Marlins to interview George Lombard, consider Alyssa Nakken in managerial search

[Ely Sussman]

Both candidates are experienced major league coaches with connections to Marlins assistant general manager Gabe Kapler.

Fish On First has learned of two more candidates in the search for the next Miami Marlins manager: Alyssa Nakken and George Lombard. The team is coordinating an interview with Lombard and may do the same with Nakken as well.

The 49-year-old Lombard played in parts of six MLB seasons from 1998-2006. He has since gone on to have a lengthy coaching career, most recently serving as bench coach for the Detroit Tigers, who were eliminated from the postseason on Saturday. Lombard previously interviewed for the same position with the Marlins two years ago, according to Craig Mish. The job went to Skip Schumaker, who officially parted ways with the club on September 29 following their regular season finale.

The Marlins' recent front office changes may work to Lombard's advantage. He and Marlins assistant general manager Gabe Kapler overlapped for several years in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization (when Lombard was their first base coach). The Lombard family already makes their offseason home in Miami.

The connection between Kapler and Nakken is even more direct. She became the first full-time female coach in MLB history when Kapler added her to his San Francisco Giants staff in 2020. She interviewed for their managerial vacancy last October following Kapler's firing. The Giants hired Bob Melvin instead, but Nakken stayed as an assistant on his staff.

The Marlins have not hesitated to promote qualified women to high-ranking positions in recent years. Kim Ng became the first-ever female MLB general manager in 2020, while Caroline O'Connor and Rachel Balkovec currently serve as Miami's president of business operations and director of player development, respectively.

Another wrinkle to Nakken's candidacy: she would be easily the youngest active MLB manager at age 34.

In addition to Lombard and Nakken, the Marlins are also interested in Cleveland Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz. Schumaker's former bench coach, Luis Urueta, is in the mix as well.

View full article

[THOMAS JOSEPH]

Un-PC as it surely is, my opinion is women shouldn't be in on-field authority position in men's professional sports. That includes umpires/officials. 

[One Regend]

I don't have a problem with women being an on-field authority if they're actually good at their jobs. It would only make sense to hire them over men if they are actually better than their male contemporary. It only becomes a problem if they're only hired solely as a PR stunt.

George Lombard has a lot of baseball knowledge. If he doesn't land a job with the Marlins and the Marlins go the PR route, I'm going to take this team less seriously than I already do. (which was already not much to begin with)

Kim Ng worked out well for them. But I have questions about Rachel Balkovec, and I definitely have questions about this one.

[Ely Sussman]

3 hours ago, One Regend said:

I don't have a problem with women being an on-field authority if they're actually good at their jobs. It would only make sense to hire them over men if they are actually better than their male contemporary. It only becomes a problem if they're only hired solely as a PR stunt.

Based on how they conducted themselves over the last year, it's clear to me that this Marlins administration cares very little about PR. I don't think that is a worry with this process.

The more valid concerns are leaning too much on personal connections when vetting candidates and whether whoever ultimately gets the job will receive real autonomy to make decisions (as opposed to follow all front office guidance).

[One Regend]

14 hours ago, Ely Sussman said:

Based on how they conducted themselves over the last year, it's clear to me that this Marlins administration cares very little about PR. I don't think that is a worry with this process.

The more valid concerns are leaning too much on personal connections when vetting candidates and whether whoever ultimately gets the job will receive real autonomy to make decisions (as opposed to follow all front office guidance).

That is also a valid concern. There were way too many staff being vetted on personal connections in the Jeter era and it costed us with an ineffective staff, and led to an ineffective product on the field.

If there's a better candidate than George Lombard, I'd happily take one, but if these are the only two choices, I'd rather take Lombard as it would lead to a less disastrous circus.