In considering who the Indians will be considering as candidates to become their next manager, start with this:
1.) Who would they like to talk to? And 2.) Who would like to talk to them?
.......
Sandy Alomar Jr., Mets bullpen coach: Has zero managing experience, but an obvious Cleveland connection, instant popularity, and a passion for the game.
Don Baylor, Rockies hitting coach: Tremendous presence and respect within the game, and plenty of managerial experience (nine years) with the Rockies and Cubs.
Tim Bogar, Red Sox first base coach: As manager at Akron in 2006 and 2007, he managed several of the players on the Indians' current roster, and was the Eastern League Manager of the Year in 2006.
Chip Hale, Diamondbacks third base coach: Considered a manager-in-waiting for some organization. Interviewed for the Seattle job that went to John Wakamatsu. Arizona GM Josh Byrnes, a former Indians assistant GM and scouting director, and Arizona manager A.J. Hinch, who went to spring training with the Tribe in 2003, both have ties to Mark Shapiro.
Glenn Hoffman, Padres third base coach: Tons of experience: 11 years as a major-league coach, managed the Dodgers for part of the 1998 season, and five years as a minor-league manager. Would likely get an endorsement from Padres manager and longtime Shapiro buddy Buddy Black.
Clint Hurdle: He would be a tough sell since the Rockies took off after they fired him this year. But Hurdle took the Rockies to the World Series in '07, and Colorado GM Dan O'Dowd, Shapiro's former mentor with the Indians, despite firing Hurdle still thinks highly of him, which would carry weight with Shapiro.
Tony Pena, Yankees bench coach: An ex-Indian, he was Manager of the Year in 2003 for guiding the Royals to their only winning season since 1994. The Indians have several young Latin players on their roster, which might make Pena attractive.
Willie Randolph, Brewers bench coach: His messy exit as manager of the Mets was preceded by 11 years as a coach with the Yankees under Joe Torre.
Ted Simmons, Padres bench coach: A little older (59), but he's done everything in the game. He was the Pirates' GM the last time they had a winning season, in 1992. More importantly, he was a scout for the Indians and a special assistant to GM John Hart through most of the Tribe's glory years in the '90s.
Alan Trammell, Cubs bench coach: He has the credibility of being an All-Star during his playing days. But he also had a disastrous three-year run as manager of the Tigers, including an epic 119-loss season in 2003, which was probably behind his recent declaration that he "wants to be a little pickier'' about his next managing job.
Gary Varsho, Pirates bench coach: A coordinator in the Indians' minor-league system in 2007, the Phillies' bench coach for five years prior to that, and a Phillies minor league manager for five years before that.
