The Mets managerial search continues tomorrow.
Alderson: "Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss will be in tomorrow as we begin the interview process with candidates for our new Manager. We expect to have more information regarding the schedule of upcoming interviews with additional candidates later in the week."
Melvin managed the Mariners in 2003 and 2004 and the Diamondbacks from 2005 to 2009. He has a career 493-508 (.493) winning percentage. He was the 2007 NL Manager of the Year when the Diamondbacks went 90-72 and won the NL West title.
Jauss spent two seasons managing in the Expos minor leagues in 1992 and 1994. He has been a bench coach for the Dodgers and Orioles, and held that position with the Mets in 2010. He was interviewed by Baseball Prospectus last February. You have to love his candor:
David Laurila: What led you into the coaching ranks?
Dave Jauss: Complete lack of ability. A lot of people lose opportunities to play further because they don't get seen, or they get hurt, or their coach in high school or college didn't give them an opportunity. Well, I got plenty of opportunities, and I didn't get hurt; I just couldn't play a lick. The only way for me to stay in the game was to get into coaching.
And here's an interesting exchange about slugging and on-base percentages.
DL: How important is the three-run homer to winning baseball games?
DJ: My response to that is that we don't win with the three-run homer (in Baltimore), because our slugging percentage is one of the lowest in the league. So, we're not waiting for that. And why don't we steal? Well, look at the speed we have. We don't have any.
DL: You also can’t hit three-run homers without runners on base.
DJ: Our on-base percentage isn't as bad as our slugging percentage. Even though we don't walk that much, our batting average is high enough that we get on base, but our slugging percentage is awful compared to last year. That's not a philosophy of the manager, it's something that's just not there. In the American League, you need to hit the ball out of the park. You definitely need to hit the ball out of the park. You also need to walk. The Angels might be an exception to the rule, but they steal a little bit more and still hit the ball out of the park. So, I don’t think there are any managers in particular who say they are along the lines of Earl Weaver. I think that Earl Weaver formed the philosophy for Billy Beane. Billy Beane just doesn't want to admit it, or maybe he doesn't know it. No, he knows it. He's very intelligent and very shrewd. But Earl Weaver, on a cocktail napkin, figured out that a couple of walks, stay out of the double play—a strikeout is better than hitting into a double play—and then get some big boppers to hit three-run homers, is a great offense. You don't always have it, so you can't do it, but it may well be the best offense. Actually, it is the best offense, no doubt about it.
Don't be at all surprised if Dave Jauss comes out atop the pack of managerial candidates. In the span of two questions he mentioned slugging percentage, on-base percentage, Billy Beane and Earl Weaver. Does that mean he'll be a good manager? Of course not, but it's a refreshing change from a manager who thinks going with his gut is a winning strategy and that everything and anything is "gangsta".