Every time phans think they know of all contents on the list the Phillies are keeping of managerial candidates, another one emerges. Last week, the surprise was Terry Pendelton, the hitting coach for the Atlanta Braves. Pendelton is an interesting candidate because he has shared a dugout for several years with a Hall of Fame quality manager, Bobby Cox, though skeptics feel there are ulterior motives.
But the latest candidate to emerge is perhaps the most interesting. Jim Leyland has the best record of any other managerial candidate thus far, and seems to be interested in at least interviewing for the job:
"There are several reasons why it could be a good situation," Leyland said. "But I don't really know yet. I haven't talked to them. I don't know if they're really interested in me, and I don't know if I'm interested. When I say 'not interested,' I mean to a degree where you say everything is perfect. I don't know that. I know they got several candidates, some very impressive names, but how interested they are I don't know. I'm just going to have a conversation with Ed. I don't even know I'd call it an interview. I guess it is, but I'll have a conversation with him and assess some things. There are a lot of positives going on, but I have no clue what Ed is looking for or what their philosophies are. I have no idea what their intentions are, but I guess I'll find out Monday."That seems like "interested", right?
Lets get ahead of ourselves for a moment. Lets say that Leyland and the Phillies get together and each side decides they can't live without each other. There is still the issue of the Colorado Rockies wanting compensation for someone that managed their team 5 years ago. Certainly the Rockies do not actually want Leyland back, but what they do want is something in return for what might, possibly, could be, may be, theirs. Typically, in cases such as this in modern baseball, the team relinquishing rights is usually awarded draft picks or finacial considerations. And if that is the only thing holding up officially hiring a world champion manager of the laidback variety (exactly what the Phillies have been looking for), then the Phillies should do it. Do it.
The loss of draft picks can be overcome by scouting a little harder for free agents in Latin America. The money can be made up by winning games. But passing up an opportunity for someone like Leyland might not be possible to make up for down the road.
