Bobby V – Nutcase or Genius?
October 23, 2009While We’re Waiting – More Mangini Photoshops, Michigan’s Coaching Woes, and the Indians’ CF depth
October 24, 2009
For those of us who thought the list of Tribe managerial candidates was whittled down to four, I guess we were wrong. According to the Los Angeles Times, the Indians have received permission to speak to Angels bench coach Ron Roenicke about the current vacancy. Roenicke declined to comment when asked about it.
Its an interesting development considering that Don Mattingly was always assumed to be the one candidate who hasn’t interviewed yet. Roenicke, a former eight-year major leaguer, has been with the Angels since 2000, starting as the third base coach and then taking over the seat next to Mike Scioscia in 2006 when Joe Maddon left for Tampa.
Roenicke, like Mattingly and Torey Lovullo, has no major league managing experience. However, who had ever heard of Joe Maddon when he took over in Tampa and is now thought of as one of the best managers in the game. Maybe Shapiro thinks lightning can strike twice under the Scioscia tree.
25 Comments
If you’re asking me if I’d rather have a guy who has learned to manage from Torre (Mattingly) vs a guy who had learned from Mike Scioscia (Roenicke), I’d take the Scioscia guy without question. Beyond that, I know nothing about Ron Roenicke.
Call me when he has a press conference stating he knows nothing about the Indians or the Central Division.
Ron Roenicke over Don Mattingly-well, you’ll probably get your wish. There’s no way Mattingly would take this gig. But, you’d be among the few in MLB circles that would even consider a stiff like Roenicke over a guy with Mattingly’s pedigree and respect. Only in Cleveland.
Sure, lightening will strike twice with Shapiro-ready for the new Eric Wedge?
This is also a sign that anyone credible with winning MLB experience won’t take this gig. When the dust settles, you’ll indeed have the shiny 2009 version of Eric Wedge and the best minor league coaching staff money can buy.
@ Isis – Sometimes I actually find your contrarian act to be a little amusing, but come on – “a stiff like Roenicke”? Had you ever even heard of him before this post? If so, why don’t you enlighten us all with your in-depth knowledge that allows you to make the conclusion he’s a “stiff.” Sounds to me like he’s been a bench coach for a number of years on a successful team, kind of like the guy your trumpeting, Mattingly. I’m sure if you were in Tampa when they hired Joe Maddon that you would have called him a “stiff” too. He really sucked last year leading that young team to the World Series didn’t he?
“..that anyone credible with winning MLB experience won’t take this gig.
Because people with “winning MLB experience” have jobs, Isis. That’s what happens when you win a lot. You have a job.
Actually let me correct myself, Roenicke is a bench coach while Mattingly is a hitting coach. Hey Isis, name the last successful manager that was a hitting coach immediately before he became a manager. Doesn’t strike me as the most logical path to success.
I hear Roenicke is a control freak who disciplines players by making them run laps. Who wouldn’t love a guy like that?
(Actually, I heard no such thing. But I don’t like him because his name will be too hard to spell when we trash him.)
What on earth is Isis talking about? How is Mattingly more credible than Roenicke? They have equal managerial experience, but Roenicke has a heck of a lot more coaching experience and has a higher job position than Mattingly. Why does Isis just assume Mattingly has all these managerial credentials and is a sure fire winner? It makes no sense whatsoever.
I like Roenicke because he was filthy good on NHL 97.
@AMC
How about Charlie Manuel?
I don’t agree with Isis that Roenicke is a “stiff”, however, if you asked me to choose one, I would choose Mattingly.
Anyone think this has anything to do with how Bobby V. was so knowledgeable about the Tribe?
“Ok, he knows nothing about the American League. Nothing about the Central. Nothing about the Indians…
Do we have a number 5 on the list?”
Anyone from the staff of Scioscia is going to know what he’s doing and command respect of players. I like the thinking by Shapiro of going to a winning program and finding a guy who could be great.
Isis is an idiot 99% of the time. Let’s all just resign ourselves to the fact that this guy just spews hate for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that isn’t Cavs (even though he refuses to acknowledge the fact that Shaq might not work out and that Delonte is a real head case). He’s just a miserable person in general.
@ Jeremy – Manuel was arguably successful immediately after going from hitting coach of the Tribe to manager of the Tribe. Of course he had the advantage of being in the organization for a number of years when he made the move, and I believe he had managerial experience at the minor league level with the Indians and with many of the players he ended up managing.
All of that said, he didn’t win his championship until leaving the Indians organization and becoming a manager for the second time with the Phillies after serving in an advisory capacity for the Phillies.
Even if you want to consider Manuel’s stint as Tribe manager “successful,” you have to concede that Mattingly would have none of the built-in advantages that I point to above that Manuel had when taking over.
@#10- ha, nice.
@Isis- Why are you such a hater?
@ #10 Denny:
Well, if that’s our standard, I’d really like us to go and find Jaromir Jagre to be our next coach.
Anyway, I would be supportive of hiring this guy if that’s where the Indians front office went.
As much as I dislike the Angels (yet hope they beat the even-more-unlikable Yanks), they are a well-managed and stable organization. I think he could be a good choice.
Jaromir Jarge! I now have a toast for tonight. Thank you, sir.
A lot of interesting info about Roenicke here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Roenicke
Drafted FOUR times by major league clubs, but chose to play for UCLA instead. Hmmmm. Has his head screwed on right.
A lackluster MLB career, but did go to a World Series (Padres in 1984).
Extensive coaching and managing experience in minor leagues, first in the Dodger organization (back in the day when it was first rate). Minor league manager of the year a couple of times. Followed Scioscia to the Angels. 4-0 record managing the Angels when Scioscia was suspended.
Certainly no stiff.
This is the guy. All along I said it would be someone off the radar so Mark can show us how smart he is.
@AMC
Fair point. I want trying to be flippant in my orginal post
All I know is that I’m not thrilled with any of the choices.
You either choose a person with no managerial experience (the above two guys+Lovullo), one who has experience, but managed a perenial looser (no idea if he is good or bad manager given the lack of talent in D.C,.) or a guy who has significant experience, however, has almost the exact same record (and less World Series apperances I might add) than Mike Hargrove.
Bottom line, I’m not sure any of these guys are the answer. All I know is that is rare that the Indians get a chance to pick a hall of famer from the Yankee family (who was considered for the Yankee management job) to manage the Indians … you make a good argument for Roenicke, but I would still want Mattingly out of the guys with no managerial experience . Although, if they went with Roenicke, I would not be too upset.
#21 Help me remember the Hall of Famers who became good managers.
@23 – Good question. I found only two (one of which won a world series for the Indians):
Tris Spearker
Yogi Berra
You point is well taken given that very short list of hall of fame players that were sucessful managers.
There are some good arguements generated from this post that has really made me think about this.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure it will matter much. I think the Indians go with Acta (outside the organization, has managerial experience, is cheaper than a more verteran manager). I hope that I’m wrong.
sorry meant @22 in my last post.
[…] Indians other options included Bobby Valentine, Ron Roenicke, and Torrey […]