June 12, 2010|By The Baltimore Sun
Despite interviewing candidates Eric Wedge and Bobby Valentine earlier this week, there is no guarantee that the Orioles managerial search finishes before this season concludes, said club president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail.
"I don't know how it is going to play out. We don't know how long it is going to go, too many variables," MacPhail said. "You just made an interim change and then you look at the landscape. I think it depends on your pool of candidates, where you are in the process, how comfortable you are with what your options are."
MacPhail interviewed Wedge, the former Cleveland Indians manager, on Wednesday and Valentine, the former manager of the New York Mets and Texas Rangers, on Friday. MacPhail said he talked to the two candidates this week to "assess their interest, gather information, neither had a current affiliation with a team that was disruptive."
Those interviews, he said, do not mean that a decision is looming. MacPhail is making the club's six-game road trip to San Francisco and San Diego and said he doesn't expect to conduct any interviews during that time.
"Nothing is scheduled; don't anticipate anything," said MacPhail, who fired Dave Trembley on June 3 and replaced him, on an interim basis, with Juan Samuel.
MacPhail has yet to seek permission from other clubs to interview their staff members as managerial candidates, but reiterated that he would so long as the target is not a current major-league manager. He likely wouldn't seek permission until he gets further along in the decision-making process, however.
Simon joins team
Closer Alfredo Simon, who strained his left hamstring running to cover first base on May 23 against the Washington Nationals, returned to Baltimore from Florida on Saturday and could throw a simulated game at Camden Yards on Sunday morning before the Orioles-New York Mets series finale.
It depends on whether the Mets take batting practice on the field Sunday.
"He's been throwing [in Sarasota]. It's not an arm injury; it's a leg injury so we are taking all those things under consideration," Samuel said.
If all goes well, Simon could be activated from the disabled list in time for the start of the club's six-game road trip that begins Monday in San Francisco. The exact timeline has not been decided, Samuel said, because the team is also considering what corresponding move will be made to make room for Simon.
The Orioles could demote a pitcher to Triple-A Norfolk such as reliever Frank Mata (1.29 ERA in seven games) or Brad Bergesen (3-4, 6.66 ERA), who could return to the Tides' rotation. They could also designate reliever Matt Albers (2-3, 5.53 ERA), who is out of options, or go to a three-man bench and send outfielder Lou Montanez back to Norfolk.
Simon (1-1, 2.92 ERA, six saves) is expected to return to the closer's role, though he may be spelled on occasion by David Hernandez, a former starter who picked up his first career save Thursday night.
Another name tossed in ring
Because the Orioles are the only team openly searching for a manager, there's been plenty of speculation as to who would be the best fit for the struggling club.
J.P. Ricciardi, the former Toronto Blue Jays general manager and now an ESPN baseball analyst, recently suggested that the Orioles look at former Blue Jays' manager John Gibbons, whom Ricciardi roomed with in the minors and hired and fired while with the Jays.
Gibbons, 48, compiled a 305-305 record with the Blue Jays from 2004-2008, including a second-place finish in the American League East in 2006. Now the Kansas City Royals bench coach, Gibbons said he has not been contacted by the Orioles but would be intrigued by the job and by returning to the toughest division in baseball.
"I think once you have experienced [managing] one time, and you've had some success, you want to give it another shot," said Gibbons, a former first-round pick and major-league catcher who has a reputation for challenging his players.
"I spent some time in that division and [the Orioles] have taken their lumps for the past few years," Gibbons said. "But they are interesting because I think they are doing it the right way. Improving the farm system is the way to go about it."
Around the horn
Catcher Matt Wieters didn't start Saturday night, but would start Sunday, when he often gets a breather, so he can face New York Mets' tough righty Mike Pelfrey. … The annual Brooks Robinson High School All-Star Game, which showcases the best prep seniors in Maryland, will be held Sunday after the Orioles-Mets game at Camden Yards. … Baltimore City Police cleared the field during pre-game drills for about 15 minutes on Saturday due to an unattended backpack left in the stands several hours before first pitch. The Emergency Services Unit, or bomb squad, was summoned and it was quickly determined that the bag was accidentally left behind by a tour group member. … Ravens head coach John Harbaugh threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
dan.connolly@baltsun.com
