Could the MLB have a Canadian skipper for the first time in over 80 years?

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STUBBY CLAPP (Candidate #2)                                                        Current position: Manager Memphis Redbirds -Triple-A

Stubby Clapp (Windsor, Ont.) is sort of the Tragically Hip of Canadian Baseball – never quite caught on in the States but is a legend at home.

Despite only having 26 at bats in the Major Leagues, Clapp was known in his playing days as a scrappy, driven player that always seemed to give it his all while playing for Canada’s National team.

Clapp is not quite knocking down the MLB door but after winning a title with the St. Louis Cardinals Triple-A affiliate and being awarded the Pacific Coast League Manager of the Year, he is likely on the radar of some Big League clubs.

Out of all the managers that have been fired or let go this off season, some wonder how Mike Matheny has remained employed. Some in St. Louis have been critical of how he has handled of the bullpen and with the club missing the playoffs two years in a row, people are calling for a change.

Now Clapp only has one year under his belt, as a manager, despite coaching in some capacity since 2007. If the Cards were to make a change in the dugout, there’s no guarantee that it would come internally with veteran skippers like Girardi, Dusty Baker, and Terry Collins – to name a few – on the market St. Louis could look for a more experienced coach.

And it is important to highlight that the criticism of Matheny has come from people outside of the organization.

But Clapp is a Canadian coach excelling in a League that is just below the MLB. The 44-year-old even got a September call up this season. Getting the opportunity to watch on the Cardinals bench after his Memphis Redbirds had won the championship.

At least one person in the St. Louis organization believes Clapp will manage in the MLB.

"“He’ll manage in the Big Leagues someday, for somebody,” said Gaylen Pitts the Cardinals Special Assistant for Player Development. The Windsor-native is also eager to make it to the MLB."

Clapp is also eager to make it back to the MLB.

"“I don’t want to sit in the minor leagues my whole career,” Clapp told Don Wade of the Memphis Daily News. “But I’m gonna do as I did as a player and not worry about all that, not stress about stuff I can’t control.”"

Vegas doesn’t have any numbers on Clapp replacing Matheny, but if he continues to win at Triple-A, some one may give him a shot soon enough.