Gibbons, Wedge, Valentine, and Cooper to interview

[TellItToTheDA]

http://www.mynorthwest.com/category/mariners_blog_articles/20101011/Four-candidates-interviewing-this-week/


The search for a new Mariners manager intensifies this week as Jack Zduriencik is scheduled to begin interviewing candidates. John Gibbons is expected to interview, as is former Indians manager Eric Wedge.

According to sources, there are two more names to add to the list. One is not a surprise as Bobby Valentine will indeed be considered and very well may be the front-runner.

Then there is a new name. Also interviewing this week will be former Astros skipper Cecil Cooper. An interesting name.

In addition to holding a .298 batting average over his 17-year career, Cooper held the positions of scout, farm director and bench coach for the Brewers. He also spent time as a player agent following the end of his playing career.

The Mariners hope to have a manager named before the World Series.

[clarknova]

I would be satisfied with any of those guys. Don't know why, but I kinda like Wedge. Cooled on Bobby V. I'd still be fine with him. Don't know much about Cooper other than what I read today.

[clarknova]

http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2010/10/11/1746280/managerial-candidate-summary

Good short post on a few of the candidates. Especially liked the last paragraph. Agree completely:


What are these guys like? How would they fit? At this point I'm just repeating myself, but it's absolutely critical to understand that we don't know. There's a reason I'm not conducting thorough background checks on these names. It's next to impossible for those of us on the outside to predict how well a manager will fit in with a roster - especially a roster that hasn't been built yet. This is a call I'm happy to leave entirely in the hands of the front office. Not because I trust that they'll be able to make a great prediction - this is the front office that hired Don Wakamatsu, after all - but because I trust that they'll be able to make a better prediction.

Maybe Cecil Cooper is our guy. How should I know? How should any of us know?

[Igoe4Mariners]

I don't know what it is, but I'm just not overly excited about any of these guys. Maybe it's the best that is out there, I don't know.

The guy I really hope we dont hire is Bobby Valentine. Like LL said, how did everyone come to love him so much? I've never been impressed with his resume that much, and I hate his smart-ass attitude on T.V. I don't think it would exactly rub well on the players either, but then again what do I know?

[clarknova]

The guy I really hope we dont hire is Bobby Valentine. Like LL said, how did everyone come to love him so much?

Well, I can only speak for myself... When names were starting to be bandied about, I was all about Valentine. I must confess that it really was more of a want for a character. As I've stated ad nauseum, my faith in managers equating to wins is very, very low. I just wanted a guy that wasn't going to frickin' stand there and look like he's about to cry like most of the guys we get in here. Somebody with a little fire in their belly. Somebody that doesn't look contrived and pathetic when they argue a call simply because they feel like they probably should every once in a while to show the players they're "passionate". I must also confess that I didn't really know if Bobby V would be that guy, but he sort of reminded me of a Sopranos character, so I guess that's why I gravitated toward that pick. Not the best way to judge whether or not he'd be a good fit! However, like I said... A good fit for what? Not pissing the players off and going through the motions of field managing? Whatever. I'm 1000 X more interested in what our infield is going to look like on opening day, but this is really all there is going on right now and I'm trying to post at least once a day!

[Nateyb24]

I don't know what it is, but I'm just not overly excited about any of these guys. Maybe it's the best that is out there, I don't know.

The guy I really hope we dont hire is Bobby Valentine. Like LL said, how did everyone come to love him so much? I've never been impressed with his resume that much, and I hate his smart-ass attitude on T.V. I don't think it would exactly rub well on the players either, but then again what do I know?

I don't like his smug attitude either but how can you say he really wasn't succesful? Sure he sucked it up for the Rangers after having a good year (Remind you of somebody lol) then the next ball club he managed was the Mets took them to 2 playoffs one they lost in the NLCS the other they lost to the Yankees in the world series id say he was pretty successful atleast more successful then the other names.