave Roberts come over, maybe as FB coach assuming Lopes leaves or retires.
Roberts would also be a great choice.It really doesn’t matter about experience, it’s about what they can bring to the table.
Experience is something they either bring to the table, or don’t. It’s no less important in baseball than anywhere else. The big open question is whether this FO is going to select someone who brings their own mind and ideas, or a yes-man who pushes buttons by remote control. The trend in recent years has been towards the latter.
Does ‘tool’ have the same meaning in U.S. as UK? As in UK it describes someone who is a prick.
In this context it means someone who is used or exploited by another.
In some cases yes, but here it is meant as a literal tool, or a mouthpiece in the dugout that will only do what the front office tells him to
I haven’t heard much of anything negative from Dodgers fans regarding Black. That has mainly been reserved for Kapler.
I agree completely but Black is an old school guy and do you really think he isn’t going to have a hard time with Friedman telling him who he can bat that day because that’s what the saber metrics department is telling him? You guys need some green manager who will happily take those kind of ridiculous orders from upper management.
Well you are talking about a team that has spent 300 million to bring home a championship, and pairing that with the likes of some high profile managers who could not get the job done. That’s fine by me of course. Can’t stand the Dodgers, so if they keep pouring money into a bottomless pit then fine. However, the direction they are taking with their manager search seems a bit risky in terms of much money and ego is in play.
As a Padres fan, seeing both him and Bochy leave within the division is going to be hard to handle if Black gets the LAD job.
But then again not their fault they were both let go.
Not crazy about the idea, but certainly not against it. But this management team wouldn’t consider someone who they don’t think would work well with their system.
Can’t wait to see him platooning everyone, benching guys during hot streaks and playing Yasiel Puig at 1st!
Did you even see the rosters he worked with in San Diego?
Plaschke makes a pretty good case for Roberts.
Plaschke sucks at everything he does, especially thinking
I like bud black he did a awesome job, when he had ok players couple of years ago. Now with better players he can be another bochy.
I mean, there’s only so much you can do when you’re given nothing to work with like Bud Black often was, but it isn’t like Bochy’s ever had even close to the amount of talent or potential the incoming Dodgers manager will be inheriting. None of his World Series winners had more than a couple legit, fully formed superstars on them, and some of the team’s better homegrown mainstays had their most elite seasons in odd-numbered years. Dude’s achieved the bulk of his success by bringing the best out of some fairly middling talent. Any given season, Bruce Bochy is really only ever a Buster or MadBum injury away from having a good Bud Black Padres team.
Wallach needs a solid look.
Roenicke is already here.
Black is a solid prescense.
Roberts is intriguing.
Maybe they should look at it like this :
Black
Wallach
Roenicke
Possibly add Roberts
There is the staff.
It’s a reach to retain all those but on the surface this would provide a lot.
The chances of Wallach remaining with the Dodgers are approximately none. He’s close to Mattingly who has already said he wants him in Miami. He’s been passed over a couple of times in LA already so he has no reason to stay if he gets an opportunity to move on.
I agree with you that should be the new coaching staff
Just imagine Bochy and Buddy, both formerly of the Padres, managing in the same division against the team they left.
Bud Black would be my choice, and Gibson for bench coach
It’s difficult to believe they are seriously looking at Gibson for manager. He’s got his own way of doing things and definitely doesn’t seem like the kind of company man they are going to be after. Hitting coach, maybe?
I have nothing against Bud Black, but I just don’t want another recycled manager from the old boy network. I think it is time for some new blood with a new perspective on winning, especially in the postseason. Both Kepler and Roberts seem interesting to me. Go Dodgers!
Why exactly hasn’t Dave Martinez become a manager yet? Every year he seems to be a candidate for some opening and every year it seems like he isn’t even a finalist. I’ve heard rumors about the guy but I’d think that someone would want to see what Maddon’s protege could do.
Rumors?
A few years back when the Sox were looking for Francona’s replacement Martinez was on the short list and at the time he was on everyone’s short list. I don’t remember if he officially interviewed or not, but when it became clear he was out of the running the rumor was no one thought he could successfully handle the media as a manager let alone Boston media.
Again, don’t know if it was just a rumor or not but after that he kinda stopped being on everyone’s short list and became just another name on the list.
If this rumor is accurate, and this is indeed the final 5, I am very surprised to see Gibson there and not Martinez.
As a Giants fan, there’s part of me that hopes LA blows the hire. But another that wants it to be competitive.
So long as it’s not Darin Erstad. I just can’t handle a Nebraska guy being a Dodger.
Bud or Tim Wallack…please.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
I’d like to see them hire Bud Black if only because succeeding with him after the Nationals debacle would be nice to see. But all of the candidates are good baseball guys so it would be hard to go wrong with that field.
it funny how tim Wallach get no love. he a former triple A manger who did a pretty good job. so im surprise to see he hasnt gotten an manger job yet.it would suck if he left but i wouldnt be mad since he been look over for the manger job
Your joking right? Wallach is terrible. Why give him a shot when he was learning behind Mattingly? Plus he’s made very questionable double switches and overused the bullpen everytime Mattingly was ejected. Really not my kind of manager.
All but Kapler are credible candidates. Erstad would be a great MLB manager, but I’m not sure I want to see him in a Dodger uniform. Black is probably the best of all of them.
what makes Erstad a better candidate than Kapler? Just because he was a better player?
My vote would go to Erstad.
Should have made it into a reality TV show. Would have driven enough revenue to pay for Zach Greinke’s raise.
i bet this is a joke, but the dodgers have money. howie and rollin are off the books and if segaer stay up he will be a very talent cheap IF
one coach in college, one coach in the majors and is well like,one coach in the minors i believe and one never mange before. so i wonder who gets the job. black would be the smart move but maybe they will go with the more unknown
What happened with Dave Martinez?
To bad I’m a Cub fan Dave Martinez would been great but happy in a selfish way he is a cub only Tampa deserves his attention not L.A.
How long does it take to choose a manager? Did the computer break down or something? Just hire a robot. They’ll be good with stats.
How long does it take Friedman and Zaidi to change a lightbulb? First you have to collect data on all possible lightbulbs and perform a double regression analysis and rate them on the proprietary BAR (bulbs above replacement value) scale. This takes time, since nobody has ever created a Bulb Replacement Model, and even if someone had, theirs will be better. Meanwhile, you are in the dark. But not to worry, in the end, it will be worth the wait.
This is priceless, hilarious, but also seems quite true!
True or not, it won’t stop the downrate cowards from flipping the bird.
Prediction: the winner will be Kapler, the inside guy and best buddies with Friedman and Zaidi. Then we will know that what we should have known from the start, which is this was not a selection process, it was a rationalization process. Next to go will be Wallach and Honeycutt. I really hope to be wrong, but I don’t expect to be.
I agree that the winner will be Kapler, and this wasn’t really a true interview selection process.
I don’t think Honeycutt is going anywhere. The pitching staff is comfortable with him and he survived multiple regimes from Grady Little to Joe Torre to Don Mattingly. I believe he just inked an extension. Wallach has been passed on quite a few times and I’m sure he has a sour taste in his mouth, I agree with that he is gone. Mattingly so suggested he was going to be in Miami with him as his assistant manager.
Rumors of Honeycutt talking to the Dodgers about a new contract are now over a week old, with no news since. This tells me no deal yet. Honeycutt could work just about anywhere he wants at this point and Mattingly has already made it known he’s wanted in Miami. So what this tells me is Honeycutt is waiting to see how the managerial situation sorts out for the Dodgers and will decide accordingly.
Honeycutt was thought to be extended for 2 years. Wallach could end up as the Padres bench coach?
One source says he was made a two-year offer, but that was two weeks ago, and nothing was confirmed by the team.If he’d accepted it we’d almost certainly know by now. Wallach to the Padre’s bench sort of assumes Roberts is hired by the Dodgers, no?
Honeycutt did an interview on AM 570 yesterday and he was introduced as “the Dodgers pitching coach”. Why are you always so wrong about things?
Because he is the Dodgers’ pitching coach. The question is whether he will be next year. Why are you always so nasty?
He was introduced as “the Dodgers pitching coach” on MLBN’s High Heat, as well — m.mlb.com/network/shows/?id=mlbn_high_heat … it’s a well known fact that he’s still the pitching coach for everyone except you.
Friedman did say that no coaches’ contracts have been finalized, including a widely reported 2-year deal for pitching coach Rick Honeycutt. “We’ve tried to communicate with them,” Friedman said of the coaches, “and be as open and honest as we can be as far as timing.”
insidesocal.com/dodgers/2015/11/09/managing-expect…
It’s a formality. Freidman’s saying it’s not official, but it will be soon. Hence, why he’s still being regarded and referred to as “The Dodgers pitching coach”
this sound like what the lakers did. lets just interview people to make it look like we want more then one person. when really we had our guy in mind from day one
Mattingly was let go 3 weeks ago. The Lakers had a head coaching position open for 3 months before hiring Byron Scott.
Again, citing a worse example doesn’t make this a better one. In any case this is a bad time on the baseball calendar to have essentially no coaching staff. But go ahead and tell us what so far in the performance of Zaidi and Friedman gives you so much confidence in their decision-making abilities. I’m sure we are all dying to know.
The fact that Friedman built up Tampa Bay to a World Series team and used this same process to find Joe Maddon gives me confidence that he knows what he’s doing.
The fact that Friedman built up Tampa Bay to a World Series team and used this same process to find Joe Maddon gives me confidence that he knows what he’s doing. Zaidi was a main part of the A’s front office when they were going to the playoffs year in and year out. One year is not long enough to lose confidence in a front office.
They had a year to turn a 94-game winner into a 92-game winner and not for want of options or resources. They made lousy trades pretty much straight across the board, and didn’t get what the team needed to advance in the postseason. No, it isn’t too early to judge their performance so far. Objectively, it stinks. So maybe LA isn’t Tampa Bay or Oakland?
They lost 40% of their rotation and still won 90 games. I’ll cut them some slack and see what the team can do with 5 starters.
In 2014 the rotation was a patchwork all season long, they were without Kershaw for the first month, and they still won 94 games. And how can you defend the bad offseason trades and the poor choices they made in July?
The NL was better in 2015 than 2014. That alone explains the 2 game difference.
Besides, you’re getting mad at a 2 game difference in the W/L column. It doesn’t matter. They still won the division, had HFA in the NLDS, and won more playoff games than last year.
I am not getting “mad” I am simply pointing out that this FO did not improve the team by any objective measure. So try responding to the actual point for a change.
And they didn’t have a patchwork rotation in 2014. Kershaw made 27 starts, Greinke made 30+, Ryu made 27, Haren made every start. You are wrong again. (shocking)
Which explains the starts made by Fife, Frias, Wright, Correia, Maholm, and Patterson. Sorry for not putting them in alphabetical order.
Most of Maholm starts came in April. In fact, he was off the roster by July.
Red Patterson had 1 start. Jamey Wright had 1 start. Corriea had 5 starts. Stephen Fife had 1 start. Frias had 2 starts. Outside of Corriea, most of these starts were when Kershaw was out. So again, you are making stuff up.
Goes to show that BlueSkyLA doesn’t know anything about baseball.
He’s bright. I just find it hilarious how much he defends Ned Colletti, yet hates Freidman/Zaidi
I don’t do either one. Everybody in this game should be judged on results and only on results. Friedman and Zaidi haven’t produced any for the Dodgers. And no, it is not too soon to ask. Have their trades been productive? You always skate on that question.
They just took over. It’s barely been a year, give them time to make the team they want.
For the most part, yes, his moves have been productive. Grandal for Kemp was. Bolsinger for free was. Nicasio for free was. They traded Dee but received a good return (seriously, they probably don’t even make the playoffs without a player like Enrique Hernandez). Latos trade got them a controllable young starter (Wood) and possible future 2B (Peraza). McCarthy signing was the only disaster and that still could be salvageable.
A “patchwork” rotation is the one they had in 2015. The one where they had to use the most pitchers ever for a team that made the playoffs.
Yes, 2015 was worse. Again, citing a worse example does not change the other.
We’ll see if this organization stands for making bold statements, such as they did in 1947, or if they’re full of it.
Whats the bold statement? Hiring roberts because hes black?
Should be: Roberts
Will be: Kapler
thought he would be the guy to replace Bud Black instead of Murphy, Roberts end up being Kapler bench coach? Wallach go be SD’s bench coach?
Wallach is likely going to join Mattingly in Miami.
& maybe Big Mac in SD – Roberts or Kapler bench coach for one another?
I can’t see Roberts making a lateral move across from San Diego to LA, but if the Dodgers see him and Kapler as equal, or close to it, I wonder if they could conceivably get both by hiring Roberts as the manager and Kapler as his bench coach. Assuming of course that the two of them get along and have fairly similar ideologies.
It could happen that way, but at this point we have to wonder why this decision is being delayed again. They say it’s because Dodgers execs are traveling, but last I heard Kasten and Guggenheim were expressing their complete trust in the FO to make this decision. So now they need approval?
Why would they have to travel to give approval? They probably want a group photo for the announcement of a decision already made.
I really hope it’s Roberts, kapler will be a failure
Both Kapler and Roberts are good guys. I wish them luck. Tough to cut your teeth on a team with such high expectations.