How Boone interviewed his way into becoming next Yankees manager
Brian Cashman
In the end  whether it was by design or not  Brian Cashman’s choice for the next manager of the Yankees had come down to two huge risks — Aaron Boone  who had absolutely no experience as a manager or coach  or Hensley Meulens  whose only managerial experience had been as a largely ceremonial skipper of the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.
From the get-go  Boone made it clear he was serious about wanting to manage; that this wasn’t just whimsy on his part  and once given his audience with  Cashman  and his baseball people  did a bang-up job of selling himself.
After practicing his repelling from the Landmark Building in Stamford  Conn.  for the annual Lights and Heights Christmas event Sunday   Cashman  said Friday  he  had closed the doors on further interviews and was ready to make  his  recommendation to Yankees general partner Hal Steinbrenner from among Boone  Meulens  Carlos Beltran  Eric Wedge  Rob Thomson or Chris Woodward for the successor to Joe Girardi. In truth  he had already made up his mind it was Boone and once word leaked out of San Francisco early Friday night that Meulens was staying with the Giants  it was pretty much official.
Based on sourced information from how all the interviews went down  Boone  Meulens and Beltran all made the strongest impressions on  Cashman  and  his  team of close advisors that included VP of Baseball Operations Tim Naehring  assistant GM Mike Fishman  and Senior VP Jean Afterman. Just the same  you had to immediately eliminate Beltran  if only because there was no way  Cashman  was going to take THAT big of a risk  turning the managerial reins over to someone fresh out of the player ranks. Of course  no one knows either if Boone or Meulens have any idea of how to handle a pitching staff  which is why  in retrospect   Cashman  made sure to retain the services of Larry Rothschild  recognized as one of the best pitching coaches in the business.
Boone — Checked the three most important boxes with Cashman: A willingness to embrace analytics  communication skills with the players  and experience with handling the New York media. All of that made him an instant popular choice  but it didn’t hurt that he also came from a three generational major league family  in which his father  Bob  managed the Royals and the Reds.  Cashman  fancies  himself  as an “out-of-the-box” thinker and this was the ultimate bold “out-of-the-box” choice.
Beltran — Impressed  Cashman  and  his  staff with the sheer force of  his  personality and knowledge of the game. If  he  hadn’t just retired and had spent perhaps just one year as a coach or minor league manager   he  might have been the favorite. As it is   he  will be with the Yankees in some capacity next year  either as a bench or hitting coach for Boone or a special assistant to  Cashman . Whatever  he  wants to do.
Eric Wedge — The only candidate with major league managing experience   Cashman  only interviewed  him  because other GMs  former and present  gave  him  high grades. But there was no way  Cashman  was going to go to Steinbrenner with a recommendation of a manager who had failed in two other places  Seattle and Cleveland  with seven losing seasons in 10 years. In addition   his  bland personality would have never gone over in New York.
Rob Thomson —  He  was only in the process out of loyalty to the Yankee organization — 28 years in various capacities  most importantly spring training coordinator the past few seasons. Ordinarily going from bench coach to manager would have been a natural ascension. The fact that it wasn’t — and Thomson was again thrown into the mix of candidates — told you he was never a serious candidate for the job. He now leaves the Yankees to go to the Phillies as their bench coach.
Chris Woodward — It’s not quite clear as to why the Dodger third base coach was one of the candidates other than perhaps  Cashman  wanted to talk to someone who was part of Dave Roberts’ staff in Los Angeles. Early on   he  had talked about wanting a “Dave Roberts-type ” someone who was into the analytics and had good communication skills  especially with young players. Whatever  it doesn’t appear as if Woodward  the former light-hitting utility infielder who spent a couple of seasons with the Mets and had never before interviewed for a manager’s job  knocked anyone’s socks off.
In the end  whether it was by design or not  Brian Cashman’s choice for the next manager of the Yankees had come down to two huge risks — Aaron Boone  who had absolutely no experience as a manager or coach  or Hensley Meulens  whose only managerial experience had been as a largely ceremonial skipper of the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.
From the get-go  Boone made it clear he was serious about wanting to manage; that this wasn’t just whimsy on his part  and once given his audience with  Cashman  and his baseball people  did a bang-up job of selling himself.
After practicing his repelling from the Landmark Building in Stamford  Conn.  for the annual Lights and Heights Christmas event Sunday   Cashman  said Friday  he  had closed the doors on further interviews and was ready to make  his  recommendation to Yankees general partner Hal Steinbrenner from among Boone  Meulens  Carlos Beltran  Eric Wedge  Rob Thomson or Chris Woodward for the successor to Joe Girardi. In truth  he had already made up his mind it was Boone and once word leaked out of San Francisco early Friday night that Meulens was staying with the Giants  it was pretty much official.
Based on sourced information from how all the interviews went down  Boone  Meulens and Beltran all made the strongest impressions on  Cashman  and  his  team of close advisors that included VP of Baseball Operations Tim Naehring  assistant GM Mike Fishman  and Senior VP Jean Afterman. Just the same  you had to immediately eliminate Beltran  if only because there was no way  Cashman  was going to take THAT big of a risk  turning the managerial reins over to someone fresh out of the player ranks. Of course  no one knows either if Boone or Meulens have any idea of how to handle a pitching staff  which is why  in retrospect   Cashman  made sure to retain the services of Larry Rothschild  recognized as one of the best pitching coaches in the business.
Boone — Checked the three most important boxes with Cashman: A willingness to embrace analytics  communication skills with the players  and experience with handling the New York media. All of that made him an instant popular choice  but it didn’t hurt that he also came from a three generational major league family  in which his father  Bob  managed the Royals and the Reds.  Cashman  fancies  himself  as an “out-of-the-box” thinker and this was the ultimate bold “out-of-the-box” choice.
Beltran — Impressed  Cashman  and  his  staff with the sheer force of  his  personality and knowledge of the game. If [TGT][TGT]  hadn’t just retired and had spent perhaps just one year as a coach or minor league manager   [TGT]  might have been the favorite. As it is   [TGT]  will be with the Yankees in some capacity next year  either as a bench or hitting coach for Boone or a special assistant to [TGT] . Whatever  [TGT]  wants to do.
Eric Wedge — The only candidate with major league managing experience   Cashman  only interviewed  him  because other GMs  former and present  gave  him  high grades. But there was no way  Cashman  was going to go to Steinbrenner with a recommendation of a manager who had failed in two other places  Seattle and Cleveland  with seven losing seasons in 10 years. In addition   his  bland personality would have never gone over in New York.
Rob Thomson —  He  was only in the process out of loyalty to the Yankee organization — 28 years in various capacities  most importantly spring training coordinator the past few seasons. Ordinarily going from bench coach to manager would have been a natural ascension. The fact that it wasn’t — and Thomson was again thrown into the mix of candidates — told you he was never a serious candidate for the job. He now leaves the Yankees to go to the Phillies as their bench coach.
Chris Woodward — It’s not quite clear as to why the Dodger third base coach was one of the candidates other than perhaps  Cashman  wanted to talk to someone who was part of Dave Roberts’ staff in Los Angeles. Early on   he  had talked about wanting a “Dave Roberts-type ” someone who was into the analytics and had good communication skills  especially with young players. Whatever  it doesn’t appear as if Woodward  the former light-hitting utility infielder who spent a couple of seasons with the Mets and had never before interviewed for a manager’s job  knocked anyone’s socks off.