Anyway for those who do not know, the Pirates got rid of manager John Russell shortly after the 2010 season came to a conclusion. Most fans were happy. Whether or not the record posted by the Pirates is directly the fault of Russell or the players he was given will always be debated, all that matters is that he is a thing of the past.

Jen Langosch, beat writer for the Pirates on mlb.com, has reported 5 different managers being interviewed. All of them bring something different to the table, and here is an outlook for each one, their prior experience, and their chances on being the skipper of the Pirates in 2011. 

1. Eric Wedge

Prior MLB managerial experience

Cleveland Indians (2003-2009)

Career Record 

561-573

Profile: Eric Wedge became the manager of the Cleveland Indians on October 23, 2002. As expected with many small-market teams, he saw many ups and downs with a young, rebuilding team. By 2005 the Indians were competitive in the AL. Despite winning 93 games in ’05 the Indians failed to make the playoffs in the tough American League. After a disappointing 2006 campaign, the Indians finally broke through in 2007 and made the playoffs, after their epic collapse to the Red Sox in the ALCS that year, the team began falling off. Players were traded to save money and the team started to flounder. After suffering sub par seasons in 2008 and 2009 Wedge was fired. After taking last season off, he is looking to get back into the coaching game and the Pirates seemed very interested.

Outlook: Wedge is my favorite to get the job. He has had experience in Cleveland taking a young, talented, and inexperienced team with a lot of potential (sounds like the Pirates) and helping turn them into a winner. Neil Huntington also seems to like him, especially since the two worked in the Indians organization together. Too much seems to tilt the ball in his favor. Unlike his predecessor Russell, he has a tendency to “get on players” when they don’t perform to his standards. He is also known as a “player’s manager” which will sit well with fans. Unless a better offer comes around, I have a strong feeling he’ll be in the dugout in 2011.

2. Ken Macha

Prior MLB managerial experience

Oakland Athletics (2003-2006)

Milwaukee Brewers (2009-2010)

Career Record

525-447

Profile: Ken Macha may be the most experienced man the Pirates will interview for the job. He immediately joined the coaching staff of the Montreal Expos when his playing days were over in 1986. His long journey as a coach at the major and minor league levels wound up with him getting his big break with the Oakland A’s in 2003. After making the playoffs in his first and last seasons at the helm of the A’s (he won at least 88 games in all four seasons) he was somehow fired following the 2006 season despite the A’s coming within one game of the World Series. After some time off he got a job with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2009. After two disappointing seasons with the brew crew he was fired after this season.

Outlook: Many rumored Macha to be interested in the job with the Pirates when it was held vacant in 2008. However he refused to even give an interview with the club. Now that he has been brought down to earth after his stint with the Brewers he is more willing to talk. He has many connections to Pittsburgh including the fact he is a native of Monroeville (a suburb of the city), in addition to playing baseball at the University of Pittsburgh. However, I don’t see him as a good fit here. I expect him to go to a team with more pieces, and a better chance at immediately competing. 

3. Jeff Banister 

Prior MLB managerial experience

None

Prior positions in baseball coaching

Minor league coach (various levels of Pirates organization) 1994-1999

Pirates Major League field coordinator 1998-2002

Pirates Minor League field coordinator 2002-2010

Pirates interim bench coach 2010

Profile: Though he doesn’t have much experience at the managerial position, Jeff Banister is anything but lacking in the player development department. Having been a part of the Pirates organization in some way ever since he was drafted by them in in 1986. In his time managing at the minor league level he has had success. He is also accustomed to working with young players through his time as a field coordinator.

Outlook: It is apparent that Banister is viewed as an asset by the organization. His promotion to bench coach when Gary Varsho was fired shows that they want him in their future plans. However, his lack of experience as a manager above the A level will keep him from sticking out from the pack. He will still have a small shot, but only if the Pirates have to hire hire him.

4. Bo Porter

Prior MLB managerial experience

none

Prior positions in baseball coaching

Minor league hitting coach 2005-2006

Florida Marlins third base coach/outfield instructor 2007-2009

Arizona Diamondbacks third base coach 2010

Arizona Diamondbacks interim bench coach 2010

Profile: A man who stresses on fundamentals, Porter has quickly made his way up the coaching food chain. Playing in parts of three seasons from 1999-2002, he is still very young and new to the coaching game. He was fired along with the rest of A.J. Hinch’s staff after the 2010 season.

Outlook: Not much is really known about Porter’s leadership abilities. He is considered to be a serious contender for the opening with the Florida Marlins, since he has had strong ties with them from coaching for three years with the Fish. I highly doubt him to be a serious candidate for the job.

5. John Gibbons

Prior MLB managerial experience

Toronto Blue Jays (2004-2008)

Career Record

305-305

Profile: Hired as an interim manager in 2004, John Gibbons ended up spending 4 and 1/2 seasons as the manager of the Toronto Blue Jays. Dealing with often unrealistic expectations in the highly competitive AL East, his best finish came in 2006 when the Jays went 85-75 and finished 2nd behind the NY Yankees. After his firing, he has spent the last tw
o seasons as the Royals bench coach. Often known as having a temper, he was involved in many altercations with players during his time in Toronto, including challenging disgruntled utility-man Shea Hillenbrand to a fight in the clubhouse, and other arguments with Frank Thomas, and Ted Lilly.

Outlook: Like many candidates, he has tested the numerous openings in other franchises. I don’t think his confrontational personality wouldn’t sit well with the Pirates players, especially after the reserved style of John Russell.

The Pirates aren’t done interviewing candidates, so I’ll have more profiles when the team makes more candidates public.

Make sure to follow me on twitter @suhlmann12 to hear my commentary, get notifications when my stories are available, and more (!!!). 

I had my second column for MyGameBalls published Monday. Read it HERE