Arizona Diamondbacks: Ron Gardenhire could manage again in 2018
Current Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach Ron Gardenhire has been mentioned as a candidate for teams that need a new manager
Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach Ron Gardenhire has earned the respect of first year manager Torey Lovullo, the rest of the coaching staff and the players.
Now, he is a candidate to manage again in the big leagues.
Gardenhire has helped Lovullo navigate through the ups and downs of being a manager in the big leagues. It cannot be an easy job. Every decision Lovullo made under the microscope, lauded for ideas that worked out and criticized for those that did not.
The 59-year-old Gardenhire has seen it all from the dugout, and various reports have listed him as a candidate for the Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Philadelphia Philles. The former major league infielder also played for the New York Mets during his playing career and could be a candidate to replace Terry Collins.
Major league coach Jerry Narron took over as interim bench coach of the Diamondbacks when Gardenhire took a leave of absence to recover from prostate cancer surgery. If Gardenhire departs, Narron is an obvious candidate to become Lovullo’s full-time bench coach.
Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski announced the firing of manager John Farrell on Wednesday. The Red Sox were eliminated from the postseason in the division series for the second consecutive season by the Houston Astros in four games.
Gardy to the Red Sox?
Dombrowski seemed to indicate he wants his next manager to have big league experience in the dugout either as a manager or bench coach. Here is what he told Tim Britton of Providence Journal:
“I do think it would be difficult for a person to walk directly onto the field without some on-field managerial experience at some level or big-league coaching — more so here than in some other places,” Dombrowski said.
Gardenhire certainly has experience. He guided the Minnesota Twins to six AL Central division titles during his 13 seasons at the helm and is one of 10 managers in baseball history to win 1,000-plus games with a single team.
The Detroit News has already reported that Gardenhire is a candidate to interview for the Tigers’ job.
Former Twins general manager Andy MacPhail is currently the Phillies team president, which is likely the basis for Gardenhire possibly taking over in Philadelphia.
Dombrowski has always respected Gardenhire. If anything, I think the two teams that would covet Gardenhire the most are Boston and Detroit.
Arizona Diamondbacks eliminated, who to root for now? (hint: Not LA)
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