Over the past several decades the Dodgers have had quite a few third base coaches – guys named Joey Amalfitano, Danny Ozark, Tommy Lasorda and more recently Tim Wallach and Lorenzo Bundy. The one thing that all of these guys have in common is that they were all former minor league managers before becoming the Dodgers third base coach. In fact, it almost seems to be a prerequisite for the job, and almost with good reason – in the minor leagues the manager usually coaches third base. But while many former minor league managers go on to become great major league managers, some even Hall of Fame managers, they do not always make the best third base coaches.

When current Dodgers bench coach Tim Wallach was the Dodgers third base coach in 2013, he made some really poor decisions – decisions that cost the team some runs and in some instances even games. When Wallach was promoted to bench coach for the 2014 season it was a great move and he clearly made Don Mattingly a better manager. So good is Wallach in that role than many feel that he will either eventually replace Mattingly or he will be scooped up to manage another MLB team, and that would be a tremendous loss.

And then there’s Lorenzo Bundy who, quite frankly, has done a horrible job as the Dodgers third base coach. Lo (as he is called) was an outstanding minor league manager and very well liked by his players, and he too may become a good MLB manager someday as well. But like Wallach, Bundy also cost the Dodgers quite a few runs during the 2014 season and definitely cost them a few games. It got so bad that towards the end of the season guys were frequently running through Bundy’s stop signs with most of them scoring – sometimes easily.

But it was Bundy’s decision (or rather his lack of a decision) in Game-4 of the NLDS that should give cause for the Dodgers to seek a new third base coach. As you undoubtedly recall, Andre Ethier got picked off of third base to end a two-run, two-out rally. Oh sure, Ethier is a big boy and it never should have happened, but Bundy should have been next to Ethier screaming his fool head off to dive back but instead was 30 feet (or more) away from the play.

Where the heck is Lorenzo Bundy?
(Video capture courtesy of Fox Sports 1)

Although promoting a minor league manager to fill the role of third base coach has been a protocol of the Dodgers for many years, perhaps it’s time to have a change of philosophy in this regard. Would it not be better to have a third base coach who is a former player who was also a good base runner – say a guy like Kenny Lofton, Alex Cora or Steve Sax?

Even though Lofton spent only one season with the Dodgers (2006), he spent 17 seasons in the majors. He has also spent time working with Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon on his base running and base stealing techniques. During his 17-year MLB career Lofton stole 622 bases which ranks 15th all-time in MLB history.

Former Dodgers centerfielder and noted speedster Kenny Lofton spent considerable time working with Dee Gordon on his base running skills. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Cora spent seven seasons with the Dodgers and although he wasn’t a great base stealer, he was a good base runner. Cora currently works as an analyst for ESPN and ESPN Deportes and recently interviewed with the Texas Rangers for their (then) vacant managerial job. Although it is uncertain if Cora would be willing to give up his ESPN gig to accept a coaching job with the Dodgers, it’s hard to believe that he wouldn’t.

Alex Cora was always a huge fan favorite while with the Dodgers.
(Photo credit – Joe Faraoni)

But perhaps the best candidate for the job is former Dodgers second baseman Steve Sax. Saxie (as he is called) spent eight seasons with the Dodgers and is fifth on the Dodgers all-time stolen base list with 290. The 54-year-old former NL Rookie of the Year (1982) is a five-time All-Star (1982, 1983, 1986, 1989 and 1990) a Silver Slugger award winner (1986) and a two-time World Series Champion (1981 and 1988). But perhaps what makes him a viable candidate to become the Dodgers new third base coach candidate is the fact that he served one season as the Arizona Diamondbacks first base coach. And even though Sax was let go by the DBacks after the 2013 season, he was well liked by the players but was unfortunate to be a member of a franchise that was, quite frankly, a mess. Since that season in which they finished second in the NL West to the Dodgers, the DBacks have fired their General manager, their manager and their entire coaching staff.

It’s a well know fact that former Dodgers second baseman Steve Sax and Former Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda are still very close friends. Sax would undoubtedly be warmly welcomed by the Dodgers and their fans as the team’s new third base coach. (Photo credit – Christian Petersen)

On Thursday it was reported by Dodgers beat reported Ken Gurnick that Bundy will return as the Dodgers third base coach in 2015:

“Lorenzo Bundy, while managing Navajoa in the Mexican League this week, was quoted by Linea Directa as saying that he will return as the Dodgers third-base coach in 2015. The Dodgers had no comment on the report.”

Perhaps this is more wishful thinking on Bundy’s part than an actual fact – especially since there has been no official announcement from the Dodgers in this regard. Although Dodgers new President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman skirted the question regarding the Dodgers coaching staff at his introductory press conference last week, he also gave no indication that any of the 2014 Dodger coaches would return in 2015.

“That’s part of the conversation that I had with Donny yesterday. We’re going to continue those conversations but it’s premature to comment on right now.”

And so the drama that is the Dodgers continues.