© Jake Roth | 2018 Jul 12
For the first time in 13 years, the San Francisco Giants are in a full-fledged search for their next manager.
In addition to interviewing internal candidates and assistant coaches Hensley Mulens and Ron Wotus, the club has also reportedly spoken with A’s quality control coach Mark Kotsay and Royals quality control coach Pedro Grifol, according to Ken Rosenthal. They are also going to interview recently fired Phillies manager Gabe Kapler according to Jon Heyman of MLB Network, and are interested in former Padres outfielder and current Cubs first-base coach Will Venable.
Giants brodcaster Mike Krukow joined Murph & Mac on Tuesday morning and broke down the candidates, all of which he feels would be good fits.
“I know of (Gabe) Kapler,” Krukow. “I haven’t spent a whole lot of time around him but I know he’s a bright guy, he’s articulate, just the way that he’s handled his news conferences coming out of Philadelphia. I don’t know what ran him out of that clubhouse. I don’t know how he lost control of the Phillies clubhouse. I mean he was a first-time manager, which, that can happen. We watched it happen with Matt Williams in Washington. You lose control of the clubhouse and then ‘see you later.’
“Intriguing names that are coming up. Will Venable I’ve always been a fan of. We held that guy in our arms. Max Venable was one of the best teammates I ever had, he and his wife Molly are amazing people, and they raised two great kids one of which is Will Venable. So he’s a guy I’ve always been rooting for. Mark Kotsay another guy I’ve admired for a long time.”
Still, Krukow has two familiar favorites.
“But I’m still going to tell you my favorite guys are the guys that I’ve seen, the guys that I know. And Wotus and Mulens, they’re tough to beat.”
Both Wotus and Mulens are looking for their first ever managerial jobs at the major league level.
Listen to the full interview below.