Glenn Sherlock and everyone’s need for a friend

When CBS sold the Yankees, it was to a group of 12 people, including George Steinbrenner. One of the minority partners was John McMullen, who later famously said, “There’s nothing in life quite so limited as being a limited partner of George Steinbrenner.” I thought of that quote when reading that the Mets were making Glenn Sherlock their bench coach. The whole reason that the Mets hired Buck Showalter is that no matter the baseball situation, Showalter has been there and done that. Why does he need a bench coach?

Luis Rojas – there was a guy who needed a bench coach, an experienced hand to help him make decisions in real time. But Showalter? Hey, maybe it’s me and I’m just missing something. But here’s how MLB.com describes the position:

A bench coach is typically considered the right-hand man to his team’s manager. Bench coaches assist their managers in decision-making and will sometimes relay scouting information from the team’s front office to the club’s players.

Many bench coaches go on to become managers, or are former managers. The bench coach typically steps in to act as manager when the regular manager is unavailable (often as a result of being ejected from the game).

No doubt there are other responsibilities with the gig. Not sure where but it seems recently that some online piece mentioned they help run Spring Training activities. Okay, that’s something. In the old days, the team’s coaches were essentially drinking buddies of the manager. Maybe that’s the key role Sherlock will play for Showalter. While it’s a possibility that neither man drinks, perhaps Sherlock will just be Showalter’s buddy.

No one should be alone on a team with 26 players and countless coaches, trainers and various support personnel. But Showalter’s been out of the game for a few years and at age 65, he’s not likely to hit the town with Pete Alonso after a rough stretch. Here are the ages of the other coaches on the staff:

Jeremy Hefner – 35
Eric Chavez – 44
Wayne Kirby – 57
Joey Cora – 56

Kirby and Cora are somewhat close in age to the new manager. But Sherlock, like Showalter, is in his 60s and he previously worked with Showalter with both the Yankees and the Diamondbacks. The Mets could have used the bench coach position to groom a youngster to replace Showalter one day. But no doubt some other team would poach that guy before Showalter retires, so it made sense to give him a buddy, instead.

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And it’s not just managers who need a pal. Wouldn’t it be great if Jacob deGrom hit it off with Max Scherzer and they both spurred each other on to greater heights? It seemed like in previous years that J.D. Davis and Dominic Smith had gotten close. Perhaps Jeff McNeil was in that group, too. Brandon Nimmo might look to join, as it seemed he was pals with Michael Conforto, who will no longer be on the team. Perhaps Nimmo and Mark Canha will become buddies.

Which brings us to Francisco Lindor. Did not having a mate on the club from the beginning contribute to his poor start in 2021? There’s no doubt that part of the reason they traded for Javier Baez was to reunite the two stars from Puerto Rico, who became fast friends from when they played together on WBC squads. But with Baez gone, who fills that role now?

Starling Marte and Eduardo Escobar are both 33, five years older than Lindor. Does that matter? Maybe they would have been good to have on the club last year, an older brother to help show the ropes. And perhaps that’s the ultimate reason that Jonathan Villar isn’t back.

Ah, narrative storytelling and blind speculation. Settle the lockout and Let’s Go Mets.