White Sox should hurry and ink Alomar or Francona
I think it's a win-win situation for the White Sox, and I also think they had better act fast.
Yesterday, Paul Konerko helped explain why Sandy Alomar Jr. is going to be a standout major-league manager, as soon as next season.
“He's got the perfect pedigree,” Konerko said. “I mean, baseball family, smart guy, catcher, speaks English, speaks Spanish. You name it on paper and he's pretty much got it. There's only one thing he hasn't done, and that's manage.”
The guess here is Alomar steps right in with no managing experience at any level and still makes his mark.
I talked to Konerko about Alomar before Wednesday's final game of the season. As I was walking away, Konerko said: “What about (Terry) Francona?”
“He's not available,” I said.
Well, he is now.
Thanks to Boston's stunning collapse, Francona's run in Boston ended Friday. The Red Sox were in first place in the AL East on Sept. 1 and held a 9-game lead over the Rays for the wild-card spot before going 7-20 and going home.
Francona is looking for a new manager's gig, and the White Sox should be very interested. So should the Cubs.
The Red Sox held options on Francona for next year, and 2013 as well.
But Francona told Boston reporters he decided to walk away.
“It was my decision,” Francona said. “I don't know what I want to do. I know I want to stay in the game. This is all I've ever done, all I ever want to do.”
I think Alomar would be a tremendous hire for the White Sox.
Ditto for the 52-year-old Francona, with an exclamation mark.
Forget about this season's collapse and look at the overall body of work.
In eight seasons as Red Sox manager, Francona went to the playoffs five times and won two World Series titles. Boston was 8-0 in the World Series under Francona and the Red Sox' first championship, over the Cardinals in 2004, ended an 86-year drought.
Francona has it all — experience, two rings, knowledge, respect, major market experience and an ability to deal with the media.
White Sox general manager Kenny Williams talked about replacing the departed Ozzie Guillen earlier this week and said he had a preferred candidate in mind.
Williams also said he might have to wait until the World Series ends “if there's someone on a playoff team that I ultimately might want to talk to.”
That was Tuesday, and the Red Sox were still very much alive for another run to the Fall Classic.
Williams also could have been referring to Rays bench coach Dave Martinez.
Maybe it was Francona and Martinez.
Well, the former is now available.
sgregor@dailyherald.com