The latter guys used to be called “puppets,’’ but it is now an accepted way to conduct business.
Every manager in 21st century baseball has some sort of front office intervention because of the data available. And all managers must deal with general managers needing to have certain players play to increase their value.
It’s not that the Leylands, Scioscias, and Showalters turn their backs on front offices or don’t use the data - in fact, they do - but they use it on their terms.
If you’ll notice, the managerial searches of the Red Sox and Cubs involve guys with not a lot of major league managing experience. Pete Mackanin’s 106 games as an interim manager in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati top the list.
Both teams seem to be moving toward the organizational approach and will hire a caretaker, an out-front person to do it. But he has to be on board with their practices. That’s why you’re seeing the names you’re seeing.
Dale Sveum was interim manager for 12 games in Milwaukee in 2008, a minor league manager in the Pittsburgh organization for three years, and a coach in Boston and Milwaukee the last seven.
Sandy Alomar Jr. was a player for 20 years and a coach for four. No managing experience at all.
Mike Maddux was a journeyman pitcher for 15 years and then became a pitching coach in the Astros organization and for the Brewers and Rangers.
The Cubs have a similar list.
Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he is ruling out anyone who doesn’t have major league managing or coaching experience, which immediately disqualified Ryne Sandberg, who is a Chicago fan favorite and has been a very good minor league manager. Epstein values the coaching experience at the major league level perhaps more than some who feel there’s no substitute for managerial experience.
In 2004, Epstein selected Terry Francona over Maddon because he felt major league managing experience was important in the Boston market. Maddon had been a coach under Scioscia.
Francona has acknowledged that even with his previous managerial experience in Philadelphia, Boston was a different animal and one that took him time to adapt to.
