Post by kinsm on Nov 9, 2014 20:43:09 GMT -5
---Marc Topkin (Tampa Tribune)
The Rays interviewed current bench coach Dave Martinez and former big league manager Manny Acta earlier in the week. And followed those interviews up today by conducting phone interviews with former big league manager Don Wakamatsu, and former player Craig Counsell and current free agent (soon to be retired) Raul Ibanez on Friday and are expected to speak with their AAA manager Charlie Montoyo, Giants bench coach Ron Wotus, and Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash during this week’s GM Meetings in Phoenix.
It seems clear that longtime bench coach Dave Martinez is the obvious choice to replace Joe Maddon as Rays manager.
So it must be assumed that team officials are going through the interview process with seven (and likely a couple more) others of assorted backgrounds to at least get a sense of what alternatives are available, if not trying to find one better.
Which makes it all the more interesting to see how much they listen to the voices coming out of the clubhouse.
Several players had spoken out in support of Martinez after Maddon unexpectedly left Oct. 24, and the three top Rays —Ben Zobrist, Alex Cobb and Evan Longoria — have done so again after seeing the other names.
"I still like Dave Martinez at the top of the list," Zobrist emailed. "I think Dave is ready for the opportunity to see how he can do. He has always been 100 percent into the games mentally and I know he has the baseball acumen to manage in game situations."
Cobb said Martinez "would be a great manager. He has a great relationship with all the players. Can relate to us and knows how the culture has been here." Longoria called Martinez "kind of the obvious pick" on MLB Network, also noting the continuity he would provide.
It's not surprising that the players would opt for the known quantity in Martinez, and someone they feel they will be comfortable with. The question may be how much change the front office wants.
IBANEZ INFO: Surprise candidate Raul Ibanez may have been on the Rays radar since a 2011-12 offseason lunch when they were trying to sign him as a player, agent Seth Levinson said, though he chose the Yankees. Also of note, Ibanez sleeps in a hyperbaric chamber, eats only gluten-free food, works out fiendishly and has a "joint alignment" therapist. Plus, he quotes Winston Churchill and reads historian Doris Kearns Goodwin (Team of Rivals).
So it must be assumed that team officials are going through the interview process with seven (and likely a couple more) others of assorted backgrounds to at least get a sense of what alternatives are available, if not trying to find one better.
Which makes it all the more interesting to see how much they listen to the voices coming out of the clubhouse.
Several players had spoken out in support of Martinez after Maddon unexpectedly left Oct. 24, and the three top Rays —Ben Zobrist, Alex Cobb and Evan Longoria — have done so again after seeing the other names.
"I still like Dave Martinez at the top of the list," Zobrist emailed. "I think Dave is ready for the opportunity to see how he can do. He has always been 100 percent into the games mentally and I know he has the baseball acumen to manage in game situations."
Cobb said Martinez "would be a great manager. He has a great relationship with all the players. Can relate to us and knows how the culture has been here." Longoria called Martinez "kind of the obvious pick" on MLB Network, also noting the continuity he would provide.
It's not surprising that the players would opt for the known quantity in Martinez, and someone they feel they will be comfortable with. The question may be how much change the front office wants.
IBANEZ INFO: Surprise candidate Raul Ibanez may have been on the Rays radar since a 2011-12 offseason lunch when they were trying to sign him as a player, agent Seth Levinson said, though he chose the Yankees. Also of note, Ibanez sleeps in a hyperbaric chamber, eats only gluten-free food, works out fiendishly and has a "joint alignment" therapist. Plus, he quotes Winston Churchill and reads historian Doris Kearns Goodwin (Team of Rivals).
The Rays interviewed current bench coach Dave Martinez and former big league manager Manny Acta earlier in the week. And followed those interviews up today by conducting phone interviews with former big league manager Don Wakamatsu, and former player Craig Counsell and current free agent (soon to be retired) Raul Ibanez on Friday and are expected to speak with their AAA manager Charlie Montoyo, Giants bench coach Ron Wotus, and Indians bullpen coach Kevin Cash during this week’s GM Meetings in Phoenix.