OC Register: Angels complete first round of manager interviews

[AngelsWin.com]

The Angels have completed their first round of managerial interviews, talking with 10 candidates, and it’s possible they could complete subsequent interviews in time to make a decision before the World Series, a source said Wednesday.

Major League Baseball prohibits teams from making major announcements during the World Series, which starts Tuesday. If the Angels aren’t ready by then, the news may not be formally released until November.

The four confirmed candidates among the 10 are Brad Ausmus and Eric Chavez, who are special assistants to general manager Billy Eppler; Chicago Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde; and Houston Astros bench coach Joe Espada. It is also likely that Angels bench coach Josh Paul and third-base coach Dino Ebel were interviewed.

Ausmus is the only one of the confirmed candidates who has major league managing experience. He managed the Detroit Tigers from 2014-17.

If the Angels pick Espada, obviously he would not be formally announced until after the Astros are eliminated. They are currently trailing 2-1 in the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox, with Game 4 scheduled for Wednesday night.

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As the Angels have sought to replace Mike Scioscia, whose contract expired after a 19-year run at the helm of the organization, the Angels have conducted an exhaustive search for their next manager.

Each interview has lasted eight or nine hours, which includes a written portion that takes about two hours, the source said.

The written portion of the interview is intended to give the candidates more time to formulate their answers to situational and analytically based questions.

When Eppler said after the season what he wanted in a new manager, he said one of the main characteristics will be a manager who has a “probability-based” mindset.

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