It’s no secret that Cleveland Indians bench/first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. is interested in becoming a big league manager. Could 2015 be the year he gets his chance?
Sep 11, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians left fielder Michael Brantley (left) celebrates his RBI single with first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. (15) in the third inning against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Alomar is not a stranger to the interview process having been one of the top candidates for the position with the Toronto Blue Jays following the 2010 season as well as with the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox after the 2011 season.
In 2012 he spent 12 games as interim manager of the Indians after they parted ways with manager Manny Acta and was one of only two candidates even considered for their managerial job in 2013.
The job was given to Terry Francona but that doesn’t mean Alomar has given up on the possibility of being at the helm of a big league ball club.
Monday, Alomar interviewed with the Arizona Diamondbacks for their open managerial position. The D-Backs let manager Kirk Gibson go on September 26th, the same day the team’s Chief Baseball Officer HOF manager Tony La Russa named former big league pitcher Dave Stewart as the team’s new general manager.
Alomar thought that the interview went well, at least from his side of the table,
"“It was a good interview and a great opportunity,” Alomar said. “I’m looking forward to seeing where it might lead.”"
That said, the Diamondbacks are currently considering 11 total candidates which is a pretty big pool for Alomar to be swimming in. But the Diamondbacks are not the only team looking for a new skipper.
Thursday morning Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that the Twins, who recently fired their manager of 13-seasons Ron Gardenhire, are also interested in having the fomer big league catcher as their manager in 2015.
Sources: #Twins to interview Sandy Alomar Jr. for managerial vacancy.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) October 9, 2014
The Texas Rangers are also looking for a new manager after the sudden departure of Ron Washington in mid-September. As of now Alomar’s name hasn’t been mentioned in conjunction with the Rangers but that doesn’t mean it will not be.
Alomar, 48, played in the Majors for 20-seasons, 11 of which were with Cleveland. A six-time All-Star catcher with the Indians, Alomar was also named Rookie of the Year in 1990, the same year he won his lone Gold Glove Award and made his first All-Star appearance. He owns a career slashline of .273/.309/.406.
Since retiring from baseball after the 2007 season Alomar has worked with the New York Mets as a catching instructor in 2008 and 2009. He joined the Indians coaching staff in 2010 and still has one year left on his contract. Although if Alomar is offered a mangerial position, it’s doubtful that his contract with Cleveland would be a problem.
More from MLB News
- MLB Power Rankings: Atlanta Braves still on top with major shifting below them
- Caesars MLB Promo Code: Two Shots at Picking the World Series Winner!
- MLB Power Rankings: Atlanta Braves still on top amid a big shake-up in top 10
- DraftKings MLB Promo: Bet $5 on an Anytime Home Run, Win $150 Bonus GUARANTEED
- MLB Power Rankings: After MLB trade deadline, gap is closing on Atlanta Braves
Some say it’s a myth, others do not but there is a school of thought that former catchers are most often hired as managers due to the huge part the position plays in controlling the game from behind the plate. The catcher is the only player who can see the whole field and help direct the flow of the game.
Some recent successful former catchers turned managers include Joe Torre, Joe Girardi, Mike Scioscia, Bob Melvin, Jim Leyland and Bruce Bochy.
Going as far back as the great Connie Mack who managed the Philadelphia Athletics to five World Series titles, many catchers have made successful managers. 2015 might just be the year Sandy Alomar Jr. get’s his chance to join the club.