Brewers fire manager Ron Roenicke

[JB_Iowa]

Will announce new manager at a press conference tomorrow morning.

 

Let the speculation begin.

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/Brewers/status/595049484133990400/photo/1

[formerly33]

You beat me to it. Let's root for Gardy again.

[Danchat]

I think Gardy could take the spot. And I'm surprised they fired their coach so early into the season... we're not even one month in!

[nicksaviking]

That situation looks pretty ugly. Not a lot of players to build with there and no farm. I like Gardy so I hope he can get a job in a better situation, but really he'd be lucky to get any chance.

[Pius Jefferson]

The White Sox should not do the same thing with Robin Ventura.

[gil4]

 

That situation looks pretty ugly. Not a lot of players to build with there and no farm. I like Gardy so I hope he can get a job in a better situation, but really he'd be lucky to get any chance.

 

I think Gardy's reputation around the league is better than his reputation around here, and I think a lot of that is due to losing fatigue. I think most teams will remember the success he had more than the losing because they weren't suffering through it like we were.  I don't think too many doubted he would get another chance.

[davidc3915]

Many on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel site are suggesting former Brewer/Marlin/Diamondback infielder Craig Counsell will be interim manager. They kept the rest of the coaching staff, which doesn't seem to indicate they will make a permenent hire tomorrow.

[davidc3915]

Per MLB trade rumors....."USA Today’s Bob Nightengale (via Twitter) and others have already speculated about the possibility that Craig Counsell, who has worked with the Brewers front office since retiring as a player, could be Roenicke’s replacement. There’s also been speculation about former Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, although SB Nation’s Chris Cotillo tweets that Gardenhire will not be replacing Roenicke."

[nicksaviking]

I think Gardy's reputation around the league is better than his reputation around here, and I think a lot of that is due to losing fatigue. I think most teams will remember the success he had more than the losing because they weren't suffering through it like we were. I don't think too many doubted he would get another chance.

Gardy has a great reputation. That doesn't change the fact that he's a manager from a bygone era. Most GMs will see his aversion to modern baseball as a negative, especially a small market team. In recent years Gardy has done better with vets and struggled with young players, however young players are generally cheaper and healthier. Gardy also eschews advanced statistics, platooning, and defensive shifts, all things that can help a team win with minimal to no financial impact.

 

I love the guy but he's not a fit for most teams.

[JB_Iowa]

Latest on Twitter is that GM Bob Melvin says a multi-year deal is in place. No interim.

 

Sounds like Counsell to me.

[David HK]

Here it comes.... here it comes.....  

Here it co-o-o-omes!  Here it co-o-o-o-o-o-mes!  

(apologies to Keith Richards)

 

Come on, pleeeeease-- Gardy in Milwaukee?  It's gotta be...

[Mike Sixel]

Good luck to the new manager, that team is bad, and the farm is bad.

 

They should take the Astros path soon.

[gil4]

 

Gardy has a great reputation. That doesn't change the fact that he's a manager from a bygone era. Most GMs will see his aversion to modern baseball as a negative, especially a small market team. In recent years Gardy has done better with vets and struggled with young players, however young players are generally cheaper and healthier. Gardy also eschews advanced statistics, platooning, and defensive shifts, all things that can help a team win with minimal to no financial impact.

I love the guy but he's not a fit for most teams.

 

I guess the key question for him is how fast baseball has really changed and whether or not some job will come open with an old-school GM/organization. 

 

A lot of times it's also a question of who you know.  Gardy was locked in with the Twins for a long time, but he did bounce around quite a bit before that.  It would be interesting to know how many of his old friends are in front office jobs now. 

 

Will he have to go the bench coach route to get back?  Will he sit out a year and say "I thought I'd miss it, but I don't."

[Mike Sixel]

As KLAW points out, the team will win around 70 games or a bit more......just by regressing back toward the mean.....and the new manager will get all kinds of credit. They aren't a 45 win team.....

[gil4]

 

 Will he sit out a year and say "I thought I'd miss it, but I don't."

 

I had read this on Gleeman's site, but I had forgotten about it:

 

Ron Gardenhire is officially looking for another managing gig. He hired an agent for the first time in two decades and is said to be "willing to consider virtually any position."

 

It hasn't been a year yet, but I guess that's enough to dismiss my thought that Gardy might decide he would rather spend his time fishing and playing with grandkids. 

[HitInAPinch]

Craig Counsell hired!

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

A lot of times it's also a question of who you know.  Gardy was locked in with the Twins for a long time, but he did bounce around quite a bit before that.  It would be interesting to know how many of his old friends are in front office jobs now. 

Bounced around quite a bit?  He played 8 pro seasons in the Mets organization, 1979 through 1986.  It's been Twins ever since.  I don't even think he "bounced around" that much in his Mets days -- 6 full seasons were split exclusively between Tidewater (AAA) and New York.

 

Gardy spent 11 full seasons as Twins first base coach, the last 3 of which he was probably overshadowed by bench coach Molitor in terms of future managerial prospects.  That doesn't sound like the experience of a man using his connections around the league.

 

I think if he wants to be an MLB manager again, it will take a few years in another position (probably coach).  And even then, possibly not.  Increasingly, teams seem to prefer younger, less experienced options now, and those are never in short supply (see Counsell).  Or big names with WS credits, or sometimes itinerant coaches.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Do any current managers fit Gardy's career profile?  Ned Yost was kinda close, in terms of years and roles, although he had to leave his longtime MLB coaching team (Atlanta) to get his managerial gig in Milwaukee.  And he was fired during arguably his best season in Milwaukee, which was unusual and probably helped ensure that he would get another opportunity.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I like Gardy so I hope he can get a job in a better situation, but really he'd be lucky to get any chance.

I don't believe that at all. I think Gardy can sit on his hands until the right opportunity emerges... An underperforming team of vets with a chance to compete. There are plenty of teams that would jump at the chance to hire Gardy's steady clubhouse influence in that type of situation.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I don't believe that at all. I think Gardy can sit on his hands until the right opportunity emerges... An underperforming team of vets with a chance to compete. There are plenty of teams that would jump at the chance to hire Gardy's steady clubhouse influence in that type of situation.

Example? Past or present. Just curious what you have in mind.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Example? Past or present. Just curious what you have in mind.

I'm coming up blank with examples but I know they're there, my old memory is just failing me right now.

 

I think Gardy will have suitors. He's a good fit for some clubs. He drove me up with the wall with his in-game management but I think most of the league views him quite well, and for good reason... He stewarded a lot of good ballclubs and he's not that old yet.

[Thrylos]

 

 Gardy was locked in with the Twins for a long time, but he did bounce around quite a bit before that.  It would be interesting to know how many of his old friends are in front office jobs now.

 

This could not be more inaccurate.  Gardy as a coach/manager is a Twins' lifer:

Was traded as a player by the Mets to the Twins (for Donnie Iasparro) before the 1987 season.   He played for AAA Portland in '87 and then he retired.  He managed Kenosha (A) in 1988, and Orlando (AA) in 1989 and 1990 and from 1991 on he was the Twins' 3B coach until he was hired as a manager

 

Repeat:  Gardenhire knew only a single organization, the Twins.

 

And most of his old friends are retired now.

 

And if "he has such a great reputation around the league", how come he is unemployed right now?  I'd think that the Yankees and the Red Sox and the Dodgers would be lining up to get him...

 

Actions speak louder than words about his reputation.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

Example? Past or present. Just curious what you have in mind.

Well if KC wins the division—and they look like they're for real—that will leave at least two underperforming teams right here, in Detroit and Chicago. 

 

[Thrylos]

 

I don't believe that at all. I think Gardy can sit on his hands until the right opportunity emerges... An underperforming team of vets with a chance to compete. There are plenty of teams that would jump at the chance to hire Gardy's steady clubhouse influence in that type of situation.

 

Again:  I do not see the Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers, Giants etc. (teams that fit your description) lining up for Gardy.  Do you?  If he was that great, a team would do what the Cubs did with Maddon.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Gardy is not managing this year because he is still drawing a paycheck. And a year off will charge his batteries.

 

I could easily see one of those big market teams interested in Gardy. If LA takes another first round exit, Mattingly might be let go. Yes, Gardy's postseason record is a red flag, but given the SSS nature of most baseball analysis these days, a poor postseason record can be easily explained. 

[gil4]

 

Bounced around quite a bit?  He played 8 pro seasons in the Mets organization, 1979 through 1986.  It's been Twins ever since.  I don't even think he "bounced around" that much in his Mets days -- 6 full seasons were split exclusively between Tidewater (AAA) and New York.

 

Disregard.  I'm kind of embarrassed by who I was mixing his record up with because it was so far off.  I recently looked up another former Twins manager, was surprised at how much he had bounced around, then slept some (but not enough) and forgot some and part of his record became part of Gardy's. 

 

Gardenhire.  Gardner.  Easy mistake, right?     I feel even more stupid about it because Billy Gardner Jr. was an acquaintance / friend of a friend of mine.  I umpired a couple of games with him in the mid 80's and he joined us on one of our road trips to Yankee Stadium around that time frame. 

[gil4]

 

This could not be more inaccurate.  Gardy as a coach/manager is a Twins' lifer:

Yep.  See previous post for my full mea culpa 

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Again:  I do not see the Yankees, Dodgers, Rangers, Giants etc. (teams that fit your description) lining up for Gardy.  Do you?  If he was that great, a team would do what the Cubs did with Maddon.

Actually, yeah, I could easily see the Giants (Bruce Bochy, anybody?) or Rangers take a shot at Gardy. Probably not the Yankees and I'm skeptical of the Dodgers.

[Mike Sixel]

 

This could not be more inaccurate.  Gardy as a coach/manager is a Twins' lifer:

Was traded as a player by the Mets to the Twins (for Donnie Iasparro) before the 1987 season.   He played for AAA Portland in '87 and then he retired.  He managed Kenosha (A) in 1988, and Orlando (AA) in 1989 and 1990 and from 1991 on he was the Twins' 3B coach until he was hired as a manager

 

Repeat:  Gardenhire knew only a single organization, the Twins.

 

And most of his old friends are retired now.

 

And if "he has such a great reputation around the league", how come he is unemployed right now?  I'd think that the Yankees and the Red Sox and the Dodgers would be lining up to get him...

 

Actions speak louder than words about his reputation.

 

He's been out of managing for less than a year.....I think you are jumping to lots of conclusions that may or may not be true.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

And if "he has such a great reputation around the league", how come he is unemployed right now?

Maybe because he coached for ~25 consecutive years and is getting paid a pile of money to sit on his keister. It also might have something to do with him saying "I'm taking a year off".