Orioles and Showalter talk again
The Orioles have spoken again with Buck Showalter about the managerial position, and although he is very interested and considered the favorite, the team has still has not offered him the job.
“I have not been offered anything, that’s for sure,” Showalter said tonight, refusing further comment.
It’s believed that the Orioles are getting closer to a decision and could have a new manager in place as early as the start of the second half.
Principal owner Peter Angelos and president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail did not return calls seeking comment, but multiple sources have been saying for the past couple of weeks that Showalter had emerged as the favorite over Eric Wedge, who has interviewed for the position twice, and former Orioles player and coach and current broadcaster Rick Dempsey.
The only other candidate to be interviewed was former New York Mets and Texas Rangers manager Bobby Valentine and he pulled his name out of consideration.
A Baltimore native, 
Comments
Just as long as whoever is selected doesn't take over and mess up our current 2011 draft selection position.
The team is comfortably ahead right now with nothing to be gained by moving down a notch or two.
Maybe he can start bringing up some of the farm club hopefuls so he can evaluate them.
Posted by: VeryFrustratedFan | July 5, 2010 10:24 PM
Hire Vince Lombardi!! That is the kind of change they need, re: Eienberg's That First Season.
Posted by: steve | July 5, 2010 10:52 PM
I've also recently warmed to the idea of leaving Samuel in the rest of the season to get slaughtered and then bringing a guy like Buck in right after the season mercifully ends.
Wouldn't it just be an all time slap in the face if they didn't hire Showalter because MacPhail felt threatened by him. I hope Angelos has made Andy realize that it's time to swallow his pride and that if Showalter wants to have imput on trades and free agent acquisitions, then that might not be such a bad thing. Hopefully he has insights on how to fix our scouting and player development departments as well.
Let's just hope that, like an earlier poster mentioned, a team like the Pirates doesn't eek out one more loss than us this year. The 3rd baseman from Rice is the clear number one choice and could be the next Evan Longoria.
Posted by: djph | July 6, 2010 12:36 AM
showalter has shown he can turn bad teams around pretty quickly but after a couple of yrs he's gone. which is fine. this team needs to get going in the right direction. in a couple of yrs ripken's son will be out of h.s. and that would be the time to make ripken the manager. he's someone who certainly knows the game inside and out. can teach the game, command the respect of the players and should be able to attract top tier free agents with his presence. even though he has experience managing he'd be a better choice than some retread or coach.
Posted by: freddy from boca | July 6, 2010 6:24 AM
If it'a going to be Showalter (or whoever it's going to be), let'a get him in place "stat." We want his imput on trades and free agent acquisitions. After all, McPhail hasn't done a banner job with the above if the performance of the team is any indication. Whatever it takes to get back in to contention !
Posted by: md cat | July 6, 2010 9:06 AM
He can't be offered the job until a minority candidate is interviewed. Perhaps they will interview Samuel and offer Showalter the job during the AS break.
Posted by: mdbdotcom | July 6, 2010 9:43 AM
no one want to come here i will be very happy if he does but dont hold your breath
Posted by: dcrich | July 6, 2010 10:27 AM
Jeff,
Following up on mdbdotcom's comment, do you know if, since Juan Samuel was already promoted to interim manager, the Orioles have satisfied the requirement to interview a minority candidate for this job opening?
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Jeff Z's reply: MacPhail talks to Juan almost on a daily basis about the club. It's pretty much an ongoing interview so I'd have to think that counts.
Posted by: Harvey | July 6, 2010 12:41 PM
mdbdotcom - I'm not sure the Orioles need to formally interview Samuel, since he's the interim manager. MacPhail has said that he meets with Juan everyday the team's in town or otherwise is in communication with him.
I believe the O's view this on the job evauation as being more intensive than a simple interview would be. Still, you may be right. If so, they need to go through the formality asap; like you suggest, maybe then they'll give Samuel the obligatory sit-down and quickly move to signing Showalter.
Posted by: Ken Francis | July 6, 2010 1:06 PM
hiring Showalter as O's manager is like putting lipstick on a pig
Posted by: Chris | July 6, 2010 1:25 PM
Enough with the retreads........Wally Backman dammit!
Posted by: Kenny | July 6, 2010 4:27 PM
possible interviews for the Orioles:
Name Experience
1. James Gammon - Cleveland
2 Tom Hanks - Racine Belles
3 Tom Beringer - Cleveland
4. Walter Mathau (postumus)- Chico Bail Bonds
5.Ken Takaktura - Chunichi Dragons
6 Danny Glover - Angels
7. Wilford Brimley - New York Knights
Posted by: allen | July 6, 2010 4:48 PM
Buck Showalter meets the minority candidate rule because he's a member of a very tiny minority -- those crazy enough to take this job!
Posted by: Ferg Deluxe | July 6, 2010 6:10 PM
They should hire Gene Hackman. He could do the "Hoosiers" monologue before each game. I am sure the players on this O's team will not even realize he is talking about a completely different sport!
Posted by: Gene Hackman | July 6, 2010 7:22 PM
GOD forbid this Org. Think outside the box....Why only interview a handful of candidates....Take some time and get it right, they won't because of being COMPLETELY INCOMPETENT!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Mike from Rosedale | July 7, 2010 8:29 AM