Major League Baseball is always changing and growing. Managers decide to hang them up, like Jim Leyland who announced earlier this week that he would be done managing the Detroit Tigers. The fact of the matter is that baseball is always going to need new managers and 2014 will be no different. Below are five baseball minds who should become Major League managers. Some young, some not so young.
Roger McDowell, Atlanta Braves
Most Atlanta Braves fans are fed up with manager Fredi Gonzalez so if McDowell was to take over a lot of fans would be happy. For those of you who are unaware of McDowell I will fill you in. McDowell has been the pitching coach for the Braves since the 2006 season. He took over for fan favorite Leo Mazzone when he took a job with the Orioles. He has clearly done a good job as the Braves pitching coach as the Braves are always talked about when it comes to their teams arms. He is not necessarily young at 52 years old but the youngest manager in baseball (Mike Matheny) is only nine years younger. There have been a lot of rumors about McDowell becoming a manager, unfortunately not for the Braves. The teams that have expressed interest are the Cubs, Nationals or the Phillies. Regardless of the team he decides to go to one thing is for sure; this guy would be a great players manager.
Matt Williams, Arizona Diamondbacks
The buzz has already started in Washington as they believe that Williams could indeed become their next manager as Davey Johnson has retired. Kirk Gibson was one of the first men that believed he could become a manager as he stated that “he’d be great.” He was the third base coach for the D’Backs in the 2013 season but it is almost definite that he will become a manager in 2014. Williams is currently 47 years-old and said to be one of the most organized and and prepared minds in baseball. The Colorado Rockies were another team that took an interview with him.
Brad Ausmus, San Diego Padres
Here is another young MLB mind who could becoming a MLB manager very, very soon. He is currently 44 years-old and is the special assistant for the San Diego Padres. Most people know Ausmus as the ex-catcher for the Houston Astros in the early 2000s, along with a All-Star appearance in 1991 with the Tigers. Ironically enough, Ausmus is now being looked at as the possible suitor for the now manager-less Detroit Tigers. The only experience that he has had as far as being a manager is concerned is when he managed for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.
Cal Ripken Jr.
Maybe you have heard this name before? You know, 19 time all-star, two time MVP and oh yeah, he broke that one guy Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak. Well, he is now being asked to come back and manage baseball. The Washington Nationals were the first team to mention that they wanted him to come back but he declined. At the same time he said that he would not become a manager but he would not close the door on it. Basically saying that if the right job comes up he will indeed become a manager. For the sake of baseball fans everywhere; even if it is to the Nationals, Ripken please come back to baseball!
Randy Knorr, Washington Nationals
Another option for the Nationals managerial spot is the current bench coach for the Nationals. Knorr has never managed at the MLB level but he has become the “manager” when the actual manager was ejected from games. Basically this means that he has some but still very little managerial experience. The one thing that could make him the manager is the fact that he has been around the Nationals complex and knows the players. He has a good rapport with the Nationals organization and it looks like this will be the likely pick for the new spot. He is also relatively young at 44 years of age.