I asked that awhile back to C. Trent and he pretty much said... Heck No.
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I remember awhile back in the middle of the season Brantley and Marty talking about this situation. Brantley made the comment that there may be a contract on the table waiting for him to sign it and hes just waiting until the season ends to do so. Ive never been a Duisty hater and have for the most part thought he does a good job with this group of guys. Id take him for 2 or 3 more years as long as hes healthy. This group of guys responds so well to him if he doesnt come back we better get a "players manager".
There is a difference between hiring a minor leage journeyman like Miley or a retread like Narron and hiring a hot up and coming name on the market. At one point, David Bell was reportedly a rising star as a manager, not sure if he has cooled. A couple other names in the organization to keep an eye on might be Delino Deshields and of course Corky Miller. Jim Riggleman is more an example of the journeyman type that I wouldn't be interested in. If he gets a major league coaching gig, I wouldn't be surprised to see managers in the system bumped up a level with Corky getting a shot to start his managerial career somewhere in the low minors.
Another posiibilty that wouldn't surprise me, if Baker should decide to step down, is Bryan Price. The Reds already have his replacement in place with Mack Jenkins serving as assistant pitching coach. Price slides in to the top spot, Jenkins becomes the pitching coach and maybe Corky slides into Jenkins current role (and mentors Mes as well). Nobody really knows, but it just seems like Price is the organization's choice (IIRC he was Walt's only hire among the current staff) and adding Jenkins to the mix to assume some of Price's duties may be a move to free Price for bigger and better things. Just reading the tea leaves and that could be way off base, but its fun to speculate.
Once again, I think Reds fans are used to some very inexpensive, ineffective choices. Thankfully, Walt and Bob don't see it that way. Or don't seem to.
The decision to hire Dusty was a realization that you need a proven baseball manager, or if not someone with lots of baseball experience and high aptitude.
I really doubt they will name David Bell as manager of the Reds if a change is made this off-season.
Frankly, I doubt Speier gets the job. Price is more intriguing, he's a possibility. From what I can tell, Price is a very smart, experienced, and able coach.
But mostly, I think the Reds will seek out a proven manager, someone Walt knows from his former life, and simply insist that he keeps some of the Reds better coaches, like Price.
I hope Dusty returns, but if not, look probably for a guy with managerial experience with whom Jocketty has a relationship and who will work with Bryan Price. And look perhaps for David Bell to join the major league coaching staff.
If Dusty doesn't come back - maybe he's wooed back to LA - I fear the Reds will go the Jim Tracy or Bobby Valentine route. :alcohol:
I still say try to lure a guy like Bud Black away from his current job.
If that's not an option, I'd look to Mike Hargrove, Dave Martinez, and Don Wakamatsu.
The Reds will be fine either way if Dusty stays or leaves, but please oh please make sure Bryan Price stays here! The pitching staff is the driving reason why the Reds are so good right now, and Bryan Price is a key reason the pitching staff is so good. Keeping him should be the front office's highest priority this offseason.
UPDATE
Tom Groeschen @TomGroeschen
RT @Hydeman3: any feeling from Dusty about his future beyond winning the world series?//Seems he will return