After mutually agreeing to part ways with Don Mattingly in October, the Los Angeles Dodgers launched an extensive search for their new manager that lasted nearly one month and culminated with the hire of Dave Roberts.
During the weeks between Mattingly’s departure and Roberts’ hire, Los Angeles interviewed nine candidates.
The group included expected names in Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler and Chicago Cubs bench coach Dave Martinez.
However, the club also interviewed surprises in University of Nebraska head coach Darin Erstad and former New York Mets bench coach Bob Geren.
Although Geren did not get the job, he was hired by the Dodgers as bench coach. The lateral move is one Geren previously explained as being done so he could be closer to his family.
As for working on a staff Geren interviewed to lead, one meeting with Roberts eliminated any chance of there being animosity, via Ken Gurnick of MLB.com:
“Now I understand why they picked him,” Geren said. “His enthusiasm is infectious. His personality is off the charts. He’s a great pick, just a great choice.”
The 54 year old Geren also said he’s looking forward to working with Roberts, who is 11 years his junior:
“This will be the first time I’ve worked with a younger and less experienced manager, and that’s appealing. I was a catching instructor, and I consider myself a teacher. I feel I can make him better, and he’ll make me better by challenging me.”
Given that Roberts is entering his first season as manager, Dodgers president of baseball operations spoke of filling the staff with experience coaches to help bring the rookie skipper along.
Geren’s previously managed the Oakland Athletics for four and a half seasons. His coaching history includes time as Minor League manager in the Boston Red Sox organization in the 1990s, A’s Minor League manager and A’s bench coach.
He was fired by Oakland 63 games into the 2011 season (27-36 at the time), and hired by the Mets as bench coach in October of that year.
Geren’s time with the A’s overlaps with that of Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi, who spent 10 seasons in the Oakland front office before joining Los Angeles last year.
Mets manager Terry Collins praised his former bench coach for Geren’s knowledge and preparation.
