How long the Pirates take to hire a new manager could very well depend on how long the Cleveland Indians remain in the AL playoffs.

Joel Skinner, Indians third-base coach, probably ranks high on a candidate list that is being formed and could be finalized early next week as the Pirates seek a successor to Jim Tracy.

Skinner, 46, is the son of former Pirates outfielder Bob Skinner, a mainstay on the 1960 World Series championship team.

Joel Skinner and new Pirates general manager Neal Huntington reportedly are close because Huntington worked for the Indians for the past 10 seasons.

For much of that time, Skinner was a highly successful minor-league manager for the Indians. He then became a coach with Cleveland. In 2002, he was interim manager after Charlie Manuel was fired and guided the Indians to a 35-41 record.

Skinner interviewed for the Los Angeles Dodgers' manager's job after Tracy left that organization following the 2005 season. The job went to Grady Little, but Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti reportedly said Skinner's interview went very well.

One industry source said yesterday: "I was told [Skinner] would be a strong candidate if Tracy got fired."

Huntington also might consider Torey Lovullo, manager with Buffalo, the Indians' Class AAA affiliate.

"If I had to bet," the industry source said, "I think it would be [Skinner]."

The Pirates could ask for permission to interview Skinner even though the Indians are in the playoffs. And they could interview him on an off day during the playoffs.

"I think ethically I struggle with that," Huntington said. "An individual's involved in a playoff run, it's probably one of the most exciting times of their lives, and I struggle with trying to distract them. I struggle with pulling them out of that environment. I struggle with that step in the process.

"That said, we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it -- if we get pushed into a time frame from one candidate to another."

Huntington said yesterday he's looking for a managerial candidate who has several characteristics.

"We're going to find a person who brings energy, who's an outstanding teacher, who's a tireless communicator and who will instill a sense of discipline and pride in the Pirates.

"If that person is someone who's managed before, I'm all for it."

Huntington said there could be internal candidates. One of those could be Trent Jewett, who has had much success as a minor-league manager.

Jewett, a Pirates coach for 2¹/₂ seasons beginning June 2000, has managed in Class AAA for 10 seasons. He interviewed for the Washington Nationals' manager's job last offseason. Baseball America recently deemed Jewett one of the top major-league manager prospects.

Others who could be considered are Ken Macha, former Oakland manager who's a Pittsburgh resident, and Joe Girardi, who managed the Florida Marlins in 2006.

Former Pirates coach Dave Clark, who helped develop several current Pirates as a successful manager in the Pirates' minor-league system, could have interest in the job.

Clark, 45, has managed Class AA Corpus Christi in the Houston system the past three seasons, winning a Texas League championship in 2006. He also won a title managing in the Hawaiian Winter League last year.

Clark could be in line to move up from Corpus Christi to Class AAA Round Rock next season. The Astros yesterday named Round Rock manager Jackie Moore their bench coach under new manager Cecil Cooper.

Former Pirates coach Rich Donnelly, a Steubenville, Ohio, resident who's the Dodgers' third-base coach, also could have interest in the position.