"How can the Cardinals be conducting a manager search when they previously have denied third base coach Jose Oquendo the chance to interview for manager's jobs. You would think Oquendo would be an obvious choice but he's not. Terry Francona is positioned perfectly to get this job as owner Bill DeWitt knows he's going to need star power, especially if Pujols leaves. …

As for thoughts of a Francona-Theo Epstein reunion, that is very unlikely. Francona and Epstein are saying nice things about each other publicly but that's probably because they are friends, not because they want to continue their relationship. According to some who know Epstein well, the Cubs' president/baseball operations hopes Francona lands on his feet, not in the manager's office at Wrigley Field. "