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The Search For KirkPosted on November 7, 2011 at 6:34 AM The Cardinals are continuing to look for the replacement to Tony La Russa. They've interviewed a few people, such as Joe McEwing and Chris Maloney, but what has come out of the interview of Mike Matheny has been the most interesting news yet.Filed Under: St. Louis Cardinals Matheny spoke with the media after his interview and he said that the team seemed to see the role more as a leadership position rather than a tactician job. He seemed to think that his lack of coaching and/or managerial experience was not going to be a drawback when they were making their decision. Given the list that is circulating, it can't be that surprising that the Cards have that sort of attitude. You have McEwing and Matheny, two former players who were still active a handful of years ago. You have Maloney, who has done some good work in Memphis but never managed at the major league level. You have Jose Oquendo, who has spent a lot of time coaching at the big leagues and has managed in Puerto Rico, but never in the bigs. Lastly, you have Terry Francona, the only one of the group that has been a big league manager. So obviously the front office would feel comfortable about a neophyte taking over the reins of the club. (Unless, of course, the whole list is a smokescreen, giving some people interview experience while planning to go with Francona.) There probably is something to looking for a leader rather than a strictly baseball manager and after the trade in July, you have to definitely bring back the phrase "In Mo We Trust." All that said, I'm very surprised the club is seeming to move in that direction. La Russa leaves a long shadow plus a fan base that is extremely used to winning baseball. While there is enough talent on the squad that even Bill Ivie could manage the games from 2012, there's a lot that goes on with that job that could easily be overwhelming for a new manager. Are they ready for the nightly TV press conference? Can they juggle a pitching staff, a sulking outfielder, and a visit with the season ticket holders? Are they ready for the second-guessing that will take place in an environment that was very different just five years ago, with Twitter and blogs? They very well may be, I don't know. I'm just thinking I wouldn't want to subject a rookie manager to this kind of situation. If the team was rebuilding, not expected to do much for a year or so, then I could understand it more. It just seems like a large cauldron of pressure for a new guy to have to handle. Then again, with the talent coming back for 2012, at least they should have some success, though that's a double-edged sword as well, because if they don't have enough success, if they don't win 90 games or so, there's going to be a lot of people wondering if it was the manager that was unable to get enough out of the players. Again, I am sure that John Mozeliak and the rest of the organization will make a reasoned and informed decision. It may not be the one I'd make, but they do have much more knowledge and experience in the situation. We'll see what they can come up with!  Leave a comment 3 Comments3 Comments | Leave a commentLeave a comment |
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I just can't imagine how Maloney fails if given the chance. It's a great opportunity for the guy to incorporate the minor league system prospects that are coming in the next three years. That is an important pipeline, and Maloney is best suited to nurture and utilize it.
Your Kirk Gibson reference is a good one. A search for a new manager is always a question of choosing a guy with a proven track record versus catching lightning in a bottle. Jim Tracy was Kirk Gibson before Kirk Gibson was. But Tracy has fallen on hard times in Colorado. Track record seems a little more of a stable methodology. But who knows. I certainly don't.
William, again you make me look better than I actually am. That's a wonderful way of looking at the title and it would work very well with my post, but that actually wasn't the way I was going with it.
It was a play on Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. However, instead of the orderly, tactical, logical first officer, the Cards seem to be searching for Kirk, the inspiring leader who can get the job done no matter what he doesn't know.