I had been leaning towards wanting the O’s to hire Buck Showalter, but Davey Johnson has certainly made things interesting with his comments to The Baltimore Sun today.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/orioles/bal-osnotes0626,0,5313097.story

Johnson stated, “I have not been contacted, but I will always have interest in Baltimore, and I’ll always care about whatever happens to them in any way, shape or form. “The best part of my life was spent here. I’d love to manage. I have been managing,” he said. “It is no difference what level I am on.”

Johnson also went out of his way to again state he did not believe there was lingering animosity between him and Orioles Owner Peter Angelos. This should not surprise anyone that paid attention to the comments Johnson made several years ago to the Washington Post, after Angelos had sent flowers in-response to the untimely death of Johnson’s daughter Andrea.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/23/AR2006032301948.html

Frankly I’d be fine with either Showalter or Johnson because they both have plenty of pedigree, and experience. The O’s simply can not afford to have their next Manager come into the locker-room having to learn on the job. They need a Manager that has succeeded at the Major League level that commands respect from Day 1.

Showalter is 54 years-old and has a winning record in over 1,700 games as a Major League Manager. He has twice been named the AL Manager of the Year, and has remained visible in the game with his position on ESPN. He has always been labeled as disciplined, and a bit of a task-master. Due to that, I doubt he would be a long-term (5 years) type of answer. I can live with him driving everyone nuts and having to be replaced in 3 years, if he helps improve the team today. If the O’s do decide to go with Showalter, they should be offering him the job. The idea that Showalter would meet with MacPhail and Angelos for 3 hours, and then allow the O’s to go through a search for months on end, makes little sense. Showalter can not allow his name to stay out there without somewhat immediate resolution either way.

However, when Johnson makes the comments he made today – he should be hired by tomorrow. Seriously, what would possibly be the hold-up? He obviously still bleeds Orange & Black, and he wants the job. What else is there to discuss? You think the game has passed him by because he has not been a ML Manager since the 2000 season? Go back and read that Washington Post story above. First, the guy has been in the game his entire life. Second, this is a guy that has an advanced degree in mathematics, and has always used the saber-metric stats being used by the smartest Front-offices in the game today. This is probably one of the reasons he has been employed with the Nationals.

MacPhail should be on the phone with Johnson tonight, with a job-offer ready. Get Johnson signed, and tell him he will take over on the bench to start 2011. Between then and now, Johnson can watch the action from above with MacPhail, and tour the Minor’s as well.

Johnson has a 1,148 wins vs. 888 losses in his career. (.564 winning percentage) In the 13 full-seasons he Managed, he finished 1st or 2nd 12 times. The O’s should be so lucky to have that type of quality wanting to again put on the uniform. There is no reason to be scared off by his age, when the goal is improving today. If he helps you find respectability over the next 2-3 years, that is enough. Besides there are a number of other managers in the game that are older.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

X