Reese Kaplan -- Managerial Wannabe Meanderings

Apparently neither Brad Ausmus nor Robin Ventura want anything to do with the Mets (well, in Ventura's case he claims he's not interested in managing PERIOD.  Ausmus, however, most definitely dissed the guys in Queens).  On both fronts I’m not shedding any tears as neither has been able to deliver much during their managerial careers.  Ausmus appears to be banking on the Boston job which, if reports are accurate, is a bit of a long shot with him behind Alex Cora in the pecking order of desirability.  

Cora, interestingly, took time from his schedule preparing his team to beat the Yankees to interview not only with the Red Sox but also with our Mets.  Is it a coincidence that the Astros got manhandled on Monday night and then got victimized with a series-tying come-from-behind rally by the Yankees?Cora may be the hot name right now, but if his priority is securing his future rather than propelling his current team to the World Series, well, maybe that speaks volumes about a me-first vs. a team-first attitude. 

So right now the Mets have interviewed or have scheduled interviews with Kevin Long, Alex Cora, Joe McEwing and Mickey Callaway.  The first three have connections to current or past Mets teams.  Given how many things went wrong this past season it’s surprising that Long would be considered by many to be the frontrunner.

Joe McEwing is remembered fondly by most Mets fans as a scrappy player who got the most of his abilities and had a knack for doing well against the seemingly unconquerable Randy Johnson.  He managed in the White Sox organization at the A ball level for four years during which time he was named top managerial prospect and manager of the year.  He then managed their AAA affiliate before getting promoted to coach with the big club. 

If Bull Durham was instead about a pitcher, it would have been Mickey Callaway who holds the Durham Bulls all-time record for wins.  He ended his career with a few stops in Asia and a record of 116-72.  He went straight into coaching at the A ball level for the Cleveland Indians in 2010 then moved up to High A for the 2011 season.  From 2012 until now he’s been the major league pitching coach for the Indians.  It’s somewhat unusual for a pitcher to become a manager and considering he has never been at the helm at any level I would consider him the longest of long shots.  Callaway is probably on the outside looking in if the team indeed wants to pander to its fanbase.  Now hiring him as a pitching coach is another matter…

Then again, Terry Collins had no connection to the past and they surprisingly gave him the job when no one else was clamoring for his services.  At that time Wally Backman, Bob Melvin and Chip Hale were all considered for the position.  Backman was likely deemed too confrontational, and Hale a carryover of what didn’t work under Jerry Manuel. I’m not sure why Bob Melvin was not chosen.  His record wasn’t anything to write home about, but then again neither was the guy who’d been out of baseball for ten years whose last stint with the Angels resulted in a 220-237 record.  At the time Paul DePodesta was in the Dodgers front office he wanted to hire Collins for his passion and fiery temperament.  By the time he got the chance with the Mets, all the emotion was seemingly gone and DePodesta learned why even Grady Little was considered more desirable by L.A. 

So there are others allegedly in the mix but they represent the second tier of choices.  Chip Hale and Bob Geren’s names keep surfacing like a bad remake of Jaws.  Just when you thought it was safe to enter the managerial waters, this pair appears with respective records of 148-176 and 334-376.  Yup, that’s the kind of losing tradition that the team has embraced in the past…

Sandy Alomar, Jr. has also been mentioned as a possible candidate.  His fill-in record of 3-3 doesn’t say much about his ability to handle a team (positive or negative) since it’s such a small sample size.  He has no real managerial experience but has worked as a catching instructor, first base coach and bench coach.  His apprenticeship under one of the game’s more respected managers, Terry Francona, probably weighs heavily in his favor. 

Of this list I’m leaning towards McEwing, not for his connection to the Mets past, but the fact that he’s managed successfully for a number of years and would bring a fresh attitude to the team.  Cora would be a good choice as well, but I am having misgivings about his priorities.  Callaway is a wildcard and gambling doesn’t seem to be in Sandy Alderson’s nature.  Alomar has something in common with Cora that is politically incorrect to talk about, but the team is filled with a great many Hispanic players who may relate better to someone with common heritage (and language).  I’m thinking if they are rebuffed by Cora and Girardi is not cut loose by the Yankees then Alomar may thrust himself into the mix.