Bob Brenly Is Interested, Are the Reds?

Yesterday Matt Watson told you that the Reds were interested in talking to Joe Girardi and Bob Brenly to fill their managerial position, currently filled by interim Pete Mackanin. Brenly seemed interested in the Reds' job, but said that no one had contacted him about it yet. He told the Chicago Sun-Times the same thing today.

''It's all rumors. I haven't heard anything from anybody,'' said Brenly, who added that if he got a call, ''I'd be interested in talking.''

[...]

The Reds reportedly have contacted former Cub Joe Girardi about the job, and interim manager Pete Mackanin has a strong relationship with general manager Wayne Krivsky.

I honestly haven't read any confirmation that the Reds have contacted even Girardi about the job yet (this stuff is always hush hush though). The last paragraph is the most telling one in the story, I think. GMs always tend to hire their friends. To a certain extent, a GM is putting themselves on the line with whatever manager they hire, so they go with people they trust. If Mackanin is friends with Wayne Krivsky, he's the front-runner for the job.

At the very least, I think Krivsky will give Mackanin the rest of the season as a tryout. Girardi is not interested in the Reds' job (I don't know that for a fact, but I think he's only interested in the Yankees job and his turning down the O's job didn't disprove that) and as recently as a month ago, I heard Brenly on the radio saying it would take a special job to get him out of the announcer's booth, where life is much less stressful. The Reds have to talk to guys like Girardi and Brenly for public appearance, but I'd be surprised if either ends up with the job.