So as we approach the weekend prior to Craig Counsell's contract expiration the Brewers gave permission already for the Mets to interview the man for the managerial opening since they realize that preventing him from looking at other opportunities would put the final nail in his Milwaukee coffin for their pettiness.
In addition to the presumed Steve Cohen/David Stearns matchup happening, the Guardians also received the same rights to interview Counsell as did the Mets. That wrinkle is an interesting one as Counsell is a middle America guy with American League roots while the Guardians are looking to replace a long term top manager in Terry Francona. They should be prepared to spend significantly on a long term deal.
We can all sit here and speculate which of these options (as well as the Brewers themselves and other teams seeking a new manager) will happen when all the dust settles, but it does appear that Counsell may be ready to say goodbye to his hometown team.
In addition to the managerial front, the Mets have also done a significant housecleaning of scouts, assistant GM and other personnel from the old regime to allow David Stearns to hire and set up his own staff with people he chooses and feels are a good fit for his style of working. Given the team's quick exit in 2022 and its cellar-dwelling type of performance in 2023, no one is going to have heartache about their termination from the franchise business side.
Perhaps a bit more surprising was the recent announcement that an unnamed other team asked the Mets for permission to interview pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. While obviously the hitting was horrific by nearly every player in 2023, the pitching was not so much bad as it was unhealthy. Prior to 2023 Hefner seemed to address many of the pitching staff's needs and got a lot out of players by helping them improve what they did well and minimize what they didn't. Many (including me) have asked about the future of Hefner, Joey Cora and Wayne Kirby, the three members of the current coaching staff who were regarded far more favorably.
This question brings us back to David Stearns and the managerial hiring about to happen. Typically a manager is given the opportunity to select his coaching staff rather than inheriting people from the previous regime. Now if you have a total rookie manager who has no connection to the team and no experience with doing interviews to make these new support staff positions happen. Remember back when the Mets were forced to bring in Luis Rojas as a last minute manager? He was given some of the coaches to help with continuity.
Right now things are continuing to be very much in flux until that first hire is made. With the World Series starting up this weekend it means it's little more than a week before the gates open for staff and player transactions to begin. Until that time all we can do is offer up our opinions on what could happen, should happen and will happen. And we will likely be wrong.
7 comments:
I hope the Mets get managerial and coaching decisions right.
Even more, I hope they get the player decisions right. Will we ever get OUR Adonis Garcia, who will go out and hit .357 in 56 at bats with 8 HRs and 22 RBIs in 13 games?
Doubt it.
Nido had the same # of ABs this year, and 21 fewer RBIs.
Someone wants Hefner?
The Mets should pay for the moving costs
I am not ready to endorse Hefner for 2024. The simple fix that made Paul Sewald a legitimate closer instead of a middling middle man was something he should have seen. That same simple fix has eluded Megill, Peterson, and others. Why did a solid Ottavino suddenly lose the ability to throw strikes? These are all indications that the coaching was ineffective. I hate advocating for throwing the last few coaches out of an empty room, but this is a guy that should have gone earlier.
I still think Hefner is a keeper.
Relief pitchers are not consistent.
Reese, you speak of Hefner’s assistance in making pitchers better… name some, or even one? When Taijuan Walker was tipping pitches, Hefner didn’t see it. When Peterson was struggling, Hefner couldn’t help him. It took Quintana to help Peterson. It took illar hearing the whistles from the Yankees dugout to help Walker. When Carlos Carrasco was tipping his pitches that first year, Hefner didn’t see it.
He is young and speaks the analytical lingo, but he lacks knowledge of different styles of pitching and you can’t teach that.
Did Edwin Diaz improve after his rough start with the Mets?
Did Kodai Senga get better as the year progressed?
Did David Robertson pitch commendably with the Mets and then degrade after leaving?
I can go on...he's not perfect but there is more good than bad.
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