Hey Boys,
Hey BOYS,
No doubt Boston's task of finding the best manager possible will be significantly tougher considering the hornet's nest that is the Boston media and fan hyper criticism and the current team turmoil.
PEEEUUUU!!!
Merlot
Merlot,...Not only would every man the Red Sox have or will interview kill for this job, but there are a 100 more dying to be interviewed for what is one of the most desirable jobs in all of baseball.
Consider:
1. There are only 30 of these jobs in the world.
2. The job pays extremely well.
3. You get to manage a roster that is not only loaded currently, but will continue to be so.
4. You get to manage one of the two most successful teams (with the St. Louis Cardinals) of the early years of the 21st century.
5. You get to work in front of a full house 81 times a year.
Well Rumps 99% of your inferences are true, but the most important 1% is questionable.
First, just to note the difference between what I think and what those who say they agree with me think, I am completely aware that their motivations are almost entirely about an opportunity to continue Sox-bashing and very little else, and so, irrelevant to me.
Back to the subject, your statement for the most part really has very little conflict with mine. You are talking about all those who would love the opportunity to manage an MLB team, and I am talking about the best possible person for the position. Obviously few who want the job, wannabes, are not specifically the best possible choice. There cannot be 130 best choices.
Where we do conflict is your inference that the managerial position with the Red Sox would be the preferred choice among any other options. In choosing between the Cubs, Cardinals and Red Sox, I doubt that any of the best candidates, "best" also meaning considerate of the environment, task ahead, and likely emotional consequences to the candidate and his family, that anyone could avoid being mindful of the difficulty of the current team issues and especially the treatment of Francona. I'm not saying the position overall isn't still a fantastic opportunity, but the current situation definitely would make it less so than other years.
The issues in the clubhouse among some key players are bad enough, but when a candidate looks at the way one of the best fitting and the most winning manager in 86 years, having brought instant and repeated success against a legendary situation, was basically scapegoated and treated with what amounts to mean-spirited personal slander by some anonymous muckraker, any candidate for the job might have to wonder if it would be better to go to markets where the scrutiny by everyone isn't so intense, and at times so bitter.
Even one of our best fitting managers ever, Francona noted in an interview how much the job had aged him emotionally and psychologically. No doubt his family had to endure a significant part of that stress. Any managerial candidate who does not at least consider all of the above cannot be the best man for the job. One has to be fully aware and ready for the job...NOT, just want it.
FUNNY!
I was Googling "sox news" to post here who might be some of the best candidates for the job and as if to confirm my point, coincidentally, this was the first thing that came up:
Mike Maddux not in Red Sox plans
http://espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/story/_/id/7204436/mike-maddux-takes-name-boston-red-sox-manager-list
Texas Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux won't be the Boston Red Sox manager.
"Mike Maddux has withdrawn his name from consideration for the Boston Red Sox managerial position and therefore will not interview with the team tomorrow," general manager Ben Cherington announced in a statement released by the team Monday afternoon.
Maddux, 50, the older brother of former Cubs and Braves great Greg Maddux, pitched for 10 teams in a 15-year career in the majors. He was the Brewers' pitching coach for six seasons and has been in the same role with the Rangers the last three seasons.
He had been scheduled to interview for the Chicago Cubs' managerial post as well. It is unclear whether he has pulled out of consideration there, too.
Late last week, Maddux called it "unbelievable to hear those two teams have interest."
Maddux's withdrawal leaves Cleveland Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar Jr. next up to interview for the Red Sox job. He is scheduled to visit Fenway to meet with Red Sox brass on Wednesday. Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin and Milwaukee Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum have already been interviewed for the position.
Maddux would have been perhaps the most intriguing candidate on Boston's list and the one who might best fulfill the needs of a team whose pitching could most benefit from a strong, expert voice. No less of an authority than Rangers president Nolan Ryan has called Maddux the hardest-working pitching coach he has ever been around, and Maddux brings a reputation for toughness and a demand that his charges be in top condition, attributes that would appear exactly in line with what the Sox require.
In Texas, a graveyard for pitchers ever since the Ballpark in Arlington opened in 1994, the Rangers posted their best staff ERA (3.79) since 1983. In 2008, the season before Maddux came over from the Brewers, the staff ERA was 5.37. By the next season, he had shaved nearly a full run (4.38) and it went to sub-4.00 in 2010 (3.93) before dropping again this past season.
continued...
I'm not saying this decision backs my point, but the withdrawal of one of Cherington's most highly considered candidates for the Sox managerial position does go against the idea:
"every man the Red Sox have or will interview kill for this job".
Now don't be pissed at me when all I am only saying is this is a uniquely timed coincidence...well, maybe more. We don't know his reasons. He's got a good situation with a team that is currently a very strong contender. That's probably the reason. But if he doesn't also withdraw from the Chicago interview...............
If Nolan Ryan's assessment is accurate, this is a big loss.
Maybe not so silly,
Merlot
