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Decade and MLB consultant for over two decades) and Fred Claire (World Series-winning general
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This time of year, multiple managerial positions are open and interviews are being held. Each team with a coaching vacancy gathers a list of promising candidates and compiles questions for the interview process. Teams evaluate their areas of inadequacy and determine their future plan of improvement. In many ways, hiring a major league manager is no different than selecting the right pair of shoes; it has to be a good fit.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, have a $300,000,000 payroll, established players, and, reportedly, a dysfunctional clubhouse. They shouldn’t be looking for the same manager as the Miami Marlins. The Dodgers need someone who has a history of a strong clubhouse, game management skills, and most importantly, managerial experience. So, what are the benefits of hiring media favorites, Gabe Kapler or Dave Martinez?

Kapler managed the Low-A affiliate for the Boston Red Sox in 2007 to 7th place finish in the South Atlantic League Southern Division. Martinez has been the bench coach for years, but has never managed at any level. Let’s assume that Kapler or Martinez know the game extremely well, are great people, and have strong relationships with Friedman. What sense does it make to hand over an organization worth billions of dollars to a novice? Why take the risk?

There is certainly a time and place for first time managers. 2016 is not that time and Los Angeles is not that place. Just as in Washington and their $141,803,228 payroll wasn’t the right time and place to hire first time manager Matt Williams. Just as in Detroit and their $173,291,085 payroll wasn’t the right time and place to hire first time manager Brad Ausmus. What is the infatuation with finding a former player who retired a few years ago to manage a major league team? I don’t understand it. Let those guys go and make their mistakes in the minor leagues. If they screw up a double switch, accidentally take a second visit to the mound, or don’t allow enough time for a pitcher to warm up, at least it’s in the Pacific Coast League and not the National League West. It’s the best decision for both the manager and the organization.

This doesn’t mean they won’t be great managers in the future. A.J. Hinch accumulated an 89-123 .420 record in Arizona and turned out to be one of the best managers in baseball this year. Hinch turned in an 86-76 .531 record for an Astros team predicted to finish last in the A.L. West.

With seemingly the talent to perform well, the Dodgers need a manager with excellent leadership qualities. Former Dodger manager, Jim Tracy, would appear to fit that need. Tracy won the National League West for the Dodgers in 2004 before agreeing to part ways in 2005 due to “philosophical differences”. Since that time, the front office and ownership has had a complete overhaul, and they’re searching for the solution. Friedman has the Tampa ties, as discussed above, to Dave Martinez and Gabe Kapler, but doesn’t need to go out on a limb to discover the next young managing phenom. They need someone who has been there before and fills the void for 2015…a clubhouse presence. With the expectations of World Series contention at the beginning of the season, Mattingly appeared to lose the clubhouse near the end of the season. As stress built, Mattingly made a comment to outfielder Andre Ethier after an at-bat. Ethier ripped into Mattingly in front of the entire team, stadium, and a nationally televised audience. Ethier will be around another 2-3 years, while Mattingly was shown the door. The Dodgers biggest need is a manager who controls a clubhouse and that people enjoy playing for. Jim Tracy has that reputation throughout baseball.

Since the inception of baseball, there have been 18 managers who have returned to the same team. Most notably was Billy Martin who sat behind the Yankees managerial desk four separate times (‘75-‘78, ‘83, ’85, and ’88). This was more of the reason of Martin and George Steinbrenner butting heads on many occasions than Martin being the perfect fit in New York. A recent example is Toronto Blue Jay skipper John Gibbons. Gibbons was the Jays manager from ’04-’08. During his tenure, there was a controversial mound visit with left hander Ted Lilly. Tempers flared and a yelling match ensued on the field and carried into the dugout. He and Lilly continued the argument down the stairs and into the tunnel, where it may or may not have gotten physical. Gibbons was rumored to have a bloody nose from a Lilly choke hold. Gibbons returned in 2013, following a bench coach position in Kansas City and a AA managerial position with the San Antonio Missions, to take over in Toronto. They won the American League East and finished the year 2nd in the A.L.

Since his time in Los Angeles, Tracy has managed the Pittsburgh Pirates, who were built to fail, but led the Rockies to the postseason, where he won the Manager of the Year Award. The Dodgers need to be slow and steady to win the race because they have the horses. First time managers like Brad Ausmus, Bryan Price of the Reds, and Matt Williams all showed that there is no need to take a gamble on a young “up and comer”. Jim Tracy has done it for years. He may not be the most talked about candidate on the market, but he definitely fits the need.

References:
1. "Baseball Reference." Baseball-Reference.com. Baseball Reference, n.d. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
NOTE: All statistics accurate as of 10/30/15

By Simon Ferrer
AriBall.com

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