Cleveland Indians bench coach Sandy Alomar, Jr. will interview with the Chicago Cubs today, and then, like the candidates before him, will meet with the media thereafter. Alomar is the Cubs’ fourth interviewee – Pete Mackanin, Dale Sveum, and Mike Maddux before him – and the third who is coming fresh off of an interview with the Boston Red Sox (Mackanin, Sveum).
While his coaching experience is limited – Alomar, 45, has been a coach since 2008 – Alomar was a catcher in the bigs for some 20 seasons. With that comes a great deal of “managing” type experience. Indeed, Alomar was a finalist for the Toronto Blue Jays’ managerial opening in 2010 before the team selected John Farrell.
Alomar, a Chicago resident, is considered a natural leader and coach. He’s a guy who will have his shot managing a team, assuming he continues to want it, at some point in the future. Additionally, the fact that he is fluent in both English and Spanish is not a superficial credit – in today’s game, that skill is increasingly valuable.
Alomar says he’s ready for the grueling interview the Cubs are going to throw at him.
“After spending the day interviewing in Boston, I know those guys leave no stone unturned,” Alomar said. “I know that Theo is a guy who has a lot of new ideas, so I assume this process will be the same way. I’m really looking forward to meeting with the Cubs.”
On his candidacy, Alomar says his experience is both a strength and a weakness.
“I have learned a tremendous amount of baseball from [my managers and coaches] and my father has been very influential in my career in the coaching department. I feel like I can help an organization,” Alomar said. “The only weakness that I have, to be honest with you right now, is that I haven’t managed anywhere in the past. That’s the main concern for everybody. But I’ve managed myself, and I’ve managed people throughout my career with leadership, and I feel like I could do it.”
Alomar also says he can readjust to the National League.
“I’ve been removed from the National League for three years now,” Alomar said, “so I don’t know all about their players, but I can learn quickly.”
On the subject of following a home run interview – at least the media part – by Mike Maddux, Alomar was complimentary.
“Mike’s a great guy and a great coach,” Alomar said. “I can be funny, too, but I don’t think I’m going to try to be as funny as Mike was.”