In 2005, Lou Pinella was managing the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and ownership decided that it was time for a managerial change. It took the struggling franchise seven years to win 70 games, and the man for the job was Joe Maddon. After two years of winning around 60 games, the team finally took off under Maddon’s leadership. When the Rays finally took off and competed, they won over 90 games in five out of six seasons, and won an AL pennant. In the past week, Maddon decided to opt out of his contract, and become a free agent. The Mets have a chance to acquire the manager, but it seems unlikely.
When Maddon took over the Rays as manager, the team had exciting prospects with good pitching. Taking a team from 66 wins to 97 wins is something special, and should not be overlooked. The Mets have some pieces already developed, and have some prospects coming up through the pipeline that are showing they will be able to produce in the big leagues. The opportunity may be intriguing to Maddon, as the team is a big market team with a higher payroll than Tampa, which would make it easier to retain young talent and build a dynasty. For example, the Mets would have had a better chance to re-sign David Price, while the Rays were forced to trade him.
The Mets are close to ending their rebuilding process, and are hungry to start winning. This offseason, ownership plans to spend money on free agents like Michael Cuddyer in order to put a playoff team on the field next year. With Matt Harvey returning, next year is the time to start a dynasty. The pitching rotation including Harvey, Zack Wheeler and Jacob deGrom makes for a solid rotation that is under team control for some time to come. A lineup with Lucas Duda, Curtis Granderson, and David Wright has the potential to score runs. If the Mets do add Michael Cuddyer, or another player, expectations are going to rise. It makes sense for the Mets to change the culture of their clubhouse, and stop accepting mediocrity. A new voice, such as Maddon, may propel the Mets to a playoff spot, and get even more out of his players.
The Mets have had Terry Collins managing for the past four seasons, and the team has not finished over .500 during his tenure. If the Mets had every intention on making the playoffs, it would seem like a wise decision to go after a manager who has made the playoffs before. Collins has led a team to 80 or more wins in three out of ten seasons in his career. That track record does not compare to Maddon’s.
In 2008, Maddon led the Rays to the World Series, and in 2002, he was the bench coach for the World Series Champion Los Angeles Angels. These experiences show that Maddon knows what it takes to lead a team to the playoffs, and have success in the playoffs. He was the philosopher behind the “9=8” movement, which meant that it takes nine players (on the baseball field) to be one of the eight teams in the playoffs. It is this type of philosophy and mindset that is needed in New York.
Mets management has already expressed their confidence in Collins, and he is signed through the 2015 season with the Mets having an option for 2016. No one has expressed interest in Maddon joining the Mets as a manager, and this may be a regret entering the season.
I think it would be wonderful if Maddon became the Mets’ manager.
I haven’t followed the situation too closely but two things occur to me:
1. Perhaps Maddon wants a break
2. Perhaps a team essentially agreed to give Maddon a deal and right now they are just dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. And that team isn’t the Mets.
Even though it makes sense, the Mets don’t have enough cents or enough $en$e to sign him.
Sad but true Metsense, that’s why I feel Collins is still around. Does an okay job, and isn’t expensive.
These kinds of X factor opportunities are rare, and I would call him and give him 5 yrs and 25-30M$ Salary and a mandate to be in the WS in that tenure. He worth 6-8 wins alone.
There is nothing that would make me more happy than to see Maddon as the Mets’ manager in 2015. That being said, I do not think that Sandy Alderson will be getting rid of Terry Collins anytime soon. Everybody who knows me knows that I have severe issues with Collins as the Mets’ manager (and that is being polite!), but sadly Alderson seems to view him as some sort of savior in the managerial position. My guess is that Maddon will be going to the Cubs, Astros, or maybe even a big market team such as the Cardinals/Angels. But fingers crossed!
Jeffy and SA already proclaimed that Maddon won’t be hired. Tc is our skipper.
It takes the heat off Alderson as his excuse is why spend millions of dollars on a manager when the team is “rebuilding” and is still a work in progress. It’s Aldersoniizing without having to demand results from his manager. Sandy says a lot but what comes out of his mouth could fill a Zeppelin.
I just stopped reading after you wrote this off season the Mets plan to spend money on free agents like Michael Cuddyer in order to put a playoff team on the field next season. Really? Who in the front office is your source for this information? James do you realize that the Mets payroll for 2014 was actually Less than 2013?. I’m sorry but are you in contact with Sandy Alderson and the Wilpons? If you would of said,:I would like to think that the Mets are planning to … then you have more credibility and your article makes more journalistic sense. Is it not just your opinion you’re stating? I’m not trying to insult or hurt anyone’s feelings here, But you’re blog on Mets 360 appears as if you have inside information
Point taken Pete, there’s been multiple sources out there that have linked the Mets with Michael Cuddyer, and it seems like it could be a match. I wish I had inside information to share, but that was a rumor that seems to be apparent in the media today. Thank you for the feedback.
If the Mets were to sign Cuddyer at 11 million+ for 2 years they need to trade salaries just to be able to afford him. Do you believe the frugal ownership will make that happen? With no reassurances that Cuddyer will stay healthy for an entire season. I can imagine the heartburn Fred had when Sandy told him they needed to cut ties with CY even though they still owed him 2 million plus.
Sandy would never hire any manager capable of thinking at a higher level than 5th grade. Hence why Collins is still the manager.
Sandy wants a manager that he can micro manage and that’s not Maddon. There is a reason why Collins has lasted this long, he is a yes man.
Joe Maddon, Ron Gardenhire, Kirk Gibson, there are plenty of good coaches out there. While I think Maddon’s style would work wonders here, unfortunately we have prematurely committed to Collins. It’s a shame, because a good manager can make or break a team. I guess we’ll just have to see where Collins takes us.
And a bad manager who believes that playing rookies will get you fired is an impediment and detrimental to the future of this organization.
Maddon is leaving a financially strapped organization, perhaps to pursue what will likely be a host of opportunities with franchises which are not financially strapped. Why would he leave one pauper outfit to join another, especially another which, additionally, is completely dysfunctional.
Plus, the Mets are never, never eating Collins’ contract and paying Maddon a king’s ransom to be manager, unless they want to shift Collins into player development, after witnessing how much he “loves to work with the kids”. 😉