© Rick Osentoski | 2017 Jul 24
Odds have been released for who is most likely to take over as Bruce Bochy’s successor. And boy are they a doozie.
According to BetDSI sportsbook, former Giants third baseman and Nationals manager Matt Williams is the favorite to land the job (+200), followed closely by former A’s third baseman Eric Chavez (+250), and former Giants catcher and Cardinals manager Mike Matheny. Rounding out the top five are former Giants Gold Glove shortstop Omar Vizquel and current bench coach Ron Wotus (both +500).
After that things start to get wild.
These odds for the next #SFGiants manager from @BetDSI are wild ?? pic.twitter.com/XPEJytn5Fd
— Yahoo Sports MLB (@MLByahoosports) February 20, 2019
Former Giants manager Dusty Baker, who like Williams last managed the Nationals, is tied for eighth at +1000, tied with former beloved first baseman Will Clark. Barry Bonds stands at +2000, while the odds of Buster Posey being the first player manager since Pete Rose, (who finds himself at the bottom of the list tied with Jose Canseco) are listed at +10000.
Perhaps the most amusing names are broadcasters Mike Krukow, Duane Kuiper, and Jon Miller. Kruk & Kuip (+20000) are pegged as slightly more likely candidates than Miller (+50000). Whether they would continue to call the game from the dugout is anybody’s guess.
As far as the real candidates are concerned, Williams, 53, went 179-145 in two years as the Nationals manager in 2014-15. Williams was named NL Manager of the Year in 2014, but was fired in 2015 after reportedly losing the clubhouse, and missing the playoffs despite being favored to win the World Series. As a player, Williams was a five-time All-Star, four of which he made as a member of the Giants. Williams is currently the third base coach for the Oakland A’s.
Speaking of the A’s, that’s where Chavez, 41, won six Gold Gloves as a member of Oakland from 1998-2010. Chavez is considered one of the top managerial candidates in baseball, and currently serves as a special assistant to Angels general manager Billy Epler. He was expected to take over for Mike Scioscia before Brad Ausmus was named as successor.
Matheny, 48, finished his 12-year major league career with the Giants in 2005-06, and served as the Cardinals manager from 2012-2018. Vizquel, 51, was one of the greatest defensive shortstops in MLB history, and currently manages the White Sox Double-A affiliate.
The list curiously is without internal candidate Bam Bam Meulens, who is considered by many in the organization, along with Wotus, to have a decent chance at landing the job.