Wilder interviews for Red Sox GM job

11/19/2005
BOSTON -- Interested in changing his Sox, White Sox director of player development Dave Wilder officially entered the Red Sox general manager race Saturday when he met with Boston brass at Fenway Park.
"The opportunity to be involved with this type of organization is an honor," Wilder said after four hours of meetings in and around Fenway. "I know it's a very attractive opportunity."
The 45-year-old Wilder is the latest in a string of candidates being interviewed to replace Theo Epstein, who turned down the club's three-year offer at the Halloween deadline. Veteran GMs Jim Bowden and Jim Beattie are slated to be called back for second interviews.
Asked how he felt Saturday, Wilder, given credit for claiming eventual Chicago closer Bobby Jenks off waivers from the Angels, said, "Real good. Any time you get a chance to interview for the general manager's job of the Boston Red Sox is a good day."
Wilder woke up early Saturday and flew to Boston from Chicago, where he helped the White Sox secure the franchise's first championship since 1917. Now he's in the running to take over in Boston, where the Red Sox won that franchise's first title since 1918 in 2004.
"I don't think anybody in baseball could tell you they thought this would happen with this club, with the club they have in hand -- they still have the opportunity to compete for another World Series title," Wilder said of Epstein's departure.
Wilder didn't acknowledge the other issues that seem to go along with the Boston job, such as the pressure to succeed and working with president/CEO Larry Lucchino.
"I've been involved in different organizations that had different philosophies and have gone through [chain of command issues]," Wilder said. "It depends upon your personality. If you have a strong personality, you can deal with that. If you have strong convictions in what you believe in, it shouldn't be a problem."
Instead of the negative, Wilder talked about the chance to take over a team that has a chance to win a world championship, a team with a big budget, "the best fans in baseball" and the tradition of these Sox.
"It's not only a good organization," Wilder said, "[But] the history and background of the Boston Red Sox ... it's a wonderful opportunity."
Wilder, who interviewed for the recent Arizona opening as well as the Baltimore and Seattle jobs the previous year, said, "I feel I'm ready -- definitely."
Wilder served 5 1/2 years under general manager John Schuerholz in Atlanta and calls that admired baseball man the No. 1 influence on his career.
Wilder met with Lucchino, Red Sox chairman Tom Werner, senior advisors Bill Lajoie and Jeremy Kapstein and others Saturday and will wait to hear if he'll be coming back for a second visit. The Red Sox hope to have a new GM in place in time for the upcoming Winter Meetings in December.
"He's a leader," said Kapstein. "He's an outstanding talent evaluator. Among professional baseball people, David has a very, very outstanding reputation -- and if you look at where he's been, in Atlanta I think he made significant contributions to the Braves, and when you look at the White Sox this year, when you talk to people in baseball ... we all know that success is a total team thing. In Chicago, [general manager] Kenny Williams and David Wilder are the two leaders of that franchise in terms of putting that club together. And I think we all saw how that club did, winning 15 of its last 16 games."
Kapstein couldn't comment on what happens next in the GM search. He said he and Lajoie have been part of a team that has been "working around the clock" on making sure it's business as usual at Fenway -- in terms of free agents (including their own Johnny Damon) and potential trades. The new GM will be given a folder when beginning the job which includes all work that has been done and all communication that has taken place.
Clearly, Wilder seemed to want to be that person.
"I think I was ready to do the job," Wilder said of his first interviews two years ago. "The longer you're in the game, the more prepared you are to do the job. I feel I'm more prepared now than ever, being involved with a world championship team. The challenge is in front of you. If you're confident in your abilities, so be it."
Asked about what concerns he has about the job, Wilder said, "Concerns? Definitely, the concerns would be being successful, but that's a welcome challenge. Honestly, not having been a general manager, I look forward to the challenge. It's something that you dream about. I honestly don't have any concerns at all -- I don't have any that really brings out a comment."
Wilder said the potential dealing of Manny Ramirez -- who has requested a trade -- was one of the things that was discussed during the meetings and indicated he was prepared to proceed either with Ramirez or with the players and financial flexibility that could come in return.
Asked about manager Terry Francona, Wilder said, "He's a good manager. He won a World Series. We've met. We've talked. We have some mutual friends. I know of him, know of his background and respect him a lot."

Source: http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/