I’m getting a lot of email and reading a lot of blog posts telling me exactly what direction the Mets’ should go with their managerial search, but I’m struggling to muster up much passion on the subject. I already endorsed Tim Bogar. Doesn’t sound like that’s happening.
Here’s the thing: If we accept that 1) A Major League manager’s success has a lot more to do with the talent on his roster than his actual in-game managing and 2) Different leadership styles resonate in different ways with different people, then it’s difficult to eliminate any candidate just based on his past performance.
Bobby Valentine could hardly get out of third place when he managed the Rangers in the late 80s and early 90s, and Joe Torre entered his tenure with the Yankees with a career managerial record of 894-1003. Did they learn something from those stints that helped them in New York? It’s certainly possible. Or maybe they just had better teams and/or players more open to their motivation.
Who knows what the Mets will need for 2011 and beyond? Perhaps they’d respond to the fiery buntsmanship of Wally Backman or the calm prodding of Bob Melvin. Most likely the difference wouldn’t make a difference of more than a win or two in any case, since most Major Leaguers tend to be pretty apt self-motivators, what with making the Major Leagues and all.
What I’m certain of is that associating candidates with former bosses is a blisteringly bad way to evaluate them. So Terry Collins worked for Omar Minaya. So Chip Hale worked for Jerry Manuel. Who cares? George Washington worked for someone named Robert Dinwiddie once. Did the Continental Congress hesitate to name him Commander-in-Chief because they didn’t want “another Dinwiddie guy”?
Also, just because someone has one quality in common with a former Mets manager does not necessarily make him a bad choice to manage the current Mets.
Though it’s not at all surprising, it’s still kind of amazing the way the media and blogosphere work. Like three weeks ago, everyone seemed certain Sandy Alderson was the right choice for the Mets’ GM spot. Now that he’s faced with his first big decisions, all the same people want to doubt him and assume he’s moving in the wrong direction. Huh?
I mean, it strikes me that the best way to determine the best possible manager from the available candidates would be to sit down and talk with them all a bit: See who’s on board with the organizational philosophy and whose personality seems like it would appeal to the players and media.You know, some sort of interview process.
So you’ll have to excuse me if I don’t get all huffy about the Mets’ new manager, whoever it may be. I’ll wait until June for that, when I have a much better sense of exactly how he’ll be pissing us off. Until then, I’m going to try out having faith in the Mets’ front office for the first time this millenium, and just sort of assume that Alderson is doing a more thorough vetting of the potential candidates than anyone else will.
Tedquarters 
“Fiery buntsmanship” is an excellent phrase. Well done, sir.
But Ted, if the Mets don’t hire the right guy, the players will be sucked into illegal gambling rings. At least according to Bob Klapisch they will.
From his column this weekend:
Maybe it’s because Manuel and his coaches lost touch with the players – they all stopped venturing into the room when it became obvious the manager was doomed. The void was at least partially filled by Charlie Samuels, the clubhouse manager who, as reported by The Daily News, is being investigated by the NYPD and Queens District Attorney for allegedly being part of a gambling ring.
http://tinyurl.com/2vds3bt
Right. The guy has worked for the Mets for 26 years and we’re gonna blame Jerry, who was the only the mgr for the last 2. Makes perfect sense.
Although Jerry was the worst manager I’ve ever seen and the damage he did can’t be overstated.
Worst manager you’ve EVER seen?
You should watch other teams besides the Mets sometime.
EVER. Not just the Mets. Note even just MLB. I’m including minor leagues, college, high school. I won’t count little league because those guys don’t get paid, but other than that, Jerry is the worst I’ve ever seen.
no thats just not true. My high school soccer coach really was horrible.
“Most likely the difference wouldn’t make a difference of more than a win or two in any case, since most Major Leaguers tend to be pretty apt self-motivators, what with making the Major Leagues and all.”
Except in the case of Jerry Manuel, who clearly cots the Mets at least 15-18 wins this past season.
I also think the reason so many fans have strong managerial opinions is because the manager to many fans is this years only hope.
Most realize the players on the team will largely be the same and I think many fans see the manager as the one thing that can chnage the fortunes of next year (even though as you pointed out, it prob wont).
15-18 wins is a lot to pin on Jerry…but I did really got frustrated with how poorly Jerry managed the bull pen.
He overused Neive at the start, he took a pretty good pitcher and ran him into the ground until he failed.
He missed K-Rod used, which helped lead to his outburst.
He took forever to stop using Feleciano against RH hitters, he’d keep guys in too long when they were struggling, pulled starters at the wrong time, he’d let a guy sit in the pen for weeks with little work while another guy would pitch his arm off. Lets not forget the Mejia screw up.
I don’t know if this is on Jerry, Dan or the bullpen coach, but you gotta give relief pitchers a balance between regular appearances and rest.
I guess all I really want to a manager who can manage a pitching staff…(that and a guy who doesn’t automatically bunt with a runner on first with less than two outs)
I was joking about the 15-18 wins, that would be ridiculous.
15-18 wins may be ridiculous to some, but sadly it’s fact to many.
But then again, if the Mets won eleven more games last year they’d be in position to win the wild card. That’s just eleven games to make a .500 team into a playoff team! (a couple vs the Braves would seal it)
Now look at the Mets record in 1 run ball games or how many games they failed to win when trailing after 6innings. I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but it’s pretty ridiculous and a better record there would more that make up for that magic 11 games.
Now how many games did Jerry pull Santana or Dicky too early only to have the pen give up the lead? How many times did the Mets not score that one extra run because Jerry had the wrong guys hitting or bunting? How many wins did keeping an injured Reyes playing? Or a week Gary Matthews Jr or Jacobs in the line up? or Francour vs RH pitching?
Could a better managed team win those needed eleven games?
IMO no…. you just assume that becuase the pen blew it that Dickey or Santana would not have? You dont know that.
Theres also alot of time where Jerry made a critical move that worked out, that just went un noticed since fans mostly are critical in himdsight.
So overall no, I dont think there is any way that a different manager, strictly from a baseball decisionb standpoint would have been able to make up a difference of 11 games.
“it strikes me that the best way to determine the best possible manager from the available candidates would be to sit down and talk with them all a bit: See who’s on board with the organizational philosophy”
Wait, we have an organizational philosophy now?
All good points. But, I would suggest a sense of urgency is called for. Last time I checked the free agency period is upon us. I doubt any acquisitions will be made or trades discussed while the hunt for a manager is on. If this drags out for a month – who will the Mets lose out on? Does this organizational philosophy call for a win now approach or a develop talent for a run in 2014? Would like Sandy and the Wilpons to share their strategy so we can all manage our expectations accordingly. Can’t get excited about the managerial selection process without understanding the direction of the back office…
I assume you mean because the FO can’t multi-task? If so, I disagree.
I can’t see any reason to wait for th emanager before thinking about players, if that is what you meant.
Great post as always Ted. The line about good players with motivation reminded me of this classic Sparky Anderson quote that was mentioned after his recent passing:
“Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I’ll win a pennant every year.”
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/early-lead/2010/11/sparky_anderson_remembered.html