McAdam: Will Red Sox be willing to (again) risk a first-time manager?

Numerous reports have the Red Sox settling on five finalists for their managerial vacancy: Don Kelly, Sam Fuld, Carlos Mendoza, James Rowson and Alex Cora.

That's a varied and diverse list -- in every sense of the word. All five played pro ball, though Rowson never made it to the major leagues, topping out in Single A, then playing independent ball for a year.

None of the other four was a star in the big leagues, though it can be said that three maximized their potential and ability to enjoy a lengthy major league career. Kelly played for nine years and three teams; Cora played for six teams over 14 years; and Fuld play for four franchises in a career that lasted eight seasons.

But when it comes to managerial experience, one candidate separates himself from all the rest: only Cora has major league managerial experience. As it happens, he has two years of managerial experience with the very franchise seeking to fill its present vacancy, and in one of those, he captured a championship.

No other candidate has managed in the big leagues. Meanwhile, three -- Kelly, Fuld and Rowson -- have never managed at any level. One other -- Mendoza -- managed for two seasons in the lower minors in 2011 and 2012.

The question would seem to be: how important is managerial experience this time around?



On the face of it, the answer would seem to be: very. Managing in the majors is a challenge, and doing so for the first time in a market as big as Boston -- with the attendant expectations, pressures and media responsibilities -- is a daunting ask for any young manager.

Then again, Cora had no managerial experience whatsoever when he was hired in October 2017 to manage the Red Sox. Twelve months later, the Red Sox were World Series champs, having won a franchise-record 108 games in the regular season.

"Things have changed,'' noted one major league executive. "(Experience) used to be a pre-requisite, especially in a place like Boston. But teams now are more willing to overlook (that lack of experience) if they find the right fit.''

Indeed, while it would have been unthinkable to envision someone with little to no experience managing in the big leagues, say, a decade or so ago, it now happens almost routinely.

Other than Cora and the Red Sox, Aaron Boone was hired by the Yankees without having managed (or coached) at any level. In three seasons, he's taken the Yankees to the postseason three times and twice won 100 or more games.

Similarly, Rocco Baldelli had never managed when he was hired by the Minnesota Twins two years ago. It hasn't held him back -- the Twins have won the A.L. Central twice in two tries since he was brought on board.

Need more evidence? Dave Roberts, who last week helped direct the Los Angeles Dodgers to their first championship in 32 years, had never managed when the Dodgers installed him as their manager following the 2015 season. Since then, the Dodgers have won five straight National League West titles, three pennants and, of course, one title.

The Chicago Cubs also went with David Ross last year and qualified for the postseason in his first try.

Sure, it can be countered that, after a period in which experience almost seemed like a handicap, teams in recent years have sought candidates who had been in the trenches. Houston turned to venerable Dusty Baker last winter to help steer the Astros through their post-scandal season. Philadelphia, having failed under first-timer Gabe Kapler, opted for the more experienced Joe Girardi. And most famously, the White Sox completely went against type in the last week — bringing back 76-year-old Tony La Russa, nine years after he last prowled a major league dugout.

Track records and a bit of baseball gravitas aren't unwelcome.

But more and more, teams are placing greater emphasis on other factors: Can a potential manager be collaborative? Is he capable of building relationships with players? Can he transmit data to players in an easy-to-digest way?

Those questions now take precedence over more familiar names. For too long, the industry recycled failed managers simply because they had a previous stop or two on their resume.

Now, experience isn't completely discounted. But neither is it deemed essential -- as the list of Sox candidates suggests.