2012 Who will be our manager?

[iortiz]

Sveum a finalist to become Red Sox manager

 

By Peter Abraham*|* GLOBE STAFF * * NOVEMBER 14, 2011

 

 

Dale Sveum has emerged as one of the finalists to become manager of the Red Sox and is expected to meet with owner John Henry this week, perhaps as soon as tomorrow, according to team sources.

 

The Brewers hitting coach is expected to be in Milwaukee, where Major League Baseball is conducting its general managers and owners meetings this week.

 

Sveum is one of five candidates who interviewed with the Sox over the last two weeks and was considered a favorite from the start of the process. He was the third base coach of the Sox from 2004-05 and made a good impression on the team with his attention to detail and personality.

 

 

General manager Ben Cherington has said his plan was to narrow the field this week and present a “small short list’’ of candidates to ownership. A decision would be made at that point.

 

Henry and team chairman Tom Werner have yet to meet with any of the candidates.

 

The Cubs could complicate the process as Sveum also interviewed for their managerial vacancy.

 

Sveum, who turns 48 this month, had a 12-year playing career and was the interim manager of the Brewers for 12 games in 2008, guiding them into the playoffs.

 

Sandy Alomar Jr., Torey Lovullo, Gene Lamont, and Pete Mackanin were the other candidates interviewed by the Sox.

 

It's hard to say how a pitching/hitting coach could perform as a manager. As long as he can handle the egos, implement discipline and take the best from each player is good for me.

[jung]

"a small short list". Well they started with four. I don't think they will have gone through the effort they have gone through so far to trim four to three so they BC must be intending to present a "list" of two.

 

We shall see.

[a700hitter]

This was a headline in today's Boston Herald:

 

Second interview looming for Sveum

 

When he hits the 3rd, he'll just start windmilling people home. LOL!!

[a700hitter]

Wow, it took a month and a half to decide that Dale Sveum is a finalist. What a diligent search.

[jung]

Well since he is the only one apparently being called in at least as far as we can tell, unless he screws this 2nd interview up, I expect him to get the job.

[Laser Show]

I read that Dale Sveum and at least one other candidate are being interviewed again.

 

I think Sveum would be a good manager, as long as he brings in a pitching coach with a lot of experience.

[a700hitter]

I read that Dale Sveum and at least one other candidate are being interviewed again.

 

I think Sveum would be a good manager, as long as he brings in a pitching coach with a lot of experience.

Dale Sveum and Coco the Chimp are the finalists. My vote is on Coco. The players will likwe the Chimp better and play harder, plus the Chimp will execute superior strategy.

[YAZMAN]

I'd hire him as manager just so he couldn't coach 3rd base anymore...

[FredLynn]

Hey everyone' date=' new to the forum but a well-established Sox fan, from New Zealand. What's everyone's feeling about Sveum? Seems a frontrunner for the job now...[/quote']

 

The consensus here is that Sveum is unlikely to be hired because his last name sounds too much like something one would cough up and expectorate.

[FredLynn]

Maybe Tony Robbins has a Red Sox disussin forum.

 

Believe it or not, there actually IS a forum for folks who do not like any negativity whatsoever. Complaining is not tolerated there; all is copacetic. Its totally vanilla. Not for me, for sure, but maybe VA SOXFAN would like it.

[Elktonnick]

The consensus here is that Sveum is unlikely to be hired because his last name sounds too much like something one would cough up and expectorate.

 

We had "sit and spit" so now we can "Sink or Sveun"

[a700hitter]

Believe it or not' date=' there actually IS a forum for folks who do not like any negativity whatsoever. Complaining is not tolerated there; all is copacetic. Its totally vanilla. Not for me, for sure, but maybe VA SOXFAN would like it.[/quote']Enough of your negativity!

[FredLynn]

Enough of your negativity!

 

The season is young. My negativity is still in its offseason.

Here is the link to the forum I was referring to:

 

http://stfunited.com/

 

You might find it amusing. Totally vanilla; and totally uninteresting. Everyone waving the pompoms and wearing pink bonnets.

[SoxSport]

Cafardo thinks they need a more independent manager--like Valentine.

He is disturbed by the candidates, who look like FO lackeys. Did I say lackey?

 

I tend to agree, though I don't know if Valentine is the right guy.

 

I would leave the moneyball to the FO, and get a manager who can manage games and handle

pitching. Somebody who isn't afraid to play smallball when a critical run is needed, and who doesn't burn out a bullpen using 4 pitchers in a 7-1 win.

 

Never forget seeing CC sitting on 1b in late September, a run behind, 8th inning, no outs.

He just sat there. No attempt to steal. He should have been gone on the first pitch.

[seabeachfred]

Cafardo thinks they need a more independent manager--like Valentine.

He is disturbed by the candidates, who look like FO lackeys. Did I say lackey?

 

I tend to agree, though I don't know if Valentine is the right guy.

 

I would leave the moneyball to the FO, and get a manager who can manage games and handle

pitching. Somebody who isn't afraid to play smallball when a critical run is needed, and who doesn't burn out a bullpen using 4 pitchers in a 7-1 win.

 

Never forget seeing CC sitting on 1b in late September, a run behind, 8th inning, no outs.

He just sat there. No attempt to steal. He should have been gone on the first pitch.

 

Triple BRAVO SoxSport. My only disagreement is that you only mentioned one occasion when our speedy runners were nailed to first base in a close game where we were behind. If Sveum is the manager we will see more of this because the only reason he would be given the job is because Lucchino, now in charge, can manipulate him with his beloved spread sheets and computer print outs that say "don't give up any outs" only to be doubled up with the plethora of double plays we always seem to hit into. Valentine wouldn't even be considered because he has a mind of his own and totally different from FrancoMa who proved to be Epstein's lackey, especially the last few years. How many games Fetch FrancoMa cost us over the eight seasons he was here was high enough to have cost us at least two more division titles and who knows what else.

 

Cafardo is right; those aforementioned names look like a bunch of lackeys who would dance to Lucchino and his new chief hit man Cherington. I mean, can't we do better than Sveum, Lamont, Makanin or the rest of that sorry crowd of aspirants?

[InfernoOrangeSS]

This was a headline in today's Boston Herald:

 

 

 

When he hits the 3rd, he'll just start windmilling people home. LOL!!

 

Hits 3rd? I would say soon after he hits 2nd he will start windmilling...at least that was what he did in the past.

[mvp 78]

FYI, Valentine would be the ultimate lackey. No thanks.

 

I'd rather Alomar or Pena, but am ok with Sveum. Managing isn't the same as coaching 3rd. Dale has great leadership abilities.

[SoxSport]

Triple BRAVO SoxSport. My only disagreement is that you only mentioned one occasion when our speedy runners were nailed to first base in a close game where we were behind. If Sveum is the manager we will see more of this because the only reason he would be given the job is because Lucchino, now in charge, can manipulate him with his beloved spread sheets and computer print outs that say "don't give up any outs" only to be doubled up with the plethora of double plays we always seem to hit into. Valentine wouldn't even be considered because he has a mind of his own and totally different from FrancoMa who proved to be Epstein's lackey, especially the last few years. How many games Fetch FrancoMa cost us over the eight seasons he was here was high enough to have cost us at least two more division titles and who knows what else.

 

Cafardo is right; those aforementioned names look like a bunch of lackeys who would dance to Lucchino and his new chief hit man Cherington. I mean, can't we do better than Sveum, Lamont, Makanin or the rest of that sorry crowd of aspirants?

 

I think Tito's problem is he had been bench coach for Beane's As, and was wedded to moneyball. He probably was getting micromanaged by the FO, and constricted himself too much on the field.

 

It appears this won't change with Sveum, so I doubt the game managing will change much.They said Sveum is coming in for a 2nd interview, but they are now also saying there won't be anyone else for a 2nd interview. So why interview Sveum twice?

[VA Sox Fan]

I think Tito's problem is he had been bench coach for Beane's As, and was wedded to moneyball. He probably was getting micromanaged by the FO, and constricted himself too much on the field.

 

It appears this won't change with Sveum, so I doubt the game managing will change much.They said Sveum is coming in for a 2nd interview, but they are now also saying there won't be anyone else for a 2nd interview. So why interview Sveum twice?

 

Yeah, I read that too. Sounds like Sveum is their man. It's going to be weird having a new manager.

[Bellhorn04]

Yeah' date=' I read that too. Sounds like Sveum is their man. It's going to be weird having a new manager.[/quote']

 

His first questionable decision, and the firestorm it generates on the Sox forums, will make it seem like old times again.

 

I expect that will be at approx. 3 PM on April 5, 2012.

[FredLynn]

His first questionable decision, and the firestorm it generates on the Sox forums, will make it seem like old times again.

 

I expect that will be at approx. 3 PM on April 5, 2012.

 

I think we have to give him a chance before passing judgement on him. Lets see if he is able to utilize the full offensive arsenal at his disposal (eg: steals, sacrifice bunts, hit and run etc), shows ingenuity, and is tough in the clubhouse. I am pretty suspicious that he is another yes-man, but Sveum deserves a chance. He will make mistakes, but hopefully it will be mistakes born out of aggressiveness trying to win games. If he fails in these regards then yes, there WILL be bitching.:harhar:

[User Name]

There will be bitching either way.

[YAZMAN]

There will be bitching either way.

 

That's a constant here no less certain than the speed of light in a vacuum, acceleration due to gravity, Avogadro's number...

[a700hitter]

That's a constant here no less certain than the speed of light in a vacuum' date=' acceleration due to gravity, Avogadro's number...[/quote']Of course we are going to bitch about the manager. That's a given, especially considering that the average IQ of the manager pool is only in the two digits. Without Larussa in that pool it has take n a turn down. Half the players usually don't like the manager, so why would he be any more popular with the fans.

 

To paraphrase Casey Stengel, on every team there are about a half dozen guys that love you and a half dozen that hate you. The rest are indifferent. The key to good managing is to keep the guys who hate you from talking to the guys that are indifferent.

[Elktonnick]

Of course we are going to bitch about the manager. That's a given, especially considering that the average IQ of the manager pool is only in the two digits. Without Larussa in that pool it has take n a turn down. Half the players usually don't like the manager, so why would he be any more popular with the fans.

 

To paraphrase Casey Stengel, on every team there are about a half dozen guys that love you and a half dozen that hate you. The rest are indifferent. The key to good managing is to keep the guys who hate you from talking to the guys that are indifferent.

 

Actually that's good advice for anyone in a leadership position. Not to be partisan, but isn't that the objective of everyone who currently holds elective office:D

[a700hitter]

Actually that's good advice for anyone in a leadership position. Not to be partisan' date=' but isn't that the objective of everyone who currently holds elective office:D[/quote']That's right. All political races are won in the middle.

[seabeachfred]

Being a Red Sox manager is an open invitation for criticism, controversy and dissension and with the possible elevation of Dale Sveum as the new skipper this could accelerate very rapidly. I mean, take a look at the guy. He was interum manager of the Brewers for about a dozen games at the end of the 2010 season and then discarded back to coach so a new guy was hired without any Major League managing experience and not much minor league ones either. What does that say about Sveum, that is it possible he might be a few smokes short of a pack? We'll have to give the guy all the support we can because his success is our team's success and in ours as well. I still wish someone like Dave Martinez or Bobby Valentine would have gotten the job instead, but I guess that's show biz

[Elktonnick]

Being a Red Sox manager is an open invitation for criticism' date=' controversy and dissension and with the possible elevation of Dale Sveum as the new skipper this could accelerate very rapidly. I mean, take a look at the guy. He was interum manager of the Brewers for about a dozen games at the end of the 2010 season and then discarded back to coach so a new guy was hired without any Major League managing experience and not much minor league ones either. What does that say about Sveum, that is it possible he might be a few smokes short of a pack? We'll have to give the guy all the support we can because his success is our team's success and in ours as well. I still wish someone like Dave Martinez or Bobby Valentine would have gotten the job instead, but I guess that's show biz[/quote']

 

Fred I agree. I'd rather have Bobby (be my) Valentine instead of Dale (sink or) Sveum:D

[RonVermette]

I just find it hard to believe that they're about to choose a new manager who's most remembered for sending runners to be thrown out at home.

[FredLynn]

Being a Red Sox manager is an open invitation for criticism' date=' controversy and dissension and with the possible elevation of Dale Sveum as the new skipper this could accelerate very rapidly. I mean, take a look at the guy. He was interum manager of the Brewers for about a dozen games at the end of the 2010 season and then discarded back to coach so a new guy was hired without any Major League managing experience and not much minor league ones either. What does that say about Sveum, that is it possible he might be a few smokes short of a pack? We'll have to give the guy all the support we can because his success is our team's success and in ours as well. I still wish someone like Dave Martinez or Bobby Valentine would have gotten the job instead, but I guess that's show biz[/quote']

 

I can see the interview now:

 

Lucchino: "You know Dale that we really aren't looking for a manager with a brain or an IQ greater than his shoe size"

Sveum: "What?"

Cherington: "Dale, lets be frank. How many ways can you say 'yes'?"

Sveum: "I know lots of three letter words"

Lucchino: "What we are looking for in a manager is someone who can do exactly what he is told. Are you that man?"

Sveum: "I try not to think too much. It gives me a headache."

Cherington: "Do you know how to use a computer?"

Sveum: "Nope. Never owned one. I just take orders from my bosses and wave people home a lot"

Lucchino: "Dale, why is it that the Brewers declined to offer you the manager's job after you briefly screwed up as interim manager?"

Sveum: "What's a manager?"

Cherington: "Can you come back next week for a second interview and more stimulating conversation?"

Sveum: "Yup, umhum"