A commenter on our Facebook page the other day made a point about some early speculation about who could be on the Phillies' coaching staff next season, assuming that Ryne Sandberg sheds the Phillies' "interim" tag and becomes manager. We know already that at least pitching coach Rich Dubee probably won't be back after nine seasons with the big league club and four with their minor league staff.
Further, the Phillies spent 2013 without a bench coach, something that a new manager surely would want. That led me to think about who the Phillies might hire for 2014 and here are my best guesses.
Bench Coach – Larry Bowa
The bench coach serves as a manager's right-hand man on the bench, who assists the manager in maneuvering through the games and different situations. The 2013 Phillies decided to forego a true bench coach, with Charlie Manuel simply using pitching coach Rich Dubee in that capacity and using the coaching slot to keep Mick Billmeyer around but get him out of the bullpen.
I am going to go with NBC10's John Clark on this one. A couple of weeks ago, Clark made this assertion on Twitter:
If Ryne Sandberg is Phillies manager next year, I expect Larry Bowa to be his bench coach or some position, if Phils management allows it
— John Clark NBC10 (@johnclarknbc10) August 19, 2013
I think Clark could be onto something, mainly because he has been part of the PHL17 Post Game Show with Bowa over the past season. Clark could have gotten the "if the management allows it" from Bowa itself. I've spoken with a former Phillies front office guy before who said that Larry Bowa was "a great coach, not a great manager".
Any past bitterness/resentment on Bowa's part after his October 2004 dismissal seems to be in the past. Since he last coached, Bowa has appeared for Wall of Fame and Alumni events with the team. The issue could be whether or not the Phillies' front office is okay with Bowa coming back. Bowa just may be Sandberg's ideal choice. Every rookie manager should have an experienced bench coach, and Bowa certainly has the managerial experience and coaching experience to advise Sandberg.
Pitching Coach – Rod Nichols
The Phillies liked Rod Nichols enough to promote him to the major league staff this season after spending eight seasons as pitching coach for the Phillies in their AAA affiliates, and several more at low A and AA dating back to 2000. It appears Nichols is a Phillies lifer. His son Chris Nichols, pitched this season for Lakewood and Clearwater.
Besides having put his time in, Nichols' was Ryne Sandberg's pitching coach during Sandberg's minor league managerial stint for the Phillies organization. Nichols has worked with the Phillies' young pitchers in the minors and now in the major leagues as the bullpen coach. Give Nichols some credit for the transformation of young pitchers Jake Diekman and B.J. Rosenberg, who appear to be major league options.
Hitting Coaches – Steve Henderson and Wally Joyner
Both Steve Henderson and Wally Joyner are so new to the job, there really seems like there is no reason to let them go at this point. Joyner has gotten credit for transforming Domonic Brown into the All-Star hitter that he became this season. Henderson has worked for the club since his last hitting coach stint ended with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Henderson was the Rays' hitting coach from 2006 to 2009 and when the Rays faced the Phillies in the 2008 World Series and worked with young players like Evan Longoria as they were coming into their own in the major leagues. Both are worth being given another season to see what they can continue to do.
First Base Coach – Dave Brundage
Because of the timing of Manuel's dismissal, Sandberg was down one coach until September 3rd. At that point, Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs coach Dave Brundage joined the Phillies coaching staff. Unofficially in any capacity, Brundage will be with the team until the end of the season. Brundage is a former Phillies draft pick who managed the Altanta Braves AAA affiliate for six years prior to jumping to the Phillies, looking for a better opportunity.
Brundage coached some first base for the Phillies in Spring Training while Juan Samuel was busy coaching the Dominican Republic championship team in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Brundage has an interesting pedigree in that while primarily an outfielder, he pitched for 39 games in the minor leagues. Brundage could help baserunners at first base from the perspective of a pitcher and as a position player.
Third Base Coach – Juan Samuel…Maybe
This one will depend on whether or not Samuel wants to continue in his role as third base coach. Samuel had aspirations to manage in the Major Leagues. The Philleis have not permanently named Sandberg manager, and therefore probably will conduct interviews. Samuel could be one of them interviewing. If Samuel feels like he has no chance at management in the Phillies organization, maybe he would coach elsewhere, hoping to make an impression. Samuel managed the Baltimore Orioles on an interim basis for the second half of the 2010 season.
After Samuel was not named manager permanently, Samuel chose to move on to the Phillies instead of continuing to coach for the Orioles, perhaps to find a better chance at managing. Maybe he makes the same decision. If Samuel does not return, a manager in the Phillies system could get a shot, including Dusty Wathan, Chris Truby, or Mickey Morandini.
Bullpen Coach – Mike Mason
This is someone from Ryno's days in the Cubs system. A minor league pitching coach for AAA Iowa, Mason served as Sandberg's bullpen coach in his two years managing the Iowa Cubs. They played together for the Cubs in 1987. Someone who might be Sandberg's guy and he's worked together before on a coaching staff, this could be a way for Sandberg to get someone onto the staff with his stamp.
Catching Coach? Probably None
Major League Baseball allows six coaches in uniform at games along with the manager. The Phillies currently employ Mick Billmeyer with the title of "Catching Coach". Billmeyer assisted Ramon Henderson in the bullpen as "catching instructor" and eventually became bullpen coach upon Henderson's departure. After 2012, the Phillies felt that the bullpen coach should serve as a second pitching coach for the Phillies' relievers.
Billmeyer may stick around with a different title. Maybe it'll just be semantics, but the Phillies cannot have a uniformed coach beyond the previous six, and the team would probably want to keep a second hitting coach.
