Having dismissed Frank Robinson at the end of the season, the Nats are casting a wide net for possible replacements. Reports yesterday regarding the sudden firing (and availability) of four-time World Series winner Joe Torre now appear to be premature, according to the NY Post.

With the nascent Torre-to-the-Nats campaign already toast, we take a look at the other candidates in the rumor mill…

Lou Pinella
Experience: Played briefly for O’s and Indians, but mostly for Royals, then Yanks; Managed four teams from ’86 to ’05, most recently in Tampa Bay. Was AL Manager of the Year twice for Seattle.
Odds: Nil. Pinella removed himself from consideration for the Nats yesterday. He’s not interested in what he sees as a long rebuilding process for the franchise.

Joe Girardi
Experience: Played for the Cubs and Rockies before settling in with the Yanks, collecting four World Series rings in the nineties. In his first year on the bench, he managed the surprising Marlins this year to Wild Card Contention before being fired at year’s end by mercurial owner and megalomaniac Jeffrey Loria.
Odds: Not as likely as some would have you believe, but he’s certainly one of the hottest names on the market. He has deep ties to the Chicago area and the Cubs, and may see their vacancy as a dream job. He’s the most Frank-like of the candidates, and his bullish nature is what caused the friction in Florida.

What’s amazing here is to compare the vacancies in D.C. and Chicago. After years of mismanagement and no organizational support, the Nats job looks like a real opportunity to manage a winner in the future, and trust Stan Kasten’s proven track record. With the organizational shakeup and history of losing in Chicago, it can’t be seen as a springboard to success. How much does it say about the changes for the Expos/Nationals franchise that it now appears to be the more stable job?

Photo of Baker by Scott Ableman