Yankees Tony Pena: Base Coach or World Champion Manager?

As we embark on the beginning of the child of the World Cup and Olympic Baseball, the World Baseball Classic, Yankees coach Tony Pena will again take center stage. Pena has been the manager of the Dominican Republic team since 2013 and will again take the reins in 2017.

Many of the question marks surrounding the Yankees going into next season deal with the players, but Yankee manager Joe Girardi‘s seat has been heating up for years. From a questionable move to sit Jacoby Ellsbury in the only Yankee playoff game in the last four years to only winning one championship in nine seasons, Girardi doesn’t have to look very far for his competition.

In 2007 while the organization looked for Joe Torre‘s replacement to serve as manager, not only was Tony Pena mentioned, he was interviewed. Yankee brass decided to go with Joe Girardi but apparently liked what they had in Pena keeping him on the coaching staff.

As a player Pena was often described as “unorthodox” and for Yankee fans who have grown over-tired of Joe Girardi’s by the book ways, it could be a welcome relief.

Before coming to the Yankees to take a   demotion as a base coach in 2005, Pena was the manager of the Kansas City Royals. In 2003, Pena did such a good job with his ball club that he received the American League Manager of the Year.

Since his time with the Yankees, other organizations have tried to pry Tony Pena away to manage their clubs, including the Boston Red Sox who interviewed him in 2012. John Farell would eventually get the job in Bean town, and Pena would stay put as Girardi’s base coach.

While others have seen the value in Tony Pena’s baseball mind, Yankee decision makers seem to overlook the talented manager. Because that’s exactly what Tony Pena is, he’s a manager. As a player, Pena was often described as “unorthodox, actually ” and for Yankee fans who have grown over-tired of Joe Girardi’s by the book ways, it could be a welcome relief.

 Can Pena and “Rally Plantain” Rally Machado to Yankees?

Pena has proven to be a great coach and a manager in his brief opportunities, but he could unintentionally be used as a type of recruiter. Even if itting there in the clubhouse telling Manny Machado to come to the Bronx, Pena will affect Manny’s impression of New York.

For those who look far far too long into the future, this is your chance to court your favorite young third basemen to the Bronx. Machado may never come to New York, but Tony Pena will play a huge part in it if he does, especially if they were to win 2017 WBC. You never forget the coach that you won a Championship with right?

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One of the top responsibilities of a MLB manager is dealing with superstar players and their egos.No lineups in the world have more superstars than the Dominican Republic had in 2013 and will have in 2017. And the Pena managed Dominican Republic team went 8-0 on their way to a World Baseball Classic Championship in 2013.

If Tony Pena can again lead a team full of players who individually think they are the best in the world to back to back Championships, the Yankees need to do some thinking. Tons of prognosticators are calling for Alex Rodriguez to take over if there is a parting of ways with Joe Girardi, but Pena should be first in line.

Pena unlike A-Rod has managerial experience and has led two teams, albeit on the international stage, to championships in the face of extreme pressure. Although you would get a strong argument from players and fans in Tokyo, Dominicans believe their country is the baseball center of the world and apply the according high expectations.

Nobody is pushing Joe Girardi out the door, yet. If the Yankees should make Girardi walk the plank any time soon however, Pena is the best option, not Alex Rodriguez.