He’s still alive, Tigers fans.
As the Boston Red Sox further whittled down their list of managerial candidates after meeting with Bobby Valentine on Monday, one name still remained: Detroit Tigers third base coach Gene Lamont.
Lamont is set to meet with the Red Sox ownership again this week, reportedly on Tuesday or Wednesday, to further discuss his candidacy for the manager’s job.
Boston Herald beat writer John Tomase wonders if Lamont could ultimately end up being the pick as sort of a compromise between the preferences of new Red Sox GM Ben Cherington and team ownership.
Cherington is believed to want a manager who’s willing to work closely with the GM, and is versed in incorporating data and advanced metrics into his daily routine. Ownership (especially team president Larry Lucchino) is reportedly more interested in bringing in an experienced manager, one who wouldn’t allow the fried-chicken-and-beer escapades that have come to symbolize the Red Sox’s apathetic September collapse.
But if the Red Sox are looking for an experienced manager who won’t clash with the front office, as Valentine did late in his tenure with the New York Mets, Lamont might be seen as the safer hire.
Regardless, the Red Sox apparently won’t make a decision until after Thanksgiving. Cherington says he wants the new manager in place by baseball’s winter meetings, which begin Dec. 5.