I Agree with Dan Shaughnessy? I Can't Imagine Why Anyone Would Want to Coach the Red Sox

Not one offer? Really Guys

Boston - Yesterday it was Gene Lamont, a 64-year-old man who has been in professional baseball for 47 years. On Friday it was Torey Lovullo, a veteran of nine seasons managing in the minors. Last Wednesday, it was Sandy Alomar Jr., a nice former player with no managerial experience. Before that, it was 60-year-old bench coach Pete Mackanin with his nifty handkerchief, great hair, and iPad. We’ve also seen Brewers hitting coach Dale Sveum, the man who made us all forget Wendell “Send ’Em In’’ Kim. No-Names On Parade. This is the theme of the Red Sox managerial search in November 2011. Why are the Sox going low-profile in the search for their next skipper? Maybe the Globe’s Nick Cafardo gave us the answer last Sunday when he wrote about the Red Sox’ insistence on an “organizational approach’’ for their next manager. Nick explained that the Sox reject the old-school notion of “one voice,’’ and prefer managers “who take a lot of input from the front office.’’

Yikes, am I a horrible Red Sox fan? For the first time in like, ever, I'm finding myself agreeing with a Dan Shaughnessy column? I mean sure I got a chuckle out of the fact that he called "Wave 'em in" Wendell Kim, "Wendell "Send 'Em In" Kim" (not quite the same ring Dan), but other than that I found myself nodding in agreement an awful lot to this column. What does that mean? Do I have to turn in my Sox Nation membership card?

No, I'll be keeping that, I think it probably just means the Sox are in a bad enough place right now, that for the first time in like a decade, Dan's voice doesn't seem so off base...Don't get me wrong, I still find him a whining, muck raking, malcontent, its just that the circumstances fit a little better than usual right now.

Like I can't for the life of me imagine why no, experienced, good managers want, to interview for this job, who wouldn't want a handful of meddling bosses up and around your butt hole while you try to make day to day decisions for your team? Or a group of bosses that have their own personal slander media department (the Globe sports section) to discreetly rip you anytime you disagree with them, yet leaving them with complete deniability. Or a front office situation that is in such disarray that their perennial all-star closer just left town without even receiving a contract offer from the home team? You mean to tell me none of that is appealing to you as an established and well respected major league baseball coaching candidate? That's odd.

So yea, I kind of agree with Dan Shaughnessy here, the Sox leadership is a complete mess right now, and they really need to figure this out, now. Like its free agency time, teams are making offers left and right, and Ben Cherrington is still working with interior decorators to make over his office as far as I can tell. Come on guys, time to get your shit together.

Sincerely,

Sox Fan in a decidedly Pre-2004 state of mind.

Red Sox to Interview Dale Sveum for Coaching Job...Remember Dale, Worst 3rd Base Coach Ever

Guy was basically a statue like this all season long, sending everyone in sight

Boston - The Red Sox will interview Philadelphia Phillies bench coach Pete Mackanin tomorrow and Milwaukee Brewer hitting coach Dale Sveum later this week as the search for a new manager gets underway in earnest. Sveum, who turns 48 next month, was the Red Sox third base coach from 2004-05. He has been with the Brewers in the six seasons since, serving as third base coach, bench coach and hitting coach under three managers. Sveum became interim manager in 2008, leading the Brewers to a 7-5 record and a playoff spot. Milwaukee then lost a division series against the Phillies in four games. The Phillies went on to win the World Series. Sveum has three years of minor league managing experience, all coming with Pittsburgh from 2001-03. He was 213-211 and led Altoona (Pa.) to the 2003 Eastern League playoffs. Sveum played 12 years in the majors (1986-99) for the Brewers, Phillies, White Sox, Athletics, Mariners, Pirates and Yankees. He hit .235 with 69 home runs.

Is everyone ok with this, because I sure as shit am not.  Dale Sveum, are we serious here? Nothing against Dale the person, I'm sure he's a swell guy, but my issue is that I know his name at all. His career resume reads like a hanger-on'er bench coach here, third base coach here, batting coach here, etc...I shouldn't have a clue who he is, but I do, and that's generally not a good thing for a career assistant. Take this Pete Mackanin, guys been in baseball in some form since 1973, never heard of him, and that's a good thing.

The only reason I've heard of Dale Sveum is because he was perhaps the worst 3rd base coach in Red Sox history outside of Wave 'Em In Wendell, and frankly, if Dale's name began with a "W" we would have honorarily bestowed Wave 'Em In to him as a nick name. Nothing funny went with Dale, that's all. But back to my point, if I know who you are as a third base coach, you suck at your job. I couldn't tell you who the 3rd base coach has been for the past few years for the Sox, no idea. And it's not like I'm not watching the games, or that I'm completley oblivious, if someone said the name I'd be like "oh yea it's him," but there's just no way I can think of it off the top of my head...Dale hasn't been here for like 5 years and I still remember him getting runners buried at the plate. And in case you think it's just me, irrationally hating on this guy, check out his wiki: "Most Hated Third Base Coach on a team that won the World Series." Not a title you aspire to. (actually check out his wiki page, its hilarious).

So count me as out on this one, unless it's written into Dale's contract that he has no control over base running, bunting, and giving signs whatsoever, I think I'll pass, sorry Dale.