It will be a great homecoming for Pat Listach on Tuesday.
The former Brewer and Astro was informed late last week that Doug Melvin asked the Washington Nationals for an interview for the managerial position, according to MLB.com and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Listach was currently beginning a managerial assignment for a Puerto Rican winter ball league, but had to change plans quickly to head back to Wisconsin. He will be meeting with Doug Melvin on Tuesday for an interview.
The situation is not new for Listach, who spent the last two years as the Washington Nationals' third-base coach. He was passed over the Cubs' skipper Lou Piniella after the 2007 season, but gained more notice for his work in the Chicago farm system.
If he were to become the 16th skipper of the Brew Crew, it would be his first Major League managerial assignment.
He is reportedly also on Toronto's short list, although there is no word about whether or not he has been contacted by the Blue Jays' front office.
Pat Listach played five seasons in Milwaukee, making his debut in 1992. He won the AL rookie of the year in '92, and also finished 18th in MVP voting for the season. He finished his career playing for Houston in 1997.
Doug Melvin is also looking at other candidate to replace Ken Macha in Milwaukee. Bob Melvin, formerly of the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks, is set to meet with the team on Thursday.
Melvin has plenty of managerial experience, with a lifetime record of .493 with his major league clubs. In 2007 he garnered Manager of the Year honors, with the D-Backs winning the NL West. They cruised past the Cubs in three games before getting swept in the NLCS by the Colorado Rockies.
The playoff experience is certainly going to give him an edge going into the interviews. If the Brewers want Melvin, they may have to move quickly, as the Chicago Cubs are also rumored to be interested in having him head up their squad in 2011.
According to espnchicago.com, Melvin also asked for permission to contact Joey Cora, a current member of the Chicago White Sox coaching staff.
Cora was passed over in 2009 for the Seattle Mariners job, and is a close friend of Milwaukee hitting coach and former interim manager Dale Sveum.
All three seem like good candidates for the job, but smart money is on Melvin getting the job. With the young roster and large amount of work needed to bring this team in contention in the NL Central, experience is going to be key.
Listach would still be a good choice, considering his track record for working with young talent in the Minors, and his history with the team.
Cora seems to be the wild card in this situation, but Doug Melvin has a habit of thinking hard about these kinds of decisions, so rest assured he believes that Cora could handle the position.
It will most likely be a few weeks until the story develops further, but the wheels are in motion. Whether or not a new manager will equal success on the scoreboard is going to take even more time.
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