Pete Mackanin?
Someone want to explain to me why they chose a scout for an interim job? Since they're keeping the rest of the staff, why not give it to Bucky Dent or Billy Hatcher?
Here is my theory.I think Mackanin is going to be a very short term interim. I think the new hire will be hired before the post All-Star game second half starts.
I don't think they gave it to Hatcher or Dent becuase they want to take the time to consider all their options, and I think it is a bad practice to offer the interim position to an active coach within the organization and then pull the job from him later on.
I don't think Hatcher is ready, but Dent is an option.
I will be curious to see if they make a play for Girardi since there was a lot of talk about him waiting for the Yankee job. I don't think the Reds job is as ugly as the Oriole job, so maybe he would consider the Reds if offered the job.
The Enquirer's blog has a few mentions for Bobby Valentine, and I would personally love to see if Sparky has any interest in the job. Castellini is a Big Red Machine kind of guy, and Sparky would certainly help sell tickets.
The problem is....and this is pretty obvious....it doesn't matter if they hire Jesus Christ, the Reds won't win much if they don't repair that miserable bullpen.