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Ozzie Guillen is on the scene at the World Series, serving as an analyst for ESPN Deportes, and looking the part.
He also looks the part of a job-seeker, but even with all the managerial vacancies across the league, it doesn't seem like his name is a hot one.
Caught up with Ozzie Guillen, who is getting no bites in his managerial free agency.
— Anthony Castrovince (@castrovince) October 27, 2013
That seems to jibe with the rumor mill. Guillen's name has come up -- but only because Guillen has raised the possibility himself. He'd love to manage again, specifically with the Tigers:
Guillen, the former Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins skipper, was asked on Twitter on Thursday whether the Tigers want him as their manager and whether he would accept the position.
His answer (translated from Spanish): "I would like to, my friends and my dream would be to manage the Miguel Cabrera."
But if he had to resort to coaching, he'd only want to do it for the Cubs:
"I just make it very clear if they want me as a coach, the only team I will coach is the Cubs," said Guillen, who is working at the World Series as an analyst for ESPN Deportes. "The reason is I live there. I don't have to move my family in and out. As (for) a manager opening, if anyone is interested in me, at least give me an opportunity to express myself. [....]
"If I get that job as a coach, my job will be to make sure to get the players ready to play for the manager every day. With the people (the Cubs) have in the minor leagues, it's a (good fit) for a Latino coach or manager. They have their plans. (President) Theo Epstein knows what he's doing. They have their plans and go about their plans."
To which CSN Chicago's Patrick Mooney says:
The local media would love to shove microphones in Ozzie Guillen’s face before and after every game — it would make our job so much easier — but the former White Sox manager has a better chance of being elected the next mayor of Chicago than being added to this coaching staff.
It seems as though Guillen has painted himself into a corner professionally, perhaps because his baggage transcends the roster. Most managers are fired because their teams didn't have the talent, and so another organization can take a look at a Bob Melvin or a Clint Hurdle, evaluate his personality, check out his background and determine, "He can help our guys."
Guillen has handled his occupational affairs so openly that a team has way more to consider, and may not decide it's worth it. It's hard to see him coaching anywhere, because he's so well-renowned as a go-to quote that the manager would have to worry about being circumvented. (It's even harder to imagine him coaching for the Cubs -- trash Wrigley Field for years, then pretend it's the place you've always wanted to be.)
Managing is a little easier to envision, because he's had success before. But he's coming off two dismally disappointing seasons with two separate franchises, the second of which wasn't prepared for the entirety of the Guillen experience and bailed after the first year of a four-year deal.
It does seem like Guillen realizes that the Sox gave him far more room to operate than he appreciated:
During that year, Guillen said he grew to appreciate then general manager Ken Williams, with whom he had shared a stormy relationship. Guillen said none of it was baseball related.
"You learn,’’ Guillen said of Miami, where the backlash caused by his praise of Fidel Castro caught up to him. "Honesty can never kill anyone. Honesty is the best thing.
"After I left Chicago I knew how good Kenny was. A lot of things happened in (Miami), I wish Kenny was there to handle the stuff the way it should be handled. When I left I said, [Chicago] wasn’t that bad.’’
And maybe that sense of perspective will change the way he approaches a next managing gig, should he find one. But there is a finite number of positions, and when you orchestrate an escape out of the first one and do little to prove your worth in the next one, it's easy to understand why the shrinking pool of future employers wouldn't consider it worth the hassle.
Terrerobytes
- World Series Game 4: Mike Matheny's short memory - Baseball Nation
- Cards skip a chance to turn a superstar human - FanGraphs Baseball
Game 4 turned into a mess for the Cardinals well before Kolten Wong was picked off to end the game, thanks to the way Mike Matheny managed the sixth inning. He either didn't have a plan, or he became disenchanted with the first idea too late to avoid putting the go-ahead run into scoring position by his own volition.
Tigers manager job update: Brad Ausmus and Rick Renteria will join Tim Wallach and Lloyd McClendon on their interview list, but Kirk Gibson doesn't seem likely.
The number of sources that Bryan Curtis and Patricia Lee contacted and organized for the reconstruction of the Loma Prieto earthquake that interrupted the 1989 World Series is nothing short of amazing. There's a great story of the A's moving to Phoenix during the break to play themselves and keep sharp, and Dennis Eckersley used the opportunity to drill Jose Canseco.
The posting of Masahiro Tanaka may take place under a new system. MLB and NPB are are close to a new agreement that may allow a player like Tanaka to have a few choices after the bidding process, instead of exclusive negotiations with the highest bidder.
did you guys see this link