Reds lifer Ron Oester claims he isn’t campaigning for the job, but it sure sounds like he is:
Ron Oester finds it ironic that the Reds are looking for someone who can motivate players to be their next manager.
He says he believes they could’ve had that fiery guy for the past seven seasons. Oester says the Reds could have that guy now if they’d call him.
The former Reds second baseman, third-base coach and minor-league instructor says he is deeply saddened by what has become of his hometown team, and he is certain he could help fix it.
“I know I can help the players down there,” says Oester, who was almost the Reds’ manager in 2001 before a potential deal with then-general manager Jim Bowden fell apart.
“They need a winning attitude. From watching them on TV, they’re not motivated. I just don’t think you put the names on (the lineup card) and let them do what they want. I just want to see the Reds organization get back to the way it’s supposed to be.”
But if it sounds like Oester is campaigning for the job, he’s not.
“They know me and they know my style,” says Oester, in his first season managing the Cincinnati Steam of the amateur wooden-bat Great Lakes Collegiate Summer League. “If they called, I’d love to listen to them. But I’m not going to beg for a job.”
Read the entire piece in the Enquirer; it’s interesting (including the tidbit that Oester turned down a job as coach for the Boston Red Sox in 2004 — the year they won the World Series). I wouldn’t have any problem with Oester as manager, but I don’t really have any solid idea what type of manager would be best for this club.