Whenever a new manager joins a baseball team, there are usually changes. Phillies manager Pete Mackanin entered in the back way, serving as a third base coach under manager Ryne Sandberg until Sandberg's resignation in June. Most of the Phillies coaching staff has been offered the opportunity to return. Yet, two beloved former Phillies on the staff may choose to do something else.
Mackanin noted some changes to the coaching staff for next season in today's postgame press conference, and Jim Salisbury of CSN reported some details about the staff heading into next season.
Coaches not returning:
John Mizerock, third base coach
Mizerock joined the Phillies staff prior to the 2014 season as assistant hitting coach, replacing the departed Wally Joyner. After the resignation of Sandberg, Mackanin moved to the manager's seat and Mizerock took over at third base.
Rod Nichols, bullpen coach
Nichols was the pitching coach at AAA Lehigh Valley before joining the big league staff in 2013 as bullpen coach. When the Phillies promoted Nichols, the bullpen coach role became more of a second pitching coach role on the staff.
Coaches likely returning:
Bob McClure, pitching coach and Steve Henderson, hitting coach. Salisbury reports that both have accepted offers to return.
Coaches with offers to return, but considering options:
Larry Bowa, bench coach
Bowa has an interview scheduled with the Miami Marlins to be their next manager. Bowa was not considered for even the Phillies interim manager job (been there, done that), but has been offered a coaching position in 2016, Salisbury reports.
Juan Samuel, first base coach
The former Phillie interviewed for the job that went to Pete Mackanin, reports Salisbury. Samuel has aspirations to manage in the big leagues. Samuel was passed over by the Baltimore Orioles, which led to Samuel opting to coach for the Phillies instead. If Samuel feels he does not have any room to grow in the Phillies organization, he may wish to look elsewhere.
Other organizational coaches:
Jorge Velandia joined the Phillies staff during the season after the team lost a coach when Mackanin's third base coach job was taken by assistant hitting coach Mizerock. Velandia is an option to stick around as a coach, Salisbury says.
Dusty Wathan, the long-time organizational manager, is a candidate for a coaching position, reports Salisbury. Mizerock coached the team's catchers and the Phillies will need someone to do that, perhaps also serving as the bullpen coach.
Don't forget about:
Mickey Morandini. Morandini was to be the bench coach at AAA Lehigh Valley but ended up filling in as hitting coach in AA Reading. The Phillies organization seemed very high on Morandini, despite passing him over for the assistant hitting coach job that went to Mizerock.
Sam Perlozzo. Like Mackanin, the former Phillies first base coach was let go along with hitting coach Greg Gross after the 2012 season. Salisbury suggests that Perlozzo could return. Perlozzo was fired as Orioles manager two days before Andy MacPhail took the reigns as Orioles team president. Juan Samuel was a member of Perlozzo's coaching staff in 2007.
