A blast from the past with a twist! Recently, SNY reported that a “Mystery candidate,” will be interviewing for the open Mets managerial job today. A tactic widely used by Scott Boras to drum up interest in his clients, it’s kind of fun to see it used in a different manner. The mind boggles at the possibilities. Another shot for Carlos Beltran? An under-the-radar approach for Anthony Recker? An apology to Willie Randolph for the way he was let go?
If nothing else it seems like a boost of adrenaline for an otherwise uninspiring group of candidates. It’s like Snow White and the however many dwarfs, with the former Yankee manager playing the lead role. The good news is that the bar’s not set too high, with the new guy just needing to be better than a guy who finished under .500 in back-to-back years and a guy who was a sexual predator.
Who do you want as the next Mets manager?
- Buck Showalter (84%, 32 Votes)
- Brad Ausmus (5%, 2 Votes)
- Joe Espada (5%, 2 Votes)
- Mystery Candidate (5%, 2 Votes)
- Bob Geren (0%, 0 Votes)
- Matt Quatraro (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 38
Loading ...
Buck has proven that he can manage in NY; won’t tolerate lazy and dumb playing; will use analytics, but also deviate from them a bit when necessary; and is a good communicator.
I want an experienced manager and that is Showalter. I don’t like first time managers like Rojas or Callaway. Dont want popular players like Beltran or Wright either. Showalter has a better track record than Ausmus.
I voted for the mystery candidate, who I hope will be Mike Shildt
Oh wow – forgot about Mike Shildt. If not him, than Buck.
I got the sense there are some real issues with Shildt. On an SB Nation Cards blog, they posted the transcript of a supposed meeting with him and the FO.
You can read here:
https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/2021/10/18/22732258/the-real-story-on-why-mike-shildt-was-fired
I can’t verify any of this, but some basic facts seem to be real: the Cards clearly parted ways rapidly. Shildt’s name hasn’t been spoken one time in any of the searches I’ve read about. At this point he seems radioactive.
I’m fine with Buck. A steady hand on the rudder is good. And I don’t buy the geezer trope at all. dusty Baker managed to go to Houston and work with a super savvy analytics group.
Showalter is a dinosaur. Think how Keith and some of us react to way analytics play the game. Can Showalter listen to the front office, do all the shifts and Change the pitchers all the time the way the analytics direct?
If that’s real, I can’t believe Shildt even got an interview in San Diego. Gosh, I hope that isn’t real. This guy is a total fruitcake. How did he last so long? It can’t be real…
Chris F – that Mike Shildt story was insane. I can’t believe that occurred.
C’mon people – it’s satire. Do you really think that a blog got exclusive rights to audio from an MLB club? And if somehow it did – do you think every major outlet would just ignore the outrageous things that occurred here? It would be front page news on The Athletic, ESPN and Sports Illustrated, to say nothing of every major and minor outlet reporting on the Cardinals.
Ausmus has managerial experience. He was hired by Eppler previously so there should been teamwork established. They should make a cohesive front office together.
Buck seems to be the consensus pick and there are strong reasons for that. I voted for him. I would but surprised if he isn’t the hire, although I would be content with Ausmus given his previous managerial experience.
I think the only downside with Buck is that given his age he may not be there for 10-15 years. And, that is no reason not to hire him.
He brings a ton of positives, starting with the instant credibility, which matters in the clubhouse and in NYC. His time at MLB has allowed him to hone his media skills, relate better to the media, and expand his rapport with the media. He has matured and is not as tightly wound as he was when younger. He knows the game inside and out and I think he can apply the modern info and data appropriately.
He could be to the Mets what Joe Torre was to the 1990 Yankees. The right guy in the right place at the right time. Savvy on multiple fronts but with enough unfinished business to be driven to the ultimate prize.
Buck hands down
Buck, sure, why not?
The only concern is that Buck is Old School enough that he *might* want to actually make out his own lineups, make his own decisions. Whereas Sandy is a GM who prefers a lapdog as manager. Of course, that’s the way the sport has evolved, the weak, middle-management manager.
My hope is that Buck retains some of that spunk . . . while still accepting some degree of “input” . . . and that Sandy is checked out enough to let Eppler hire his own man.
I guess I look at it as a test of Sandy’s power. If the Mets go with Bob Geren, for example, that means Sandy still has a strong voice. And that, to me, would be a very, very bad thing. The Mets as an organization need to run as fast as they can from Sandy Alderson and his son, Bryn (who somehow has a job). Whereas if they go with Buck, well, he’s not really from the Sandy Alderson/Art Howe mold. I would see that as a positive sign.
Throw out every who has ever managed at the ML level… let some other club teach them how to manage, or how not to.
I want Buck. No one truly believes the manager will last more than 5 years anyway. Ride Buck into the sunset… let’s hope he can last that long.
Ausmus is second choice.
that’s all.
I welcome the strong hand and winning ways of Buck. If not for the O’s in the later years, his W-L record would be much better. He is proven and can pull this team together. They’ll be no fights in the run way with him in charge.
I want someone who doesn’t believe in the 100 pitch boogeyman.
I guess everyone is assuming the DH is coming to the NL, but if by some miracle it’s not, i would have little faith in Buck as a manager because 17 of his 20 seasons managing has been in the AL and none since 2000 so he’s basically an AL lifer. We just saw how badly Callaway, another AL-lifer, had no idea how to manage NL style baseball.
Buck will not only bring a new discipline to the team and do the most for changing the culture, along with Max, but he will be the most entertaining for the rest of us. The complete opposite of Luis Rojas, who liked to project strong but was really insecure, and liked to project deep but was quite thin when it came to his leadership decisions.
I’m sure everything won’t go perfectly with Buck, but we will never question his knowledge of the game nor the breadth of his experience. Those two things will no doubt lead to better on-field choices and a team that plays with more confidence than the Mets are used to brandishing.
I’m looking for three years of pretty compelling baseball from my team.
I must admit disappointment, since you guys are dependably savvy. I have memories of Buck’s Biggest Blunder, when he refused to use the best reliever in baseball (that season) in an elimination game.
Imagine if Buck were to do something like this in a similarly crucial NYM game.
The following excerpt is from something written by Davis Schoenfield of ESPN:
1. Showalter uses six relievers but not the one with the 0.54 ERA. This is simple: Showalter screwed up. There are no excuses and no explanations that make sense. There is nothing that can make us understand why he would use Brian Duensing, who has pitched 13 innings with the Baltimore Orioles, or Jimenez, who pitched well down the stretch but isn’t a reliever and had a 5.54 ERA on the season. Showalter managed to get Britton a save — not to win the game. You cannot lose this game — especially when it goes 11 innings — without using the best reliever in baseball, the guy who allowed one earned run since April. It’s a disgrace. It’s one of the worst managerial decisions in postseason history.
That’s all true. Buck’s worst moment.
I would hate to be judged solely on my own worst moment.
Hmmm
Also found more stuff on Bleacher Report. The following is an excerpt from an article written by Ian Hanford called “Biggest Manager Screw-Ups in Baseball History”
Buck Showalter
1 OF 10
Game 5 of the 1995 ALDS marred Buck Showalter’s legacy.
Showalter mishandled his bullpen, and eliminated the Yankees from the playoffs.
David Cone threw a respectablegame in Game 5 and Mariano Rivera did his job out of the bullpen. Instead of sticking with Rivera, Showalter decided to put Jack McDowell into the game in the eleventh inning.
McDowell was a solid starter for the Yankees that season but he was not ready to come out of the bullpen. He gave up two runs and the Yankees fell.
Showalter could have kept Rivera in the game or used his closer John Wetteland, both relievers by trade.
Two years ago, I wrote this:
I think Showalter’s strength as a manager is building a team up, not taking an established team to the finish line. He’s a SP, a guy who gets you thru the first 7 IP. The Mets need a closer and my opinion is that’s not what you hire Showalter to do.
*****
After back-to-back sub-.500 seasons, maybe we need a SP manager
Buck definitely has his questionable moments, with the Britton non-move at the top, but it is hard to know Mack his body of work. I also see the lack of a championship as a plus, a huge motivator to a mid 60s guy that has done everything else.
I ask myself these questions –
– what was Joe Torre before his Yankee hire?
– would I choose Dave Roberts or Ned Yost or Dave Martinez over Buck, or Dusty Baker?
– what would make me select a guy that has never managed in the bigs for his first shot in the biggest media market in the country?
– what happened with the last 3 rookie hires for Met manager?
Since most managers fail, an organization would be wise to choose the manager least likely to do so:
– first-time managers… more likely to fail.
– manager from a losing background… more likely
– manager not comfortable with media… more likely.
– smaller market guy… more likely (in NYC)
– young manager subject to F.O. bullying… more likely.
The antidote? Buck… less likely to fail.