The 2011 Dodgers coaching staff is beginning to take shape, as two spots appeared to be filled today with the return of Rick Honeycutt and Tim Wallach out of the running for the managerial job in Milwaukee. ESPN LA's Tony Jackson reported on Wallach:
Wallach confirmed via text message Monday that he is out of the running for the Brewers job. Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has narrowed his search to four finalists -- with former Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin and Chicago White Sox bench coach Joey Cora widely reported to be two of them -- and Wallach isn't among them.
Wallach will likely be the third base coach under Don Mattingly in his first season as manager, and will be joined by pitching coach Rick Honeycutt, per Ken Davidoff of Newsday:
Rick Honeycutt has agreed to return to the #Dodgers as their pitching coach.
Honeycutt is the longest tenured Dodger coach in uniform, and 2011 will be his sixth season as pitching coach of the Dodgers. He has been with the team since 2001, and was a pitcher with the Dodgers from 1983 to 1987.
Jackson also reported that former Royals manager Trey Hillman is the leading candidate to be Mattingly's bench coach, something that has also been reported by Ken Gurnick of MLB.com. Last week, Gurnick outlined the rest of the staff, speculating Jeff Pentland, Chili Davis, and Manny Mota as hitting coaches/instructors, and Ken Howell returning as bullpen coach. Gurnick also noted:
It's unclear who the Dodgers are considering as first-base coach, but it figures to be someone well-regarded in base running. Mariano Duncan, who has had the role since 2006, was told he could seek a Major League job elsewhere and, if he didn't find one, would have a role in the organization, but not likely on the Major League staff.
The Dodgers haven't yet made an announcement on any of the coaching staff, but will likely do so once all positions are set.