Phillies manager search: Mickey Callaway gaining traction
One name continues to shine in the Phillies murky manager search
Phillies general manager Matt Klentak is leading his first ever manager search and the criteria is as specific as it gets. The second-year front office executive wants a younger voice to replace 66-year-old Pete Mackanin and 71-year-old Larry Bowa on the bench, as well as someone who respects the use of analytics.
Multiple names have been mentioned in Klentak’s search, but the most consistent is Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway.
After ESPN’s Buster Olney reported Philadelphia was interested in Callaway, someone within the Indians organization told FanRag Sports Callaway will have a strong interview with Klentak when the two meet.
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“I guarantee you Mickey will blow them away in his interview,” an Indians person said. “He’s smart, he’s personable and he knows how to relate to players. He’d be one heck of a manager for a young team like the Phillies.”
Take what you will from an anonymous source out of another organization, but the cards are lining up perfectly with Callaway.
ESPN’s Jerry Crasnik reported the 42-year-old pitching coach is “on everyone’s list” for a manager job and that he’s a “smart, personable guy.”
Callaway pitched five seasons in the major leagues for Tampa Bay, Texas, and most recently the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim between 1994 and 2004. Primarily, he bounced around minor league baseball, the independent league, Korea, and Taiwan before going into coaching.
In the four years since Callaway took over as the Indians pitching coach, Cleveland has led all of baseball in strikeouts and is among the best in ERA over the past three.
Next: Five questions the Phillies need to answer
Philadelphia has already conducted three in-house interviews with third base coach Juan Samuel, Triple-A manager Dusty Wathan, and player development coach Jorge Velandia.