Former star Pirates outfielder and former Tigers coach Andy Van Slyke recently spoke on 93.7 The Fan about the possibility of managing the Bucs:
Interviewer: Have you been in touch with the Pirates, or have they been in touch with you, about interviewing?
Van Slyke: Well, I came in town Monday to help do some promotion for the season-ticket holders, and that really wasn’t the reason why I came into town initially, but I did have a meeting today with [Pirates team president] Frank [Coonelly] and we talked for a while. We had a nice conversation.
Interviewer: What was that conversation about, Andy?
Van Slyke: Well, just my interest about getting into baseball, my interest about managing, and I just gave him some thoughts about what I thought is conducive to winning. An atmosphere that I experienced in Pittsburgh and a formula that I think works basically anywhere …
The Post-Gazette says that Van Slyke merely told the Pirates he was interested in the job. I’m not sure if Van Slyke is underplaying the fact that he had a real interview, or if he and Frank Coonelly really did just have a casual conversation, but it sounds like the Pirates are listening to Van Slyke.
Personally, I’d be open to Van Slyke as a manager, but I don’t think his status as a former Pirates star counts as a qualification.