BOSTON — Tony La Russa left a championship team for his successor, Bobby Valentine left a mess.
Nevertheless, Mike Matheny and John Farrell inherited the same mandate: No learning curve, no growing in the job. They had to win instantly. Which they have. Matheny’s first two clubs have gone to the NLCS, and now the World Series.
And since these are the Red Sox, finishing last in 2012 did not change the organizational vision in 2013. As second baseman Dustin Pedroia said, “not one guy [based on last year] thought this was a rebuilding year. We showed up trying to win the World Series.” That is why Farrell is probably going to be the AL Manager of the Year — honoring the mission statement of an organization that is not going to accept three- or five-year plans.
It feels pertinent now — and not just because it is Matheny’s Cardinals against Farrell’s Red Sox in the 109th Fall Classic. But because most of the managerial job openings do not fit the stereotype: Manager Wanted For Rebuild Job, Growing in the Position Acceptable.
Instead, three organizations with legitimate beliefs they will play in the 110th World Series were looking to fill the spot. The Reds did so Tuesday, elevating pitching coach Bryan Price. The Tigers and Nationals — who will be on the short list of title favorites next year — are still working on their next skipper.
And it is possible the Dodgers could still dismiss the suddenly feisty Don Mattingly and open yet another championship-or-bust job.
So the stress is on a few front offices to make sure they don’t waste talent and time by making the wrong choice at this precious moment.
“It is a different kind of hire,” Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said by phone.
And it is a different kind of era. A generation of successful, older managers has either retired in recent seasons (Joe Torre, Lou Piniella, Bobby Cox, Tony LaRussa, Jim Leyland, Davey Johnson) or were recently fired and are unlikely to hook on elsewhere quickly, if at all (Dusty Baker, Charlie Manuel). It leaves the ranks thin when it comes to candidates with major league managerial experience and success — and you might have to stretch the meaning of success for possibilities such as Manny Acta, Jim Tracy and Jim Riggleman.
Thus, we could be looking to first-timers in these attractive places. The Nationals are eyeing Matt Williams, Randy Knorr, Trent Jewett, Brad Ausmus and DeMarlo Hale to replace Johnson and manage a loaded roster that includes Bryce Harper and Stephen Strasburg. How important is it to get the hire right? Johnson left the nearby Orioles after consecutive playoff appearances in 1996-97, Baltimore hired the overmatched Ray Miller and didn’t make the playoffs or have a .500 record again until 2012. Washington GM Mike Rizzo said through a media relations person he was too busy to return a call.
Dombrowski said he had not completed a list of candidates to succeed Leyland, but it is believed Ausmus, Torey Lovullo (who is a serious possibility for the Cubs), Lloyd McClendon and Tom Brookens will be in play to take over a talent-rich roster headed by Miguel Cabrera and Justin Verlander. Each has Tigers ties, which cannot be overstated. A comfortable relationship between the front office and the manager and knowing the culture well appear key items. Dombrowski, for example, called Leyland “an easy hire” for the Tigers after the 2005 campaign because the two knew each other well (they were together for the 1997 Marlins title) and Leyland had a long track record of success.
The Reds, who made the playoffs three of the last four years under Baker, stayed in house for Price. Matheny had played for the Cardinals and, in retirement was a special instructor to La Russa in spring. Farrell was the Red Sox pitching coach before leaving to manage the Blue Jays and returning to replace Valentine. Joe Girardi played for, coached for and broadcast Yankees games during the Joe Torre era, making it easier for him to fill those win-now shoes.
“I think the key thing is you have to be yourself,” Girardi said by phone. “But, yes, there is a different level of expectations and scrutiny in one of these win-now jobs. You are not going to be judged on a curve.”
O’Neill never in Reds mix
Paul O’Neill said he never really got beyond the intrigued standpoint when it came to the Reds managerial opening, which was filled with the organization elevating pitching coach Bryan Price to replace Dusty Baker.
O’Neill has a relationship with Reds owner Bob Castellini, which has kept him tied to his original organization. But he never discussed the managerial job with GM Walt Jocketty, who was empowered to do the search.
When Baker was fired, O’Neill surfaced as a long-shot candidate and admitted being intrigued.
“I am not disappointed at all,” O’Neill said. “My best years playing and not playing have been in New York, and I already have my schedule [as a broadcaster with YES) for next year and couldn’t be happier.
“When this came to me, yes, I was intrigued. It was something to think about. But YES has been great to me.”
O’Neill was a Reds fan, born and raised in Columbus, who has lived in the Cincinnati suburbs since his playing days (1985-92) for the franchise. It was those ties that made this particular job interesting to him.
But his lack of experience as even a coach certainly did not help his candidacy. When I asked if he were interested in being considered for Price’s staff as a way to a) determine if he likes the daily grind of being in uniform and b) give him experience to help any future candidacy, O’Neill said, “You have to understand that coaching takes up more time than managing. Managing was interesting because you are in charge of the wins and losses.
“If you are going to be a coach, you should probably do that right away after you retire. For me, I am happy doing just what I am doing now.”
Cards roll with new rotation
The Red Sox will have one more pitcher starting in this World Series from their last title back in 2007 than the Cardinals will have from their championship just two years ago. Jon Lester, who won the sweep clincher in 2007 over the Rockies, will start Game 1 Wednesday against St. Louis.
The Cardinals, meanwhile, will go with Adam Wainwright (who missed the 2011 season after needing Tommy John surgery), Michael Wacha (who was not drafted until June 2012), Lance Lynn (who was in the pen in 2011) and Joe Kelly (who reached Double-A in 2011).
It is a tribute to their honored player development to make such a radical change and remain elite. In their seven-game World Series triumph over Texas in 2011, the Cardinals started Chris Carpenter (who missed this year with a shoulder injury and might never pitch again), Jaime Garcia (who had shoulder surgery in May), Edwin Jackson (who left via free agency after the ’11 season) and Kyle Lohse (who left via free agency after the ’12 season).