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Dodger Blue > Dodgers News > Dodgers Managerial Candidate Profile: Darin Erstad, The Out-Of-Nowhere Option
Dodgers News

Dodgers Managerial Candidate Profile: Darin Erstad, The Out-Of-Nowhere Option

Jeff Spiegel
November 3, 2015
3 Min Read
Dodgers Managerial Candidate Profile: Darin Erstad, The Out-of-nowhere Option
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When the Los Angeles Dodgers managerial search began, a number of names surfaced as possible candidates. Interestingly enough, however, one of the most intriguing candidates wouldn’t have been found on anyone‘s list: former Angels outfielder and current University of Nebraska head coach Darin Erstad.

As a fun-fact, Erstad is one of what can be presumed is a small group of players to don a California Angels, Anaheim Angels and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim jersey in his career.

Another interesting fact is Erstad played with current Dodgers reliever Joel Peralta in 2005 and bench coach Tim Wallach, in 1996. Erstad, 41, played 14-seasons in the Majors for the Angels (11), Chicago White Sox (one) and Houston Astros (two).

In those 14 seasons, Erstad was a two-time All-Star (1998, 2000), three-time Gold Glove winner (2000, 2002, 2004) and a one-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2000). As you can guess, 2000 was his best season, when he slashed .355/.409/.541 with 25 home runs, 100 RBIs, 121 runs scored and 28 stolen bases.

He also led the league in hits and finished eighth in the MVP voting that season. Since retiring in 2009, Erstad returned to his alma mater, University of Nebraska, as a coach.

What began as a volunteer position in 2010 turned into a hitting coach position in 2010, and ultimately the head coaching position in 2011. In his time as head coach, the Cornhuskers have gone 139-97, advancing to the NCAA tournament once.

What is curious about Erstad’s inclusion in the coaching search is his apparent lack of a connection to the front office. There is, however, a minor connection through Joe Maddon.

Maddon, who worked under current Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman in Tampa, worked with Erstad for 11 seasons with the Angels where he apparently became an admirer of Erstad’s leadership qualities.

What’s fascinating about Erstad is beyond his reputation as a leader while a player, there just isn’t a lot known about him as a manager. One has to assume that if he’s being considered, he comes down on the side of sabermetrics and advanced stats, but it’s not like he has a record as a vocal proponent (or opponent).

In the end, Erstad is yet another example of the Dodgers front office willing to think outside the box — interviewing a candidate who wasn’t on the radar of anyone, anywhere. Who knows, perhaps the Dodgers know something no one else does.

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TAGGED:Andrew FriedmanDarin ErstadLos Angeles DodgersManager Search
ByJeff Spiegel
Jeff Spiegel was raised in California but currently resides in Portland, Oregon. After graduating from the University of Oregon, he worked in sports before entering journalism full time — first as a Sports Reporter and then as the Associate Editor of a local newspaper. Online, he has been writing about both the Dodgers and Raiders since 2012 — having written for DodgersNation.com and SBNation.com prior to joining both DodgerBlue.com and RaidersNation.com. He left full-time journalism in 2012 to become a pastor. Jeff can be found on Twitter at @JeffSpiegel. Favorite Dodger I'm going past and present (sort of) on this one. Recently, I was a die hard Yasiel Puig guy. The energy he played with was amazing and the hope and expectation he brought every single night was captivating. Whether it was a rifle from the warning track to throw a guy out at second, an aggressive bat flip or licking his bat, I was here for ALL of the Yasiel Puig era. Past tense, I'd go with Eric Gagné. This wasn't so much about Gagné himself as it was the experience of cheering for him. Yes, he was on steroids — but the dude was unlike any pitcher I've ever seen — he was NASTY. I still stand by the claim that if I needed one out and my life depended on it, and could choose any pitcher from any era to get me that out, I'm taking roided up Gagné in a heartbeat. Favorite Dodger Moment A few jump to mind immediately. Being born in November of 1988, I missed the last World Series by weeks — which also meant I didn't get to see the Dodgers win a playoff game until I was nearly 16. They had made the playoffs in 1995 and 1996, but were swept both times. In 2004, though, I got to see them win behind a complete game shutout from Jose Lima, and that was pretty freaking special. The next in-person moment that came to mind was the Manny Ramirez bobblehead night pinch-hit grand slam from 2009. Vin Scully claimed it was the loudest he had heard Dodger Stadium in 20 years, and it's hard to disagree. As far as ones I didn't get to see live, I'll throw one more out there: the back-to-back-to-back-to-back home runs that tied a game against the Padres in 2006 (plus the walk-off from Nomar Garciaparra in extra innings) was an all-timer. Obviously, the impending Dodgers World Series will quickly jump to the top of this list...
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