With LaRussa out, Pendleton could be Cards’ candidate (UPDATED)
Terry Pendleton has been waiting for a managerial opportunity.
(Updated with brief comment from Pendleton)
Now that Tony LaRussa surprisingly has decided to retire as St. Louis manager, don’t be surprised if the Cardinals place a phone call to Braves coach Terry Pendleton.
Pendleton for a time was considered a candidate to replace the eventually retiring Bobby Cox — before Fredi Gonzalez became available. He spent the first seven seasons of his major league career in St. Louis. He is liked and respected by players. He’s a leader. He certainly showed that on the field as a player with the Cardinals and the Braves. His acquisition was key in the Braves going to the World Series in 1991, his first season in Atlanta.
Pendleton told our Carroll Rogers that he has not yet been contacted by anybody in the organization. (She will be posting a blog later today.)
Pendleton had his critics as a hitting coach. General manager Frank Wren obviously was one of them, as evidenced by Pendleton getting demoted after the 2010 season. (He was kept as first base coach, and Wren hired Larry Parrish as a replacement. To say that didn’t turn out so well would be an understateent.)
But he has long been considered a managerial candidate in baseball, including getting mentioned as a possible successor to LaRussa before the Cardinals’ manager decided to come back for the 2011 season.
I also don’t believe somebody’s success or failure as a hitting coach determines whether or not somebody will be a successful manager. Pendleton understands players, personalities and the game of baseball as well as anybody.
The “Hardball Talk” blog on NBCSports.com already has listed Pendleton as a candidate in St. Louis, along with Terry Francona (just fired from Boston), Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan, hitting coach Mark McGwire and third base coach Jose Oquendo. Their synopsis of Pendleton:
Terry Pendleton: The Braves’ first base coach and former hitting coach who, obviously, had a lot of time in St. Louis. He’s always been tremendously popular with Braves players since he began coaching and could be a good choice if the Cards are looking to keep a happy team happy. Worth noting also that, when he was removed as the Braves hitting coach, the Braves hitting went into the toilet. The man obviously has some skills.
So we’ll see how this unfolds. Until then, what are your thoughts on Pendleton as a manager?
By Jeff Schultz
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71 comments Add your comment
Dayman
October 31st, 2011
12:13 pm
good riddance
Jamaaliver
October 31st, 2011
12:17 pm
Surprising turn of events.
I actually wouldn’t mind making TP our hitting coach again.
He, apparently, wasn’t NEARLY as inept as we all thought.
And who wants to replace a legend. If he thought Bobby’s shoes were hard to fill…LaRussa’s might be even tougher.
LawDawg
October 31st, 2011
12:18 pm
Dayman must have been in diapers in 1991
Dayman
October 31st, 2011
12:19 pm
Terry Francona head and shoulders above other candidates listed. I’d take Francona in Atlanta right now not because Freddi is that bad, but Francona is that good.
Gary
October 31st, 2011
12:19 pm
I don’t know if TP is ready to manage yet, but there aint but one way to find out.
Dayman
October 31st, 2011
12:21 pm
Law Dog I love John Smoltz but would you want him as a coach?
Gary
October 31st, 2011
12:21 pm
McGWire for manager? Somebody must be on drugs! I mean besides MM of course.
LawDawg
October 31st, 2011
12:23 pm
No, Dayman, but I would also never disrespect the captain of those teams by saying “good riddance.” I don’t see how any fan who rode that worst to first ride would talk about TP like that.
Dayman
October 31st, 2011
12:28 pm
LawDawg I guess the he is in a good place if they are given him a coaching job for how he played in 1991. Just leave him at first base coach, anyone can do that.
three jack
October 31st, 2011
12:35 pm
If the Cards need someone to keep the bullpen keg fresh, then Francona should be at the top of their list. If they want a real baseball guy to lead them, then TP is on his way to Busch Stadium.
James
October 31st, 2011
12:35 pm
Managers that follow legends are always fired..
Tumbledown
October 31st, 2011
12:46 pm
If TP gets chosen, then the Cardinals are doomed not to win another World Series while he is with the team. He has been involved in numerous post seasons (including several World Series) as a player with both the Braves and Cardinals and assistance coach with the Braves. Yet, none of his teams won the big prize. TP was on another team when the Braves won in 1995. He returned in the middle of 1996 season, I believe, and we know what happened there. As a jinx, he is comparable to Kenny Lofton.
Maybe if TP departs, the Braves could have a chance.
And the truth shall set ye free
October 31st, 2011
12:49 pm
I think Barry Bonds (or his “clear” supplier) are better candidates. If the Cardinals want to keep winning, using the LaRussa steroids model, they will need another manager who has a steroid franchise. Any place that a wild-armed pitcher (pitchers are not known for their hitting, even though pitchers like Tim Hudson have college histories as good hitters) can be sent down to the minors “to learn the outfield,” and then come back hitting tape-measure home runs, only the magic of Hollywood or steroids is the answer. Good ole Tim McCarver said, “Not many eleven-year veterans are shoe-ins for the Hall of Fame, but Albert Pooholz is.” Tony La Russa has coached more players known for steroids use than any other (Oakland, Chicago (AL), St. Louis). McGuire had to follow him to St. Louis to keep his fix on (started in Oakland). I say “Good ridance” to La Russa. The sport of baseball has turned into the gutter-gathering business of big, bald heads (some with mohawks) and Popeye biceps (like used to be found in the wrassling profession), boys on the roids. That is why (during times of economic woes and jobless rates at 9%) 40% of every Major League baseball team is non-US citizens, needing work visas. Latinos will take any drug a scout shows up offering, if it means money-making careers in the USA. Tony La Russa became the winningest coach on ML baseball history because he changed the level of the playing field. He tipped into his favor every stop he made, until everyone started cheating to keep up.
Can you hear me now?
October 31st, 2011
12:50 pm
LaRussa didn’t want to retire, but he called the bullpen and they thought thats what he said and announced it, so now he has to retire so his coaches don’t look like fools.
01HAWK
October 31st, 2011
12:50 pm
Be careful of what you wish for. It was always Pendletons fault but now we see the BRAVES had a bunch of bone head hitters who will not listen.
SO………………………………………Can we demote FRANK WREN and FREDDI ?
01HAWK
October 31st, 2011
12:52 pm
FRANCONA ?,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Lets see………………………………….Players drinking alcohol in the dugout, going back to the dressing room for McDonalds and POPEYES chicken.
I hope Cardinals will not make that mistake.
Bluestreak
October 31st, 2011
12:53 pm
It would be a well-deserved opportunity for TP. Unless things go south here, I don’t see there being an opportunity in Atlanta for a while. TP will likely be hired by someone long before then.
And its not like he would be going to a team not able to compete.
bobby c
October 31st, 2011
12:53 pm
Ding Dong the drunk is gone. Goodbye Lowe hello Indians.
stlfan
October 31st, 2011
12:53 pm
What about O’Quendo…..a Cardinal legend and already at 3rd base as a coach.
Cobb Dawg
October 31st, 2011
12:54 pm
Is McGwire’s steroid history any kind of a factor here? Shouldn’t it be?
RC
October 31st, 2011
12:56 pm
Francona wasn’t fired, he left the team. What Jeff wrote is factual inaccruate.
01HAWK
October 31st, 2011
12:58 pm
Indians Acquire Derek Lowe
By Tim Dierkes [October 31, 2011 at 11:38am CST]
We have our first trade of the 2011-12 offseason! The Indians acquired Derek Lowe from the Braves, tweets John Kreger. The Braves will pay all but $5MM of Lowe’s $15MM salary, tweets ESPN’s Buster Olney. Olney says the Braves will receive a second-line player in return.
Lowe, 38, posted a 5.05 ERA, 6.6 K/9, 3.4 BB/9, 0.67 HR/9, and 59% groundball rate in 187 innings this year for Atlanta. Lowe’s Braves career ended on a sour note, as his 8.75 September ERA contributed to their collapse. Still, his groundball rate ranked second in all of baseball. Lowe signed a four-year, $60MM deal with the Braves in January of 2009.
With Lowe, Justin Masterson, and Fausto Carmona, the Indians’ rotation now has three of the top seven in 2011 groundball rate. Ubaldo Jimenez and Josh Tomlin are also penciled in, with Carlos Carrasco down for Tommy John surgery.
For the Braves, the benefit is $5MM in much-needed salary relief for a pitcher otherwise projected for middle relief on their 2012 club. The Braves and Indians last matched up on a trade in July of 2006, when the Tribe sent reliever Bob Wickman to Atlanta for Max Ramirez.
Joey
October 31st, 2011
12:58 pm
Maybe the Cards will go after Fredi?
Herschel Talker
October 31st, 2011
12:59 pm
Schultzie:
I think Pendleton would be a good manager. I like when he walked off the field in ‘91 in Cincinnati when Starvin Marvin Freeman wouldn’t throw at someone. That’s what we need in a manager, some leadership and fire. Fredi is a bumbling fool.
HT
Sonny Clusters
October 31st, 2011
1:02 pm
TP will never be a Buck Commander and that limits his future with the Braves organization as presently constituted. We will soon see if more of the same can be expected or if this organization will come to the realization that changes must be made. We was remembering what Albert “Sonny” Einstein said about doing the same thing again and again and expecting different results. Those little flags in the outfield have stopped piling up. Pity. The Braves haven’t won a pennant in a long while and the way they are eliminated early each year becomes more and more embarrassing. This year was the straw. Can you say, EPIC collapse?
Sonny Clusters
October 31st, 2011
1:04 pm
Jeff, any news from the Double Dime? We was wondering who shot what.
epic quibble
October 31st, 2011
1:05 pm
Ken Oberkfell isn’t available???????
coach13
October 31st, 2011
1:12 pm
BWAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! YA’LL CAN HAVE HIM!!!!!!
Dr. Phil
October 31st, 2011
1:12 pm
The Cards should vote two shares of WS earnings to Derrick Lowe and one share to other members of the Braves. The Rangers should vote two shares of their post-season winnings to Wren for the worst trade since 1919.
AhiaGamecock
October 31st, 2011
1:13 pm
TP has always been one of my favorite players, him and John Rocker. I wish TP the very best. Would hate to see him leave Atlanta, but I would love to see him suceed as a major league manager. If he gets the chance that Atlanta never gave him, then so be it….see you in St. Louis, TP!
PR Braves Fan
October 31st, 2011
1:14 pm
The Marlins are tired of Logan Morrison greveance against them, send Prado and Asencio for Logan Morrison, sign Jack Wilson as a infield backup, Pastornicky at SS and call it a day!
Mitchell
October 31st, 2011
1:17 pm
Even the lowly Atlanta Braves didn’t want Terry Pendleton to be their manager. Why in God’s name would the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals have the slightest interest?
Jeff Schultz, don’t be ridiculous.
Sonny Clusters
October 31st, 2011
1:17 pm
The Cleveland press likes the Lowe trade calling him “a veteran innings eater” and they may be right. The last time we saw him pitch he ate up 2 1/3 innings while giving up 9 hits and 6 runs. We’d rather see a pumpkin pitch. Lowe is gone and McLouth. Who will be next?
Tom G
October 31st, 2011
1:42 pm
If Pendleton goes, could he take Jason H with him?
Dennis Reynolds
October 31st, 2011
1:45 pm
Dayman….how dare you steal my nicknames. You’re probably the other guy posing as Dennis Reynolds as well.
Mitchell
October 31st, 2011
1:46 pm
That’s the thing. He is an innings eater but you’d hardly know it when Bobby Cox is out there taking him out in the 5th inning of every start when he’s only thrown 79 pitches so he can “save him.”
Gotta save the starters. Just like he “saved” Tommy Hanson from pitching the 9th inning in Houston in a 1-0 game in September ‘09 so he could go to over-used Rafael Soriano who promptly blew the game and the Braves ultimately missed the playoffs in the final days of the season.
Sound familiar?
Derek Lowe was as advertised but much like Michael Bourne, his specific skill was not properly utilized and employed.
And we missed the playoffs.
Sound familiar?
Scott
October 31st, 2011
1:50 pm
Well Oquendo sucks as a coach and Pendleton isn’t much better. Really Terry Francona by far is the best out there
HotDamn
October 31st, 2011
1:52 pm
Why doesn’t fredi go to St Louis? Works for me. oh…..wait…..he’s not a contender.
Chop Chop
October 31st, 2011
1:52 pm
I hope Pendleton gets the Cards’ job. I think he’s well-suited to be a manager. He’s done different things with the Braves, so he has a wealth of experience. Oquendo will probably get it, though.
Chop Chop
October 31st, 2011
1:53 pm
Tito’s going to take the year off. He needs it after Boston.
Dontavius Supremo
October 31st, 2011
2:02 pm
Good for Terry! He deserves a shot.
Braves had to cut their losses and dump Derek Lowe | Jeff Schultz
October 31st, 2011
2:06 pm
[...] • Earlier: Terry Pendleton could be candidate to replace LaRussa [...]
tony
October 31st, 2011
2:16 pm
Terry Pendleton, should have been the braves replacement for cox. But the organization is not ready for that after all these years in Atlanta. He would be great for the Cardinals. I hope he gets the job.
Rowland Office
October 31st, 2011
2:20 pm
TP should’ve replaced Bobby. Hiring Fredi could go down as a bigger blunder than Lowe’s contract.
I’ll never understand Braves fans who rip TP. ‘91 never happens w/o him. Good training to be a mgr., too, having played under Bobby and Whitey Herzog. Apparently Fredi was tutored by Eddie Haas and Russ Nixon.
The Truth hurts
October 31st, 2011
2:41 pm
Scott
October 31st, 2011
1:50 pm
Well Oquendo sucks as a coach and Pendleton isn’t much better. Really Terry Francona by far is the best out there
Pendleton coached you? Or are you yet another fool posting their worthless opinion on a blog. My guess is you are a worthless fool posting as Scott.
Braves had to take hit and dump Derek Lowe | My Blog
October 31st, 2011
2:50 pm
[...] • Earlier: Terry Pendleton could be candidate to replace LaRussa [...]
bigbrave
October 31st, 2011
3:07 pm
Can we trade Pendleton and a player to be named later to the cards for a starting pitcher?
Homer The Timid
October 31st, 2011
3:07 pm
After Parrish’s performance, I’m thinking the Braves hitting problems are a flaw in the whole organization’s approach not just in one man’s coaching skills. What does it say about the two coaches, that the Braves kept TP on but fired Parrish?
Heisenberg
October 31st, 2011
3:08 pm
That would create an opening to bring back Glenn Hubbard. That is if he would even consider it after getting screwed last year.
JF McNamara
October 31st, 2011
3:27 pm
The people on these boards always shock me. Pendleton had fantastic results as a hitting coach. Parrish had arguably better talent than TP ever had, and the team couldn’t get on base at all down the stretch. You’d think TP was a terrible human being the way he’s treated in this town despite his pretty good results.
I hope he gets the job, or moves on to somewhere where he can be appreciated for doing his job well.
Terry P is it?
October 31st, 2011
3:30 pm
“Pendleton told our Carroll Rogers that he has not yet been contacted by anybody in the organization. (She will be posting a blog later today.)”
Good grief! I thought Carroll Rogers was a male!
Steve
October 31st, 2011
3:35 pm
I hope TP gets the job. He deserves a chance.
To anyone who thinks he wasn’t a good hitting coach think about it. For one, what was our offense like before and after TP? Much worse. Second, how could you reasonably expect ANYONE to become a good hititng ciach with the drivel the Braves front office runs out there year after year? Outside of Chipper and McCann we really don’t have a true ‘hitter’. McCann played well under TP, and while Chipper had his best years under TP I am not sure how much coachign was done there since LWJ always looks to his father.
Put simply, TP got more out of guys like Infante and Prado thru the years than anyone should have rightfully expected. There were some failures along the way, but were tehy TP’s fault, or just bad hitters?
Besides, a manager is a whole different game than a hitting coach. I see no reason to expect him to be good or bad based on what he has done so far. The one thing I do know is that TP has always seemed like a stand up guy and a tough player. I see him as similar to Kirk Gibson and he is working out just fine.
chris
October 31st, 2011
3:37 pm
Pendleton can coach, he knows the game and he deserves a shot. As a Cardinals fan I would love to see them offer him the opportunity to return to St. Louis.
Bravesbobblehead
October 31st, 2011
3:38 pm
Pendelton will be a good manager. He has the skills but is not proven, therefore I believe he will do good given the opportunity.
sandra
October 31st, 2011
3:43 pm
Terry would be a good fit. He has played in STL and knows the ropes.
Ryan's Dad
October 31st, 2011
4:30 pm
This is terrible news. Who will hold the players’ shin guards when they reach first base?!
wreckbuzz
October 31st, 2011
4:39 pm
To say that Terry Pendleton had any “failure” as a hitting coach completely ignores the facts and the stats. Should have never been removed as hitting coach for the Braves.
Should have been hired as Braves manager.
Braves and Braves fans will regret if TP goes elsewhere and outperforms Fredi Gonzalez.
Banned Poster
October 31st, 2011
4:45 pm
You morons ripping on TP for the hitting woes must not remember the bumbling idiots who coached it before and after him. Merv Rettemund and Larry Parrish couldn’t teach a dog how to bark, much less situational hitting. TP preached patience, hitting to center field, and getting on base. The rag tag bunch of 2010 led the league in OBP and that goes to show that TP can coach. The same guys basically wet the bed with Parrish as coach.
I hope TP gets this job. He has shown me through the years that he knows how to play the game and be a leader. Not his fault that Lonnie Smith couldn’t keep his eyes on Jimmy Williams in 1991 or that Jeff Reardon gave up a HR to some bench player in 1992. The guy willed our team to its run in 91 and won the MVP; started a 9th inning rally that ended with Sid sliding home in 1992; was standing on 3rd with one out in game 5 in 1993 begging for someone behind him to hit a dang fly ball so he could score the winning run to put us a win away from 3 peat in the NL; and through it all coached and waited his time after hanging them up. TP would have brought a combination of Whitey ball and Bobby Cox professionalism to this clubhouse instead of the deer in the headlights look we get out of our current manager. I guarantee he wouldn’t have blown a 10.5 game lead in September.
Swaga1
October 31st, 2011
4:49 pm
I completely agree Banned poster. cased closed!
chris
October 31st, 2011
5:34 pm
itd be the Braves loss, we should have never demoted him to fb coach- he was a hell of a player and his demeanor evidently was what it needed to be to reach players….id hate to see him go but glad for him that he got a chance to manage. No one knows how he’d do – baseball isnt played on paper and what ifs – its played on the field..just as Fredi G looked to be a lock to do great here- he melted in September and oversaw the worst collapse in atlanta history..go figure…
scottbravesfan
October 31st, 2011
5:34 pm
He was a good hitting coach. The Braves led the NL in on base percentage in 2010. This year they were 13.
Bill
October 31st, 2011
6:00 pm
Francona was not Fired..He told GM and owner that team needed new manager and voice. He resigned………JEFF
Hope TP is gone to Red Sox are Cards…oh hell anywhere!
my-my
October 31st, 2011
6:06 pm
If he was so good, why didn’t the Braves hire him as mgr?
In 2010 the fans were calling for TP to be fired…now you love him. What a bunch of idiots.
jed
October 31st, 2011
7:53 pm
cards will go with francona, which is what we should be doing.
Holy Moses
October 31st, 2011
8:20 pm
My name is FG and I did not promote TP back to hitting coach. I will not give you fans a reason to call for me to be replaced by this guy who should have been manager all along.
mike mangan
October 31st, 2011
9:43 pm
HERE IS THE UNKNOWN FACTOR WHO I THINK WILL BE MANAGING THE CARDINALS NEXT YEAR.FiRST OF ALL i WAS TOTALLY MYSTIFIED THAT THE PALE HOSE PAST HIM OVER AND HIRED ROBIN VENTURA AS MANAGER.WITH THE CARDINAL BACKGROUND HE HAS AND WITH THE GREAT TRIPLE A JOB HE HAS DONE WITH THE CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS.I WOULD LIKE NOT BE AT ALL SURPRISED IF JOE McEWING WASNT THEIR GUY NEXT YEAR,,,
RCHH
November 1st, 2011
10:15 am
TP didn’t and doesn’t have a shot of managing the Braves. Even thought we have a black president, we’re still in the south. Football in the south is a religion…and until the Falcons, Braves, UGA Bullgogs, GA Tech Yellow Jackets, Florida Gators, Auburn Tigers or Alabama Crimson Tide hire a black head coach, that congregation is segregated. I may have left out a few. TeeHee
Banned Poster
November 1st, 2011
12:01 pm
RCHH that is a stupid and lame argument. TP could have been manager, but obviously Frank Wren thought otherwise (and how did that work out?). Also, if the Braves find a candidate that is black and fits in with the philosophy of the organization I am sure they would hire him to be the manager. And yes they would pull the trigger in a heart beat. You forget who still has a VP title with the ball club and his contributions to the game of baseball.
chrismc
November 1st, 2011
3:13 pm
JF agreed..TP has taken way too much crap from the fans and media – I think hes done a hell of a job as Braves hitting coach and FB coach. The numbers don’t lie and he had these hitters near the top at OBP last year and we just collapsed this year under Parrish. Walker may be able to get that fire back I dont know but TP has done tremendous things for this organization and I’d be proud to see him managing somewhere- I just wished itd been with a cap with an “A” on it instead of “STL”
dusting off the Brock-a-Brella for TP
November 2nd, 2011
1:56 pm
‘Banned Poster’ is DEAD ON.
TP was the Captain of the ‘91 Braves, and one could argue, the COACH. Booby was too busy sucking down a 12er every night, and recovering from hangovers everyday. He thought being a “players coach” meant you just let the players coach!
TP is a rock. Good dude with the temperament to be a great coach. Keeps his cool, treats people with respect, lives clean, was a great player, and has much experience to impart!
Also, I just have to echo previous posters about the “haters.” All of you people dragging TP through the mud either have amnesia, are too young, or didn’t bother following the Braves until long after that magical ‘01 season, which WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED if it weren’t for TP!!!
Go, my man! Back to St. Louis. A team owned by people who were originally fans. A REAL baseball city that will appreciate your efforts. Unlike this city: full of hicks who didn’t bother with baseball until the braves won a pennant (the morons on Skip’s old call-in show are a nice example – “duh, thanks for taking my call, Skip…uh, what’s a squeeze play??”), or bonehead sox/yankees fans from the northeast who go to the park just to heckle the bullpen and outfielders.
If this team were to suffer back-to-back .500 seasons, that’d be it for the “fan base.” It’d be the ’80s all over again: 3000 average attendance.
Also have to echo, after moving TP to third:
“Can we demote FRANK WREN and FREDDI?”
dusting off the Brock-a-Brella for TP
November 2nd, 2011
1:57 pm
OOOPS meant ‘magical ‘91 season”