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Back in the "real world" of baseball politics, two managerial moves were made in the last 24 hours, as Charlie Manuel will run the Phils and at long last, finally, the Mets' new skipper, Willie Randolph gets to embark on his nascent Hall of Fame managerial career. It's the Joe Torre arc -- even starting with the same team Torre did, though let's hope he has better luck.

Question of the Day: Who doesn't have a job managing that should? Who would make a good manager among current players or recent retirees, regardless of what you've heard of their potential interest in the field?

Paul Molitor supporters, your line forms at the left. Next? Incidentally and perhaps unrelated, did you see that Larry Bowa is the new bench coach for the Marlins?
QOTD: Manager Merry-Go-Round | 19 comments | Create New Account
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Mike Green - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 10:25 AM EST (#19253) #
I don't have an opinion on the QOTD, but I am delighted with the Mets' signing of Willie Randolph for two reasons. One, Randolph is a great guy and will make a fine, fine manager. Second, the rise of the Mets would mean a loss of market share, and hence dollars, for the Yanks; I figure that the Randolph signing might hasten that much longed-for day. Historically, when the Mets have been good, the Yanks have not been on top (Subway Series notwithstanding).
_DeMarco - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 11:03 AM EST (#19254) #
Mostly because of his success coaching Team Canada, I've always thought Ernie Whitt would make a good manager for a major league team. I was very happy to see his appointment to bench coach of the Jays.
Gerry - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 11:05 AM EST (#19255) #
I don't understand why Jerry Manuel gets another shot, I thought he was a disaster in Chicago. The Phillies do mark to their own drum.

Also did you see that after Wally Backman was signed in Arizona there appeared stories about his past, domestic assault issues, bankruptcy, DUI. The Diamondbacks said they did no background checks before hiring him.

Does anyone think Pat Borders would be a good manager. He is a catcher, and obviously loves the game?
_Ducey - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 11:08 AM EST (#19256) #
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/Stats/box_AFL.shtml
QOTD: For some reason I keep thinking of Orioles - Ripken, Surhoff, Bordick

In other news, the Jays AFL team had a new pitcher yesterday: V. Perkins. He gave up 2 runs in 1 inning but if it is Vince Perkins its good to see he might be recovered from injury
Mike Green - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 11:24 AM EST (#19257) #
It is Vince Perkins. Please see the AFL thread for Gerry's report.
_Chris - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 12:26 PM EST (#19258) #
http://sil.mcmaster.ca
Future managers(or hitting/pitching coaches):

Al Leiter - Knows the nuances of pitching, and seems to know how to communicate well

Damian Miller - if you're known as a pitcher's catcher, you're automatically thought of as a manager once you retire aren't you?

Greg Maddux - Genius

Kevin Millar - Just seems like he's a clubhouse guy, gets there at 10 in the morning, leaves at 1 in the morning type of thing

Jorge Posada - Catcher, winner, bilingual
_Geoff North - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 12:45 PM EST (#19259) #
I don't understand why Larry Dierker and Cito Gaston haven't received second chances. Both managers had significant success at the big league level.

Greg Zaun would probably make a fun manager... he'd give good quotes anyways!
robertdudek - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 01:12 PM EST (#19260) #
Isn't it Charlie, not Jerry, Manuel that got the job? Charlie had the Indians job after Hargrove and before Wedge. He inherited a team in decline, so he gets a mulligan in my book.
_Lugnut Fan - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 01:15 PM EST (#19261) #
Jim Leyland should absolutely be managing.

Mark Grace I think should get a shot as well, but he needs to spend some time in the minors first.

Joe Girardi is another one I would put in the same class as Gracie.
Gerry - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 02:39 PM EST (#19262) #
Thanks Robert, too many Manuels
_Magpie - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 02:46 PM EST (#19263) #
Dudek's right - it was Charlie Manuel presiding over a hopeless situation in Cleveland, while Jerry goofed around in Chicago.

Cito Gaston was one of the two finalists last year when Kenny Williams was replacing J.Manuel, and of course he went with Ozzie. Gaston turned 60 this year, which is possibly a little elderly for most managerial hires. But he's an awfully good looking 60, and someone might turn to him to see if he has any Jack McKeon pixie dust...

Larry Dierker. All he did was win. Who did he irritate? Well, Bagwell and Biggio. But who else? Davey Johnson irritated everybody, kept getting fired, but kept getting jobs because he kept winning.

I think Willie Randolph's hiring is long overdue, but I don't see how anybody can succeed with the Mets.

Al Leiter - why would he want to be a pitching coach? He can make a lot more money being a broadcaster, and it looks like he's actually be a good one. And we need some good broadcasters.

Greg Maddux - Ditto. I have no idea if he wants to be a broadcaster, but why would he want to be a coach? I'm sure he's seen enough hotel rooms and airports. Maybe some team can probably talk him into being a spring training instructor...
_Mick - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 03:12 PM EST (#19264) #
Maddux can make six figures annually speaking to rotary clubs once a month for the rest of his life after he retires. Or he could go the Pete Rose route and support himself through card shows.

Does anybody doubt that someday Derek Jeter will manage the Yankees? And call me a knucklehead, but I always thought Phil Niekro would be a fine manager.

Have we now named every middling Blue Jay catcher for the last decade as a potential manager?
_Sean - TBG - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 03:21 PM EST (#19265) #
http://www.torontobaseballguys.com
I think Darrin Fletcher, Sandy Martinez Alberto Castillo will all be fine managers in the very near future.
_Sean - TBG - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 03:22 PM EST (#19266) #
http://www.torontobaseballguys.com
That would have been a whole lot funnier if I'd remembered the word "and", and perhaps a comma. I try.
_Blue in SK - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 03:58 PM EST (#19267) #
I think Joe Morgan should be a manager. Maybe then he would realize just how stupid his commentary is.
_percussionist - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 04:35 PM EST (#19268) #
Wasn't Dave Berg advising the coaches quite a bit back when he was here? Always seemed like manager material to me. Dan Plesac's another one who jumps to mind.
_Halo Brad - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 10:21 PM EST (#19269) #
I watched Backman from the front row for many Lancaster Jethawks games this season and was impressed by his intensity, his coaches aggressiveness and his players hustle. Fans and players seemed to love him and his team was about as good as there was in the minors. Don't know about his off-field problems but he never had a problem showing up and motivating his players in the boonies of the California League all season and I have a feeling the D'Backs will be a different bunch under him in 2005. (Much rather see him than Jim Tracy at the helm of a big league team out west).
Some day, Joe Madden will get to show how his day-to-day preparation is one of the biggest factors in the Angels' playing above their ability level the past 3 seasons. Great baseball mind on the cutting edge of technology.
_Hootie - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 10:40 PM EST (#19270) #
How about any of the Jays Minor Leage Managers? Pevey, Basso, Malave, Joyce, Holmberg? Any of them have a chance?
_Jeff - Thursday, November 04 2004 @ 11:30 PM EST (#19271) #
Nothin' beats having Terry Adams as your manager. And while ur at it, stick Kerry Ligtemupberg as ur pitching coach.
QOTD: Manager Merry-Go-Round | 19 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.