The flux continued in the Mets organization yesterday when Joey Cora agreed to terms with the Detroit Tigers to join their coaching staff.
The difference Cora made was noticeable. In 2021 the Mets were 27th in MLB with 636 runs scored with Gary DiSarcina in the third base coaches’ box. In 2022 the Mets were 5th in MLB with 772 runs scored with Joey Cora waving runners in from third.
Cora was also the Mets’ infield coach, which in my observation led to much better infield play. The Mets had the second highest fielding percentage (.988) and second fewest errors (67) in Cora’s first year coaching the infield. Last year they regressed somewhat to .985 with 88 errors, but 30 of those were attributed to the new baby Mets as they adjusted to the speed of the game.
One could argue that there are plenty of qualified third base coaches and infield coaches available, but in losing Cora I feel that they lost one of the best.
There have been no other changes to the coaching staff to date, as Carlos Mendoza is newly announced in the Manager position and David Stearns has his focus on the GM meetings in Scottsdale this week. I would expect many other changes, as it is customary for a new Manager to hand-pick the coaching staff for his first season.
Along those lines, here is my wish list:
Wish they would stay: Eric Chavez (return to hitting coach), Wayne Kirby (1B and outfield), Glenn Sherlock (catchers)
Wish they would go: Jeremy Barnes (hitting coach), Eric Hinske (Asst hitting coach), Jeremy Hefner (pitching coach)
Wish I knew enough to decide: Danny Barnes (asst major league coach), Dom Chiti (bullpen coach)
10 comments:
Cora will be missed. He probably grew despondent at putting up "stop" signs to Vogelbach.
It's a Jeremy thing here. Pink slips for the Jeremy Boys.
Coaches are nice, hitters who can hit without handholding are better.
The word is Hefner is a keep
Here's a list of the Mets Top 30 prospects who need to be protected to avoid being exposed to the Rule 5 Draft:
Alex Ramírez, OF (No. 11)
Justin Jarvis, RHP (No. 15)
Luis R. Rodriguez, LHP (No. 21)
Jeremiah Jackson, INF/OF (No. 22)
Coleman Crow, RHP (No. 29)
https://www.mlb.com/news/rule-5-draft-prospects-protected-on-40-man-rosters-2023?partnerID=web_article-share
Crow and Jarvis? Injured,not very good if you need roster spots expose them.
Not sure about Jarvis and Crow
I'm not sure about Ramirez, either. He struggled at High-A. Would someone pick him to remain on the ML 26-Man for the full year?
I doubt it.
Ottavino was on BNNY the past 2 nights, and said the whole pitching dtaff loved Hef and felt that he was a big help to them.
If they voiced that to Stearns (ss I feel they must have), he should stay.
don't forget, there are other prospects not in the Mets top 30 who will be unprotected
if not added, and no, I don't have that list...I haven't seen the complete list anywhere yet.
Well it’s a problem,but there are worse problems to have. Having so much talent you don’t know who to protect.
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