The Mets, meaning Van Wagenen, appear to be starting from scratch to hire a manager. No one is waiting for them, and they could be left in the “Dust(y)…
Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen should have a drawer full of paperwork and notes in his desk from the score of interviews the Mets conducted during their search for a manager to replace Mickey Callaway.
They might even have recordings (I would) of those same exchanges to put on playback and re-absorb.
In place of that, Van Wagenen must at least have been planning on the eventuality of replacing Carlos Beltran well before last Monday when the Commissioner’s report came tumbling down.
After all, you knew, I knew, and half the world of baseball was aware in advance that “something was up” with Beltran.
Not Brodie, though. He manufactured “surprise” that Rob Manfred named Beltran as a prime player in masterminding the sign-stealing scheme employed by the Astros in 2017.
Mets News Flash: He Ain’t Waitin’
A day and a dollar late, the Mets reportedly have Dusty Baker on their calendar for an interview. The trouble is, however, that Baker was in Houston yesterday to interview for their vacancy.
And judging by Baker’s comments as he headed in to meet with Astros owner Jim Crane, there may be no point in the Mets wasting their time:
But that’s not all. MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reports that Hensley Meulens, the Mets current bench coach, is a point of interest for the Boston Red Sox who need to replace Alex Cora.
Meulens is the first candidate the Red Sox have gone public with, and losing him would be a big blow to the Mets.
These guys don’t wait around, and if their name is called to be one of thirty managing at baseball’s highest level, it’s generally first come first served.
That’s especially true with someone like Dusty Baker and his resume. Baker has decided he wants in again, and if he wants in – he’s in.
But you’d better grab him fast because, as an experienced manager, he knows the value and necessity to be there from the get-go – Spring Training.
Similarly, the Astros reportedly have a date with Buck Showalter, another high-profile, experienced manager with an “I’m here if you want me” mantra.
We have yet to hear from the Mets on this, but the prevailing thinking is the Mets cannot afford to roll the dice again by hiring a manager with little or no major league experience. Twice bitten (Callaway and Beltran) should be twice shy.
Mets: Another $$$ Decision To Make
But with the Mets, the first thing to be considered is money. They’re already on the hook for Mickey Callaway‘s million dollars plus salary this year, and they also have Beltran (no announcement yet) hanging in the balance.
Which, if the Mets remain “The Mets,” they are more likely to settle on someone like Luis Rojas, who, while highly regarded, will be as cheap as they come. Ditto, Tony DiFrancesco, who managed the team’s Triple-A minor league team in Syracuse.
Neither one, though, has a claim to major league experience.
If the Mets decide to take the high road (translation: doing what’s best for the team), the natural choice has to be Dusty Baker over Buck Showalter.
Bakes comes across as Grandpa, while Showalter is the top-ranking member of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Remember, it was the Mets players themselves who gelled as a team to make the run they accomplished last year when the Mets were hanging Calloway out to dry as a decided lame duck.
Showalter’s tendency to micro-manage may not be what the Met’s clubhouse needs in 2020. The players themselves already set the tone – just let them play.
Baker has a reputation as being that type of manager. You do your job, and I’ll do mine. We’ll get to know each other better during the parade down Broadway celebrating a Mets World Championship.
Mets: Tick Tock, Tick Tock…
Alas, time is a wasting, and someone needs to give Brodie Van Wagenen a hotfoot, or maybe the proverbial kick in the ass to get this thing done.
Long ago, the homework should already be complete. Apparently it’s not, so once again, the Mets are in a catch-up mode. The deja vu interview process should not be required.
The Mets should have their man targeted with no holds barred in bringing him into the fold. Sorry, I don’t see what the problem is…
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.
