The Revolution's ownership group has begun a search for managerial candidates following the resignation of Chris Hoiles Wednesday, according to Opening Day Partners President Jon Danos.
"Sam Snider is the interim manager, but how long he goes remains to be seen," Danos said. "We have some ideas, and we're talking to a lot of people."
Snider, 50, began pitching batting practice for the Orioles in 1980 while still playing college baseball. A bullpen catcher with the Orioles, Snider (pictured above during spring training) has 30 years of experience in pro baseball. But he does not have managerial experience.
"I voted for Sam to get the job," Hoiles said. "I think the guys know Sam and trust him."
Danos said he would like a candidate with managerial experience. And he has contacted certain candidates to gauge their interest in the position, but he also noted Snider will be considered a candidate to remain the manager for the long term. Ownership is looking for a manager now because they hope to get a new manager acclimated to the city and league with the intention of bringing him back in 2010.
"If we insert a candidate now, it would be for the long term," Danos said.
Opening Day Partners wants to see a turnaround this season.
"It may sound naïve, but we haven't given up hope on this season," Danos said.
Several coaches working for teams under the control of Opening Day Partners have managerial experience, including Southern Maryland third-base coach Andy Etchebarren and Camden bench coach Jeff Scott.
"We're considering our options," Danos said.
It is beyond naive to expect that a team with just about the worst winning percentage in professional baseball is going to play significantly better than .500 ball the rest of the way to make up a big deficit in the standings.
To lend some perspective:
If Somerset SLUMPS and plays exactly .500 ball the rest of the way, the Revs will have to go 31-12 down the stretch to overtake them and make the playoffs. Season is done!
What kind of manager are you going to get in August, anyway? It's either going to be someone who got canned already this year or someone who has gone the whole season without a job...
They'd be much better served to let Snider finish the season and start fresh with a managerial search in the offseason. If Snider does a decent job the rest of the way, throw him into the candidate pool.
It's time to look outside of the Orioles organization for coaches, too. Bring back the Bird Feed if you think the fans want to rub elbows with former O's, and hire the best managerial candidate to coach the team. Butch Hobson could be managing this team if it wasn't run by the marketing department.
I don't have a positive/negative opinion of Sam Snyder as the Revs manager. However, it looks like the Revs need a seachange when it comes to the direction the Revs organization is going.
I think out of all the professional sports, the baseball manager has the smallest impact on the actual win/loss of their team. Baseball is such an original game, there is no clock, no plays to diagram, the only game management needed is pulling a pitcher or sending up a pinch hitter. Quite frankly, managers like Charlie Manuel and Joe Torre look like they are napping through most of their games, yet both have been successful with their careers.
The Revs front office has been very good at providing a very family friendly atmosphere at SB Stadium, and possibly half the crowd there could care less about a win or a loss. I think it was quite a good indicator at the beginning of the year with the midget "experiment" that the front office will put entertainment over substance every time. Part of me doesn't blame them, the bottom line is money and if people come out to see a midget go to bat, or fireworks, than give the people what they want.
Let's face it, as long as York fields a lineup in the AL, with an 8 team division, there will always be a 50/50 shot of them making the playoffs every year. Could a manager besides Chris Hoiles have made a difference this year? I really have no idea. Sports has a funny way of making someone look like a genius one year, and a fool the next.
I just don't know how concerned I am with wins and losses anymore. This league and it's teams are built not for baseball, but as family entertainment. Part of me is fine with that, part of me wishes we had affiliated ball.
Wait until next year and offer Krenchicki the job!