Red Sox 3rd base coach Dale Sveum being considered as Pirates manager in '06

[riverside sluggers]

Leyland, among others, candidates for opening

 

Jim Leyland showed up at PNC Park on Tuesday afternoon in his normal duties as a St. Louis Cardinals scout. He was barely through the door when he began fielding questions about possibly returning to the Pirates next season as their manager. Despite leaving the organization in 1996 to pursue a World Series championship with the Florida Marlins, Leyland is considered a candidate to replace Lloyd McClendon, who was fired yesterday and replaced by Pete Mackanin on an interim basis. Asked if the Pirates job is appealing, Leyland offered a firm "no comment," but he didn't deny he wants to get back into managing. Leyland hasn't been in the dugout since 1999 when he led the Colorado Rockies to a 72-90 record.

 

Last year, Leyland was a finalist for the Philadelphia Phillies job, but watched it go to Charlie Manuel. "It's been known for some time that I would like to manage again in the right situation," Leyland said. "That's nothing new. People have known that since I interviewed for the Philadelphia job. Again, it would have to be the right situation." Leyland managed the Pirates to three consecutive division titles in the early 1990s, but he left under acrimonious circumstances late in the 1996 season, the first year under Kevin McClatchy's ownership group. With McClatchy trimming payroll, and the Pirates emphasizing youth, Leyland asked to be let out of his contract. He signed with the Marlins and won a World Series the next season.

 

McClatchy said Leyland did not burn any bridges and is free to be interviewed by general manager Dave Littlefield. "Dave can entertain anyone he wants," McClatchy said. "I'm not going to try to sway him one way or another. I'm fine with what happened and that was a long time ago. Whoever Dave picks, we want someone who gives us the best chance to win."

 

McClatchy prefers the next hire has previous major-league managing experience, but he said the final determination would be made by Littlefield. Other high-profile candidates with connections to Pittsburgh include former Athletics and Mets manager Art Howe and current A's manager Ken Macha, an Export resident whose contract expires at the end of the season. Candidates without prior major-league managing experience could include Mackanin, third base coach John Russell, Pirates director of player development Brian Graham, Boston Red Sox third base coach Dale Sveum and Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach Jay Bell.

 

"I'm not sure if they have any thought of having me on as the manager of the Pirates, but I grew up (as a player) here, and Pittsburgh is a phenomenal town," Bell said. "It has a fan base that loves a blue-collar style of play. I have a soft spot in my heart for Pittsburgh. I wouldn't mind it." Pirates broadcaster Bob Walk, who interviewed in 2000 for the position that went to McClendon, said he will not apply. "That window has closed," Walk said. McClendon was one of the lowest-paid managers in the game, but McClatchy said he would open the purse strings, if necessary, to get the right man.

 

"I'd hate to say (we have a) blank check because those things come back and bite you on the shoelaces," he said. "We have a budget we can spend on a manager. I don't think we're talking about Joe Torre or Tony La Russa being in the market place this year, so I don't think you're going to be looking at that price tag. Dave is in charge of getting the best person he can, and I think he can get that within our budget."

[yankeessuck013]

hahahaha, maybe we could get a real third base coach then

[Soxfan1]

You can have him.

[riverside sluggers]

I know he still has couple of playing seasons in him, but I think Bill Mueller would make a great 3rd base coach someday...

[26 to 6]

all I know about Dale is that he's a pretty bad 3B coach...even worse than Sojo (who really isnt that bad, but does have his bad nights). But hey, if it gets the Pirates winning then they should go for it.

[MC Hammer]

Well they definatly twisted McClatchy's words. He said that the final decision will be up to Littlefield, BUT he wants someone with MLB experience. If you say it the other way around then it makes sense that Dale would be an option. This is just a way for someone to make a story that's really not true. Fact of the matter is that the Pirates will not make the same mistake they did with McClendon. They're not going to hire someone just because they're cheap, or because of past ties with the team. The Pirates don't actually want to win, but they want to make the fans think they are, and the cheapest way to do that is to hire a manager that people thing could turn the team around.

 

I actually wouldn't be surprised if a new manager came into Pittsburgh and turned the team around a little and maybe got them close to .500, but I really don't see them getting much further than that unless they add some more pieces.

 

Ken Macha said that he thinks the Pirates are a diamond in the rough, and thinks that he could turn the organization around. It'd be interesting to see someone like him here ... someone who has worked with and helped develop young talent, which people say the Pirates have.

 

This really isn't even news. I think the Pirates need 3 more losing seasons to cement their place as the worst francise in baseball. LETS GO BUCS!

[Sizzlin22]

Wow, I never would have guessed in a million years.

[fuckery]

all I know about Dale is that he's a pretty bad 3B coach...even worse than Sojo (who really isnt that bad, but does have his bad nights). But hey, if it gets the Pirates winning then they should go for it.

 

You are a herb. Your opinion means nothing.

[riverside sluggers]

Pirates Notebook: Sveum possible manager candidate

Friday, September 23, 2005

 

By Paul Meyer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

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Dale Sveum, a former Pirate who managed Class AA Altoona for three seasons, might attract consideration for the Pirates' managerial job. "My name's going to get tossed around just because of the fact that I managed most of the kids there," Sveum said. "Whether things go any further, who knows?" Sveum, currently the third-base coach for the Boston Red Sox, guided Altoona to a 213-211 record. His final team in 2003 included nine players who reached the major leagues with the Pirates and a 10th, Chris Shelton, who is in the big leagues with Detroit.

 

"He knew the game in and out," center fielder Chris Duffy said. "He studies the game as much as anybody I've ever seen. He probably knows as much baseball as any guy I've ever met." I guess you'd consider him very old school," left-hander John Grabow said. "He had some rules that taught you how to respect the game. After a loss, you couldn't eat, couldn't get in the shower, until 15 minutes after the game. He was real strict on the fundamentals of the game and just playing the game right. I thought he was a great manager. He taught me a lot about the game and taught me a lot about the mental part of the game and how to battle through adversity."

 

Sveum said the Pirates haven't asked for permission to speak with him. "It's nothing to dwell on now because you understand the whole process," Sveum said. "You don't think about it until it's a serious issue or someone calls. Until then, you don't dwell on it because anyone's name can get thrown out there. "I want to manage. You're always going to be interested if someone wants to interview you -- and especially in Pittsburgh because I'm familiar with all of those kids and the city and everything." One wonders if the Pirates will have a new manager in place by the time the organizational meetings begin Oct. 10 in Bradenton, Fla.

[Soxfan1]

With duke and the other pitcher?(forgot his name was supposed to be same as duke) the pirates might do good next year.

[schillingouttheks]

...

 

Zach Duke and whoever you're thinking of won't lead the Pirates to doing well. They need a number of corrections....

[26 to 6]

...

 

Zach Duke and whoever you're thinking of won't lead the Pirates to doing well. They need a number of corrections....

yes but Duke, Oliver Perez, and whoever hes thinking of would be a nice front end of the rotation for a long time. Not to mention the young guys they have in the minors and on the big club already.

[WestMassFan04]

I thought we would have to pay someone to take him

[MC Hammer]

yes but Duke, Oliver Perez, and whoever hes thinking of would be a nice front end of the rotation for a long time. Not to mention the young guys they have in the minors and on the big club already.

We've had a number of young guys for the past 13 years and it never worked out.

 

I'll say it again DALE IS NOT GOING TO COACH THIS TEAM. The Pirates are getting a coach with MLB managerial experience PERIOD. Lloyd Mcclendon was hired simply because he used to wear black and gold, and that was a misserable failure. They wont make the same mistake twice.

 

Right now from everything I've been hearing it seems that Ken Macha is a lock to be the next manager with Bryan Price(who resigned today) as the pitching coach. The Pirates definatly have a lot of talent at pitcher. Duke, Perez, Malholm(the guy who you all think is like duke but isn't nearly as good), van benschotten, burnett, snell, etc. The Pirates have always had pretty good pitching ... what we need bats. I think if the Pirates add 1 or 2 legit bats this offseason they have a shot to crack .500 but I'm not holding my breath.

 

I'm willing to bet my left nut that Dale will not be the Pirates manager.