Cardinals Complete First Round of Managerial Interviews

The initial phase of managerial interviews is in the books and only six candidates remain in contention to be the next manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. After wrapping up interviews with Jose Oquendo and Ryne Sandberg on Wednesday, the club will now weigh its options before reaching an ultimate conclusion. The Cards’ short list is now down to Terry Francona, Chris Maloney, Mike Matheny, Joe McEwing, Ryne Sandberg, and Jose Oquendo. Obviously the organization is fond of all of the above names, but who has the edge in the race to become Tony La Russa’s successor?

I suppose it would help to better understand what exactly the Cardinals are looking for in a manager before attempting to determine a leading candidate. GM John Mozeliak and Chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. made it clear from the beginning of the process that they are willing to perhaps get away from the traditional style that has been in place throughout the Herzog, Torre, and La Russa eras for the last three decades.

Mozeliak mentioned two types of profiles that could potentially be a good fit: A manager with previous success or history in the game, or an up-and-coming manager looking to create his own identity. This is great news for those who were opposed to TLR’s infamous micromanaging and paranoia, but even for La Russa’s strongest advocates, change isn’t always a terrible thing. The Cards seem to be emphasizing a close relationship between the manager, general manager, and player development system. Finally, they are looking for a strong leader who understands the magnitude of baseball in St. Louis and can handle any in-game situation. The requirements aren’t easy by any means, but that’s the way it needs to be.

Here’s some of what John Mozeliak had to say yesterday:

"I think that was part of the original plan, was to bring in a group that was diverse. As we looked to learn more about each person and understand how they would fit in in the organization and the philosophy of what we’re trying to accomplish, that really became the exercise. We feel that it’s a group where all of them are deserving of a managerial position at some point in their careers."

In all honesty, I’m not sure the Cardinals have any idea who they’re going to hire yet. There are pros and cons to each of the six guys on the short list, and I can’t say I’d be shocked with any of them winning the job in the end. Oquendo, Matheny, Maloney, and McEwing all have significant connections to the St. Louis franchise, Francona has a wealth of Major League managing experience, and Sandberg is an up-and-coming manager and Hall of Fame player who could be refreshing for this organization. Not surprisingly, the team has chosen to be extremely private by keeping most details of the hiring process internal.

As of right now, the Cardinals do not have any follow-up interviews scheduled. A decision won’t be made until next week at the earliest, so there is really nothing we can do but sit back and wait to see what happens. That phrase is used a lot, but in this case, it’s perfectly accurate. For now, the Cardinals remain World Series Champions with a busy offseason schedule and no manager.