Two Mets writers debating: Marlins’ GM Dan Jennings managing

It occurs to me that there are so many issues in the Mets organization and in baseball that get debated constantly behind the scenes by fans and media, alike. It’s with that mindset serving as a backdrop that we present a conversation between me and Brian Joura.

Frank – It seems the desperation level in Miami has reached the critical status. Like nuclear war prep status. If I were a Marlin fans I would practice curling up under a desk (Cold War reference alert). They fired another manager the other day and GM Dan Jennings took a page out of the script of “Little Big League” by naming himself as the new manager.

Immediately I’m thinking “who is he and what makes him qualified?”. He was a scout from 1986 until 2013 until he became the GM. Just because he can spot talent doesn’t mean he knows how to cultivate and develop it or how to utilize it at the MLB level.

As a GM he learned how to hire and fire coaches and the business end of running a payroll, but that doesn’t give him the experience of how to run a team on the field. There’s a huge difference between organizing a team on paper and organizing a team in reality.

Brian – To me this is a great thing. When you’ve finished under .500 five straight years and you’re currently in last place — why not try something new? Is Dan Jennings the best guy for the job? Probably not. But what were the odds that regardless of who the Marlins hired that they would get the best guy? Mike Redmond wasn’t the best guy. Neither were Ozzie Guillen, Edwin Rodriguez or Fredi Gonzalez. So, they failed with picking a guy from another team’s farm system, they failed with guys with previous MLB coaching experience and they failed with a guy from their own system. If Jennings doesn’t succeed – he’ll have a lot of company with traditional managerial picks by the Marlins.

If the Marlins think Jennings is the best guy for the job — they shouldn’t let fear that he doesn’t come with the usual qualifications stand in their way of making the hire.

Without a doubt they open themselves up to a lot of criticism. But this was a team expected to challenge for a Wild Card spot and instead they’re in last place. They should be getting criticism regardless. To me the interesting thing is why Jennings would take the job in the first place. A GM has to have more security than a manager. Sure, we all want a challenge in life. But (having no first-hand experience with this) my thought is you want to ensure that the six-figure paychecks continue as long as possible. If you were in this situation, would you willingly go in the dugout?

Frank – I know if I were asked to don the uniform and manage, I doubt I would be chomping at the bit to accept it. The scrutiny and second guessing that takes place from media and fans alike is more than enough to drive anyone to the point of breaking. That includes people with management experience, let alone a GM in the dugout.

I’m not sure he was the best option for the Marlins. As you mentioned, they came in with playoff aspirations. Is this the kind of move that helps a relatively young team right the ship? Not really.

They need a coach with experience. Someone that can use that experience to get the best out of them. There had to be available options. I’m not sure if the Marlins even held interviews. Is the managerial pool really that thin or did they have their minds made up already?

The more alarming trend I think would be the precedent that it sets should he have even mild success. Imagine Billy Beane trading in the tie for a jersey. Better yet, our own beloved GM, Sandy Alderson.

Brian – I would love for a beat guy to ask Alderson if he would consider being in the dugout. My first instinct is that he would dismiss it out of hand.

To me, this whole issue revolves around what a manager in 2015 actually does. Do we even need one? If the GM is setting the tone on big-picture items and all decisions are made to remove blame from the managerial chair – couldn’t we get just about anyone with a pulse to do the job? Actually, that’s not fair. The manager still has to deal with the media and not just anyone can do that. You don’t want your manager telling the world he’s a gangsta or anything like that.

Maybe we don’t need a guy like Sparky Anderson for the position anymore. What we need is essentially a press secretary. Someone to handle the PR aspect of it and who leaves the real decisions to the guys wearing suits, not a baseball uniform. If memory serves, Ari Fleischer was a baseball fan – maybe he should be on everyone’s short list for the next managerial hire.

Frank – Sandy Alderson has a similar background to Jennings. He was a scout and then a GM. I’m sure he would even admit that doesn’t prepare anyone for being a manager. If managing were that easy, fans could take turns at the helm, but it’s not.

It takes a strategic mind that can make adjustments during the game. A quick thinker that can change his plan of attack, not a business mind for roster moves that collects all data and weighs every option before making a move.