Things have quieted down at Ballpark Way in the last couple of days. Jon Daniels has narrowed his search for a new manager down and some interesting names have started to emerge.
I have been on record that I was a fan of former Ranger assistant GM Jayce Tingler along with Astros bench coach Joe Espada. Both are up and coming names mentioned around all of baseball .
Tingler never got above AA as a player with the Rangers. After retiring he has managed at a couple of levels and was promoted to assistant GM and field coordinator for the 2018 season. He moved to bench coach when Jeff Bannister was fired and Don Wakamatsu took over for the interim.
Espada is another name who never reached the major leagues as a player. He played nine seasons in the A’s organization before becoming a minor league coach like Tingler. He also became field coordinator before making the big leagues as a third base coach for the Marlins and then Yankees.
Now for the others who have been interviewed.
Joe Girardi is the first name that hit the news when he came in and formally interviewed for the job. Girardi spent 10 seasons managing in New York and won a world series. For me personally, this isn’t the guy I want. Maybe for a veteran team he would be a good fit. I don’t think he makes sense here.
Wakamatsu also has interviewed for the job. The Rangers probably did this out of courtesy. He is a fine bench coach. However he failed miserably in Seattle. Then again that is where a lot of managers fail.
Dusty Wathan is another name who was brought in. He is the third base coach for the Phillies on Gabe Kaplers staff. Wathan managed at every level for the Phillies before being promoted to the major league club this year.
Another interesting name they have talked to is Bandon Hyde. He is the bench coach for the Cubs, who the Rangers seem to be swapping employees with over the last week. Hyde has also managed throughout minor league baseball before becoming bench coach for the Marlins in 2010. He moved to the Cubs in 2011 and has been there since.
Former Ranger great Buddy Bell’s son David Bell also interviewed for the job. Bell is currently VP of player development for the San Francisco Giants. He played 12 years in the major leagues with multiple teams before he began coaching in 2008. He managed both AA and AAA for the Reds before becoming third base coach for the Cubs in 2012. In 2013 he was hired as assistant hitting coach for the Cardinals before moving to bench coach from 2015-17.
Last on the list to be interviewed is Rocco Baldelli. Baldelli is currently major league field coordinator for the Tampa Bay Rays. He played most of his career in Tampa Bay before injuries and illness derailed his career. He was hired as first base coach in 2014 when Kevin Cash took over as manager for the Rays. He hasn’t managed at any level yet.
That is a lot to chew on for anyone who doesn’t follow baseball like us nerds. Who’s the right choice? Who is that guy? Why hasn’t __________ interviewed for the job? The truth is we are all in limbo waiting for the front office to make a choice. Sooner rather than later I hope. The new skipper will want to get started on assembling a staff.
I have made no bones about who I like. But of the names we have, here is my choice in order of favorite to least favorite.
Jayce Tingler or Joe Espada (I think either one is a great fit)
Brandon Hyde
David Bell
Joe Girardi
Don Wakamatsu
Dusty Wathan
Rocco Baldelli
Now to the more pressing question. Who the hell cares what I think?
Until we speak again, so long from the recliner. Nerd out!
