The Astros, suddenly in need of a new manager after the suspension and firing of A.J. Hinch on Monday, “plan to open an outside search to find his replacement,” Bob Nightengale of USA Today writes. Nightengale names longtime manager Dusty Baker as someone with interest in the job, but it’s unclear whether the team will want to talk to him about the position. Although fellow veteran skipper Bruce Bochy has been mentioned in speculation, it appears he’s serious about taking time away from the game in the wake of his long run with the Giants. Bochy told Nightengale he’s hitting the “pause button.”
- The Phillies designated center fielder Odubel Herrera for assignment Tuesday, which could pave the way for his release. However, the likelihood is that Herrera will still be a member of the organization when spring training rolls around, according to Matt Breen of the Philadelphia Inquirer. It’s unlikely anyone will take Herrera in a trade, the Phils don’t seem keen on releasing him and eating the $19.5MM left on his contract, and it’s improbable he’d reject an outright assignment and leave that money on the table. So, while Herrera’s no longer on the Phillies’ 40-man roster, it doesn’t appear his time with the organization is up just yet.
- Former major league third baseman and ex-White Sox manager Robin Ventura has resurfaced at Oklahoma State as a student assistant, per Kendall Rogers of D1baseball.com. The Cowboys’ staff now boasts him and fellow former big leaguer Matt Holliday, whose brother, Josh Holliday, manages the team. The 52-year-old Ventura hasn’t coached in the majors since the White Sox let him go after the 2016 season. Ventura’s name came up when the Mets were seeking a manager in 2017, but he reportedly didn’t have interest in the position.
- In more ex-MLBer/college baseball news, longtime right-hander Tim Hudson is joining Auburn as a pitching/volunteer assistant coach, Teddy Cahill of Baseball America reports. Prior to enjoying an excellent MLB career, Hudson starred at Auburn. In Hudson’s return to his old stomping grounds, Cahill notes that the 44-year-old will work with potential first-round righty Tanner Burns – who has drawn comparisons to Hudson.
Once they fire all of the alleged cheaters, Robin will be back as MLB Manager somewhere!
Cora
Dusty Baker would like a job.
Any job! Please!
Good choice as he leads a team to the playoffs. The old lottery saying applies in that “you have to be in it to win it”, His age and old school approach though will prevent him from getting another job. Would gladly take as the next Sox skipper and should we get back to the playoffs, worry then about winning each round.
Dusty Baker has the same chances of ever getting a job again as did Don Zimmer years ago after getting fired by Boston.. Both are/were severely over rated, given massive talent to win and had zero clue how to manage.
I was really happy with Dusty in DC until each post season rolled around. He became a completely different manager who decided to start playing 4D chess against himself–and poorly.
But currently successful franchises in search of a skipper will need to consider whether a manager with a great regular season record is sufficient, because at this point Dusty isn’t going to get you post season victories.
Well, he got the team to first place in the division twice and won two games in the NLDS each time against a couple of pretty good teams. Deciding that a manager can’t win in the playoffs because of a couple of Game 5 losses is pretty harsh.
I think we can add Dave Roberts to that also!
I’d go so far as to say he cost the Giants 2 World Series – 1993 and 2002. When he comes to Oracle Park and people are cheering I look around absolutely perplexed.
Astros + Baker = 3rd place.
hey! 3rd place is taken by my Rangers already! go get your own place in this division
Which teams will offer him a supply of tooth picks ?
If the Astros go external, Eduardo Perez makes the most sense to me. I think in general the likes of Boche, Baker, Jon Gibbons and Showalter are less likely to be hired these days. Teams want guys who are more friendly to analytics, especially teams like the Astros. Sam Fuld and Mark Kotsay will probably get a bit of consideration unless those clubs refuse to make them available for interviews. That’s also a reason I think the Red Sox look really hard at Quatraro for similar reasons.
Who is Quatraro? Sad to say I agree that they will be looking for a young analytical mind which is another reason why I’ll be canceling my MLB subscription before the end of the month when they auto bill. The team will be boring in 2020 even if they win. The pitching staff as presently constituted will lead to so many changes even with the new rules. Walks and commercials lead to changing the channel.
Don’t analyze too much info, you might learn something that may penetrate your closed mind. Minds are like parachutes…
On the positive side, you appear like a bright-minded fellow compared to Long John Hill Billy Silver
Quatraro is the Rays bench coach.
So the Phils are trying to muscle out one of its players because they still owe him money they don’t want to pay? lol
No, the Phillies will have to pay Herrera no matter which avenue he or the team takes from here.
I believe that outrighting Herrera off the 40-man roster and keeping him in the minors indefinitely will result his salary remaining guaranteed but excluded from MLB’s calculation of the Phillies’ luxury tax threshold.
No one will claim him, and he won’t reject the assignment. But then again, he doesn’t make smart baseball decisions, has questionable offfield decisions maybe he will reject it and forfeit the salary.
Somewhere out there Mike Schmidt is laughing his arss off concerning the “voice” of the Phillies….Odubel!
His salary still counts for CBT/luxury tax purposes even if he’s not on the 40 man Osteria. Only way out is if another team takes him.
It has nothing to do with money. The contract is guaranteed unless he rejects the assignment. It is about performance
For what it’s worth, today is also Matt Holliday’s 40th birthday.
It’s not worth the paper it’s written on
LOL
Really no reason to look any further than Joe Espada already the Astros bench coach. Dusty Baker makes no sense for a team like the Astros.
Manfred said the Astros cheated in 2017 and the first part of 2018. Espada was there in 2018. Could he truly be part of a clean slate?
Then why is he still on the coaching staff?
I assume they’re going to let the next manager make the call with his coaching staff. At this point in the offseason it’s probably best to retain most of that staff though.
Pete Rose will be named as the next Astros manager.
Sammy Sosa will be the hitting coach.
Jose Canseco will handle the training room
I’ve been an Astro’s fan since 1962 when they began as the Houston Colt 45’s & changed their name in 1965 to the Astros … if Pete Rose was named manager, I would get rid of everything I have that Astros on it and stop rooting for the team
You need a beer and a valium. Pete Rose is 78 and senile.
I’ll take it if he turns it down.
Aside from his age and not being around baseball for the longest time…interesting comment from an Astros fan who sees his team, organization, former manager and owner in a very strange light…..do you think you were wronged by MLB regarding this group of flagrant cheaters who flaunted their artificial superiority in everyones faces that questioned anything? You haven’t seen any heat like what’s coming in the coming year regarding anything and everything Astros!
Pete Rose “I got $20 that says I’m not the next manager.”
I personally think they should go with Joe Espana (i know it has an accent, but i’m lazy), as their next manager. The players love him, he knows the ins and outs really well, and he’s obviously been with the organization for a while. Give him a chance, what do you have to lose?
Isn’t his last name Espada?
Too lazy for an accent but not to add 9 words in parentheses? That’s some logic for ya right there.
LMAO
As an old Twins Fan.. I think Monitor is the one they are looking for.. He is a Players manager.. and one of the most knowledgeable students ever to play the game…
For the record, Robin Ventura wasn’t ‘officially’ let go by the White Sox. They offered him a chance to return and manage the team as they commenced their rebuild and he declined the opportunity.
Ventura likely had enough of the fan bashing when the team was supposed to be competitive but were instead “mired in mediocrity”, which led to the decision for a total rebuild rather than the usual retooling and reloading that was going on since their 2005 championship season. Of course, Ventura also had a hand in that ‘mediocrity’ with his less than inspiring managing style from 2012-2016.
Finally found a job he’s qualified for
Bring in Jeff Bagwell! He can do it!
Also, haters bring on the “good fit since he cheated too” based on entirely unsubstantiated claims.
Biggio did too. you live under a rock if you think anyone from that era didn’t use at some point in their career.
So bc they played in that era everyone tried steroids? Ridiculous accusation.
An accusation…but far from ridiculous. It’s called the “steroid era” for a reason.
You need a classy guy who has a good personality…somebody like Billy Wagner…
Not sure why it took so long for me to figure out why I was bothered by the punishment for stealing signs. It’s because it’s worse than the punishment for spouse/partner abuse. And they probably catch a higher percentage of that than they do of the sign stealing. So now at least I know why I am bothered by this whole situation. One is part of the game and the other has no place whatsoever in this world. But so it goes. Sadly.
morality in the world we live in is a dynamic concept. do yourself a favor and don’t expect the “right” thing to be done all the time.
I’m guessing what bothers you most is it has now involved the Sox. You are already trying to excuse it away.
Sure I’m a Red Sox fan but there are many things I don’t like about the franchise. They were the last team to have a player of color, Pumpsie Green. Ironic, isn’t it. There have been instances that the fans have really bothered me, like yelling “shake” at Jim Eisenrich. I have really disliked some of their players, Jose Canseco comes to mind. Impossible to watch. You have to understand that the “curse” was an injury curse. Tony C out of the 1967 world series, Jim Rice out of the 1975 world series, Tom Seaver out of the 1986 world series (yes, that was significant). Heck, In 1978, Bucky Dent and Goose Gossage lived in my town (augh). The 2000’s are far from clean, I get that. But, and it’s a big one (pun intended), I have a problem with baseball’s priorities that can be summed up by Mel Brooks, “We have to protect our phony baloney jobs.” Now, I don’t need a harrumph from everybody. Thanks.
It’s a difficult thing to navigate with what deserves the bigger penalty, cheating or DV. Obviously DV is more serious in a big picture way but it is an off the field matter. I was watching ESPN back when the Ray Rice thing was going on and Jason Whitlock made a very good point that I have never forgotten. The harsher the penalty for a first time offender, the less likely the victim will come forward to report DV. Yes, the Ray Rice thing was really bad but Whitlock was speaking in general terms and not specifically to Rice. The hope is the penalty will be bad enough to deter further abuse but not so bad as to keep victims from coming forward.
As far as cheating goes, I have no tolerance for cheating which absolutely includes the Yankees. Clemens doesn’t deserve the HOF, ARod’s numbers aren’t real and even one of my all time favorites, Andy Pettite was a cheater. But cheating can be and usually is more far reaching than DV. Think about the money that it cost players that they have no way to recoup. Aaron Judge was cheated out of being the MVP by Altuve. Players get paid by the stats they put up and those stats get skewed by cheaters. Cheaters should be dealt with harshly and if it ever proven that the Yankees were doing this I will feel the same way.
BTW I can’t resist -“harrumph”
Agree about both topics. I’ve had family members work in the DV field and it’s really tragic.. You’re right, it’s not as far reaching, and yet it can ruin lives (children). I always tend to think of baseball as entertainment for the masses but within the culture of players there can be impacts of cheating. It’s not perfect but I like that the Hall of Fame is at least looking at character now even if it didn’t always seem to act like it mattered. You have to start somewhere. Harrumph indeed!
Astros will have to go outside of the organization to save face. I think they are going to hire someone that is ok with living the analytic-style-life, which means Baker, Showalter and Scioscia are not fits there.
I think Eduardo Perez will land with the Astros or Mets (if/when they dump Beltran). I don’t think the Mets will want to go into Spring Training having to deal with the distraction of Beltran’s involvement.
I think some of the veteran managers I mentioned above could be candidates for the Red Sox position. It puts the Astros, Red Sox and Mets all in tough spots, because they have to either try to coax a manager into signing a 1-year deal and or they’ll have to find offer a multi year deal to someone in a relatively quick manner.
With the Astros and Red Sox specifically, personally, I think I’d want to hire a veteran manager that has experience dealing with the media and can brush this stuff off.
I don’t think the Sox will have as big of a problem. DD is already gone. Not saying he had any involvement, but he was there. And though I don’t doubt Bloom would have been fine with Cora as manager (before the scandal), this does give him a chance to get “his guy” in there whomever that may be.
Maybe the Red Sox will hire Bobby Valentine. Ok, just kidding. BTW, he gave an interesting interview the other day about this. Watching catchers go through multiple signs when there’s no one on base. Opining that anyone who doesn’t think this is going on shouldn’t have a job anymore. I only heard the beginning but the whole situation is bigger than the Astros and the Red Sox (my opinion) and will be in the cross hairs at least for this season. Teams have to figure out better signs!
Of course there will be lots of scrutiny by MLB this year on abiding by the rules, but its obvious to all (except maybe you) that the Astros and Red Sox took stealing signs to absolute new heights of not just breaking the rules but shattering them and then flaunted their superiority and new found skills in anyones face that dared question how they could be so good……while the problem of stealing signs is most probably being exaggerated across the league, the 2 teams involved have blatently laughed in baseballs face which can’t be tolerated…..after all Manfred warned everyone in 2017 after the Red Sox were caught the first time, that there would be stiff penalties….
I think you’re confusing the Red Sox and Astros with our peerlessly pathetic unprecedented potentate.
Want to thank the Astros and Red Sox for proving a fan *can* feel some allegiance or at least sympathy for the Yankees. Before all of this hit, I thought it was impossible
I wonder if Bochy will go back to the Giants and Kapler then would go to the Astros “The Astros”
Or they make a big splash on an old
Timer and hire Arte Howe?
You guys love to crap on dusty. Reds, cubs,and bats were bad before he got there. Took all 3 to the playoffs. Larussa was in st.louis for 22 years and Didn’t make it every year. What baker does in a short amount of time remarkable. Giants were bad too before he took position. What he does do is put people in the seats with playoff births and possibilities of World Series .
Meant nats not bats.
Not a ‘stros fan but I think Biggio would be great in Houston! The fans would love that!
Unless he sucks at his job and then you have an ugly divorce from a franchise icon. I wouldn’t hire a franchise icon to be my manager unless he was far and away the best candidate. Situation that is best to avoid.