It's looking like Sandberg will be back
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It's looking like Sandberg will be back
Matt Gelb, Inquirer Staff Writer
MILWAUKEE — There are two managerial openings still unfilled in baseball and Ryne Sandberg is a finalist for neither. The Cubs do not want to hire their Hall of Fame second baseman only to have to fire him one day. The Red Sox never interviewed Sandberg.
The only position for which Sandberg was interviewed — St. Louis — hired Mike Matheny with no managerial experience. So that leaves either a job on a major-league staff or a return to the minors for Sandberg.
Given that Sandberg was viewed as a managerial candidate this winter, it's hard to see a newly hired manager adding him to his staff for fear of always looking over his shoulder.
So this could be a major win for the Phillies, who are quite fond of Sandberg. Should he return to triple-A Lehigh Valley for the 2012 season, the Phillies theoretically have another season to find a spot for him on the major-league staff for 2013. Charlie Manuel's deal expires after the 2013 season. You do the math...
Phillies officials have had nothing but effusive praise for Sandberg's first season in the organization. A handful of players who spent time with the IronPigs in 2011 spoke highly of Sandberg's style.
Granted, nothing is a slam dunk. The fact that Sandberg has been passed over for numerous managerial jobs in the past two seasons raises a red flag. But no one has suggested the 52-year-old is unfit for a managing job eventually.
Who knows? Maybe it comes in Philadelphia.
Have a question? Send it to Matt Gelb's Mailbag.
Make him the hitting coach of the Phils.— ESFjellin- You are right....make Sandberg the Phillies HITTING COACH.— frank105
- I wonder what Chuck LeMar thinks of him, let alone RAJ?— Andrewsgvl
- If Pete Mackanin is still a candidate for either the Cubs or Red Sox job, Sandberg could still be in Philadelphia for 2012 as bench coach.— veritas1325
- Ryne is a very nice guy and a very knowledgable coach. He is a HOF'er, too. The only negative I can see is he doesn't have a really dynamic personality. He's not grinning and outgoing like Ron Washington, Bobby Valentine, Joe Madden, etc. He's kinda like Mike Scosia of the Angels. Just kinda sits there and talks quietly, makes moves, etc. But wherever he goes he wins. Makes you wonder if we shouldn't make him hitting coach or bench coach, but Amaro won't ruffle Manuel's feathers and interfere with his coaching staff and as Charlie is loyal to players he is just as loyal to his coaches. He won't fire someone to appoint Ryne. The best we can hope for is a coach retires or Mackinin gets a managing gig with someone.— Mark1npt
- If Mackinnon gets hired by Chicago or BoSox, I'd bring Sandberg up as your benhc coach and eliminate th ehitting coach altogether. This way, when the time comes for Chollie to retire or leave in any other way, Sandberg becomes your Phil manager eventually. We all know Greg Gross (while probably a nice guy and good coach) isn't really having much of an effect and Chollie is probably a more authorative voice when it comes to hitting instruction. I'd be willing to bet that Sandberg's HoF presence will have an effect on these guys. While we're at it, pay Cuddyer. He's a HARD OUT, one thing this team has lacked since Werth left. Werth (during his time with the Phils) and Cuddyer see more pitches than most and Polanco doesn't look like the tough out that he once was.— chrisc4499
- He could easily be our hitting coach or third base coach. I wonder what percentage of our guys were thrown out at home vice the others...I'm sure there is some sabertooth math out there that could tell us. All I know is he is a baseball man and we need people like him in our orginization. Ivan dejesus....jeez what were they thinking.— tsump
- ...and everyone was panicking...— Grazman
- I bet Sandberg knows that when your offense cant score runs to bunt a runner over from 2nd base with no outs. Amazing how Chuck has been given a free ride the last few years on his inability to manage during a game. Being a players manager wont bail you out for much longer when the skills of your key players continues to decline. Can someone explain how Milt Thompson lost his job and GG still has his? The entire coaching staff and squad needs a refresh.— jollyrancherk3
- What's amazing is that a guy who is apparently not as smart as you are has been able to win more games than any other manager in baseball for the past two seasons. I wonder if that has anything to do with his "free ride." — phillyl0
- Wow Philly10. Learn the difference between thruput input and output, and then reevaluate your reply. You are the one who sounds like you have no clue. — justacarpenter
- Charlie didn't win anything. The team performed. The manager is only as good as the performance of the team. — andivalspoppop
- The free ride was courtesy of a young, talented and hungry team over-achieving. You gotta question the IQ, baseball or otherwise, of a manager who took 4 years to learn the double switch. There is a reason, you know, despite all of "his success", that he hasn't come close to winning a "Manager of the Year" Award (distant seconds don't count)
- Time to talk to Ryan and let him know yeah or ney of whether or not his is the heir appearant to Charlie. If RAJ/Monty/The boys want Ryan to eventually skipper the Phillies, time is NOW to let him know and make a back door deal to keep him in the organization. His time will come, but if they are THAT high on him, get the deal done and give the man some security.— drhoffman
- Ryne is Charlie's successor. It's only a question of when he takes over. It could be anywhere from May 2011 until February 2013. With Ruben's patience wearing very thin (as evidenced by his post-playoff news conference), I'm betting it'll be sooner rather than later.— Phront_Runner
