The Usual Suspects

It looks like interviews are about to begin for the vacant Phillies managing job. According to published reports, former Yankees, Orioles, Rangers, and Diamondbacks manager Buck Showalter is due in town this week. Also reported to be coming in are former Marlins and Yankees manager Joe Girardi as well as Dusty Baker, who managed the Cubs, Giants, Reds, and Nationals.

Let's look at their records.
Showalter - age 63, 20 seasons, .506 winning percentage, 3 first place finishes, .391 winning percentage in the post-season, and 3-time AL Manager of the Year.
Girardi - turns 55 tomorrow, 11 seasons, .554 winning percentage, 3 first place finishes, 1 World Series title (against the Phils in 2009), .538 winning percentage in the playoffs, 1 NL Manager of the year.
Baker - age 70, 22 seasons, .532 winning percentage, 7 first place finishes, 1 NL pennant, .418 playoff winning percentage, 3 time NL manager of the year.

I'm not a Baker fan. He has a reputation of ruining starting pitchers, hasn't really had success in the playoffs, and is 70 years old. I like Girardi, but he played for the Cubs and grew up in Illinois and is probably angling for that job. Showalter's postseason record is even worse than Baker's.

Also reported to be interested in the job are former Phillies Curt Schilling and Lenny Dykstra. Hard pass on both of those idiots.

But if the Phillies are going to look inside the organization, keep an eye on third base coach Dusty Wathan, who was a minor league manager for the team for years. Another intriguing possibility is Shawn Williams. Who? He's the son of former big league manger Jimy Williams and has managed in the Phillies system for the last 5 years at Lakewood, Clearwater, and Reading. His teams are 51 games over .500. But he won't get an offer because he's never managed in the majors and he's only 36.

Let's hope the Phils conduct interviews and make a decision in less time than it took to fire Gabe Kapler. There are 8 other teams looking for new managers. They're going to have to strike early and overpay to get the guy they want.