The 2018 Phillies managerial search

[Philsmania]

What's the big deal with Ausmus? He went to Dartmouth. Big whoopee. George W. Bush went to Yale and got an MBA from Harvard.

[andyb]

Klentak did go to Dartmouth....

I really hope they go with a younger first time candidate. Ideally outside of the organization. The upside of going with a younger candidate is that they probably get a smaller contract and it is easier to move on in 2-3 years if it is not working out. Roster usage is evolving pretty quickly and a younger manager is likely not as set in the old ways and could consider things like more creative uses of the bullpen.

[zambonir]

What makes you say that? As far as we know he hasn't interviewed or even been directly connected to the job by any Philadelphia sources? (Ditto Cora.) The best Heyman could do in that link above was "he's thought to be on the list but it's hard to tell."

I won't mind if it's Ausmus but it could just as easily be Hale. For all we know the Indians pitching coach knocked it out of the park. And you definitely can't discount the guys with Angels/DiPoto connections.

[Dirk41]

What happened to Mickey Callaway?

[zambonir]

Good question, you would think he'd have had his interview. We didn't really hear anything in the press about Wathan's interview either did we?

[Philsmania]

The Phillies are playing this process very close to vest. We aren't hearing about interviews until after they happen. Contrast that to when the Phillies hired Manuel after 2004 when the whole process was played out in public and candidates actually had press conferences after their interviews. I much prefer it this way.

[Squire]

Nationals now need a manager too

[xogfog]

Gardenhire goes to the Tiges, there's one spot filled.

[zambonir]

Phillies make progress on manager search

Sources told MLB.com that Giants third base coach Phil Nevin interviewed. It is believed that Dodgers player development director Gabe Kapler and Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway either interviewed or are scheduled to interview. And MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported Thursday that A's third base coach Chip Hale interviewed earlier this week.

Kapler was at the top of my wish list.

Article goes on to say there's no confirmed interest in many of the other names (Ausmus, DiSarcina, Cora) that have come up in various articles.

[Dirk41]

Contrast that to when the Phillies hired Manuel after 2004 when the whole process was played out in public and candidates actually had press conferences after their interviews.

Oh wow. Jim Leyland was the one lots of folks wanted.

We all kinda knew Charlie would be the manager the day he signed on.

[zambonir]

The conventional wisdom then being that Leyland was too critical of Wade and the organization, though I tend to think that was also a bit of a sham process, Charlie was so obviously the heir apparent, and he was Thome's guy.

Things will certainly speed up once the World Series is under way. And if Kapler hasn't had his interview he's presumably getting it this weekend.

[Philsmania]

The conventional wisdom then being that Leyland was too critical of Wade and the organization, though I tend to think that was also a bit of a sham process, Charlie was so obviously the heir apparent, and he was Thome's guy.

Things will certainly speed up once the World Series is under way. And if Kapler hasn't had his interview he's presumably getting it this weekend.

An urban legend says that in addition to Leyland being too blunt in the interview for Montgomery's comfort, Monty and Wade also found his need for multiple cigarette breaks to be off-putting.

Leyland definitely was the people's choice, though, between his accomplishments and his gruff, no-BS, quintessentially Philadelphia personality. Eskin, in particular, campaigned hard for him to get the job. That's a big part of the reason why it took so long for Manuel to win the town over and why after 2006 when the Phillies missed the postseason again while the Tigers went to the WS under Leyland, the phans wanted to run Manuel out of town on a rail.

[Dirk41]

An urban legend says that in addition to Leyland being too blunt in the interview for Montgomery's comfort, Monty and Wade also found his need for multiple cigarette breaks to be off-putting.

I remember this! They said during his final break, to get another pack at the CVS(or is it a Wallgreens) on Broad and Packer, they decided not to hire him. I think of that every time I pass that store

[zambonir]

I found one old article that suggests this is true. Another reported that Wade said he stepped out mid-interview to smoke, once.

Of course this is not something that costs you the job, it just doesn't help when they are leaning another way to begin with.

Phillies interview Leyland for manager position

Leyland still wants to be a manager

[tom81]

The guy we should interview for a job, as manager or more likely pitching coach is former Phillie Mike Maddux. As the Rangers former pitching coach it might help us to sign Darvish. His contract with the Nats expired and they didn’t renew him. Maybe he could get his younger brother to help too.

[Soloman_grundy]

CAlloway to Mets it seems.

[zambonir]

There are a lot of excellent pitching coaches on the market all of a sudden.

It's pretty amazing that three NL East teams are all hiring, Nats kind of behind I guess. I see they want to make a run at Cora.

[Dirk41]

Did the Phillies even interview Callaway?

Looks like Ausmus or Kapler now?

[zambonir]

There has never been a report that Ausmus is a confirmed candidate, let alone someone who's been interviewed. Unlike Phil Nevin and Chip Hale, who have both been interviewed.

If it takes forever it might make sense that it is Kapler, since he's busy (despite that also being true of Cora).

I would not rule out Velandia, especially considering how tight-lipped the team has been about nearly every candidate besides him, though it's possible the articles about him and Samuel came out because they were internal and, unfortunately, because of the minority interview requirements. I don't recall reading any details about Wathan's interview.

I also wouldn't rule out a hire whose name has never been confirmed as a candidate.

[xogfog]

Cora goes to the Red Sox.