Editorials

Dodgers Rumors: Padres Recruiting McGwire for Bench Coach

Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach Mark McGwire had previously been linked to the Arizona Diamondbacks to assume a similar role on their coaching staff.

He’s fairly unpopular among Dodgers fans as the bats quieted down the stretch, but it’s hard to say exactly how much that had to do with his coaching as it was the guys swinging said wet noodles as the season came to an end.




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Now, it seems McGwire is drawing eyes in a larger role for another divisional opponent. This, via Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union Tribune.

Former Los Angeles Dodgers hitting coach and home-run king Mark McGwire is in discussions with the Padres about becoming their next bench coach, sources told the Union-Tribune.

While nothing has been made official, one source suggested McGwire is a very strong candidate for the job, one that would keep him close to home. McGwire recently was under consideration for the Arizona Diamondbacks’ hitting-coach position, but sources said the Irvine resident pulled himself out of the running.

McGwire seems to be very well-respected for his coaching abilities, and if he can swing a promotion out of last season, all the best to him.

It is oddly symbolic of the state of how coaches are viewed in the MLB when you have so much retread movement.

Take a look at how this played out:

  • Dave Roberts (the Padres’ previous bench coach) is a finalist for the Dodgers’ manager job.
  • Bud Black (the Padres’ manager when last season started) got to a second interview with the Dodgers. He’s now with the Angels.
  • We covered where McGwire might end up.
  • Ron Roenicke now has a the same job (third base coach) with the Angels as he had with the Dodgers.
  • Davey Lopes just took the same job he held with the Dodgers in Washington.
  • You can safely bet that, if let go, Rick Honeycutt would be immediately hired elsewhere.

The situations described above is just how this works in the MLB. It’s why I’m not overly concerned with the lack of experience either Roberts or Gabe Kapler have. They’d get it elsewhere and would make their way as managers eventually, anyway, probably; so let them learn and grow on the job.

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One Comment

  1. Thank gawd, get him as far away from the Dodgers as possible. All our team ever did was swing for the fences and left men on base. No fundamentals, boring ass baseball.

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