There has been much speculation these last couple of months whether Omar Minaya, Jerry Manuel and the rest of the coaching staff will be back next season. Even with Big Daddy Fred Wilpon’s assurances vocalized last month, the son of a funeral home owner has been known to change his mind – See the Bobby Valentine firing as a prime example. Well anyway if Team Wilpon does change their mind ( I believe their minds are wired into some sort of Borg relationship where they are tied into a single collective consciousness) I would lobby for them to do something bold – I say hire Orel Hershiser as either the Manager or the pitching coach.
As per Wikipedia
“Orel Leonard Hershiser IV is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently an analyst for Baseball Tonight and Wednesday Night Baseball on ESPN he was a Golden Glove, Cy Young Award, the NLCS MVP and the World Series MVP with the Dodgers.
He is known for his lanky frame and tenacious spirit, Hershiser was nicknamed “Bulldog” by then team manager Tommy Lasorda.
Hershiser was born in Buffalo, New York to Mildred I. Gillman and Orel Leonard Hershiser III. He attended Cherry Hill High School East in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where he was the star pitcher on the school’s baseball team. He first caught the attention of pro scouts as a pitcher at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
Hershiser was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 17th round of the 1979 amateur draft and was assigned to their farm team in Clinton, Iowa. He spent four more seasons in the minor leagues with San Antonio and Albuquerque before being called up to the major leagues.
Hershiser has served as a pitching coach for the Texas Rangers, and later in a front-office position with the same team, and as an analyst (both in print and in broadcasting) for ESPN.
In October 2005 Hershiser was a finalist to replace Jim Tracy as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers, but instead opted to resign from his current job as the Texas Rangers pitching coach and join their front office as Executive Director. Grady Little was eventually hired by the Dodgers instead. As of October 2006 Hershiser was mentioned as a possible replacement for Ken Macha of the Oakland Athletics, however he was ultimately passed over for Bob Geren.
In early February 2006, after joining the front office of the Texas Rangers, Hershiser resigned from his Executive Director position.
Although he was not an overpowering pitcher, his fastball was in the 89-91 mph range in his prime. However he possessed very fine control, and his average velocity on his fastball was more than made up for with its tremendous sinking action. This caused batters to beat scores of balls into the ground, leading to easy outs. He complemented his sinker with a well-above average curve ball that would often freeze hitters or cause them to completely lose their timing. He also threw a quality slider that he would spot in on the hands of left-handed hitters, showing them something that moved in the opposite direction of his fastball. He also threw the odd change up and splitter, but mainly stuck to his tremendous sinker and curve ball. ”
I do believe Hershiser would be a good if not great fit as a manager for this teambecause he has a baseball mind – he was a thinking man’s pitcher ala a Tom Seaver or a Pedro Martinez – his head was always in the game. I remember in the ’99 N.L.C.S Orel was constantly sitting beside Bobby Valentine and the rest of the Mets coaching staff absorbing their wisdom and their strategies ( as well as making his own suggestions). He has experience as in the front office and has been seen as a viable managerial candidate for a few different franchises.
So okay lets play hypothetical here, Lets say Jerry Stays but Dan Warthen is canned. I believe Orel would slot in just fine as a pitching coach – like he did with the Texas Rangers. I think he could impart his pitching wisdon onto pitchers like John Maine and Mike Pelfrey and who knows maybe he has the solution to solving the enigma that is Oliver Perez ( no guarantees there lol)
Either way next year is going to be a barometer for seasons to come – they can either choose to use the status quo manager and pitching coach they already have and watch those seasons fade into obscurity or they can utilize a proven winner who might be able to inject new life into a listless organization
-The ball is in your court Mr. Wilpon (s)
45 comments
trs86
9/18/2009-10:09am at 10:09 am (UTC -4)
Next to Duncan, Orel is my main man. His name was brought up back when the games still mattered in TRD Dugout as a possible solution to PC. I don’t know if I want him as manager but as pitching coach I think he could be excellent. One question though, why did he give up the PC slot and then in turn give up the executive spot. Was it words with Ryan or was it a lack of desire to coach?
Mr North Jersey
9/18/2009-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
OFF Topic I am loving all the diverse posts showing up on TRDMB today its only 10:15 and we already have 5 solid posts.
GREAT JOB GUYS!
trs86
9/18/2009-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
I was thinking the same thing.
Kingman 26
9/18/2009-10:21am at 10:21 am (UTC -4)
Nice job Rusty! Fine plug for a guy who would almost certainly make an excellent leader.
I vividly remember his one-man show in the 1988 playoffs, so not only is he a serious guy with coaching experience, he has been here, he was a great pitcher who clearly maximized his ability, he is a winner, and blessed be all that is holy, he was a CLUTCH performer.
Excellent idea, and if we must keep Jerry, let’s get Orel to come on in and teach him what winning baseball is all about.
fongy2
9/18/2009-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
Good luck with this fellas! You’re not gonna see any major changes here.
Remember, if not for all the injuries we’d be right in the thick of thing$!
Mr North Jersey
9/18/2009-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
Fongy always the voice of optimism.
Kingman 26
9/18/2009-10:35am at 10:35 am (UTC -4)
Ugh.
fongy2
9/18/2009-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Hey look, I ‘d like them to back up the truck, clear out the front office,field and trainig staff BUT reality says it ain’t gonna happen.
Oh, and the OWNER of the team already said as much.
So, am I to believe what I wish comes true OR believe what the guy
who really has the only say in the matter?
Kingman 26
9/18/2009-10:51am at 10:51 am (UTC -4)
Maybe, maybe not.
The continued garbage play definitely does help bring forward the day when Jerry may go.
And what is an owner going to say publicly? I might fire the manager?
Fong, I like and respect you, I have tremendously enjoyed our conversations and debates, you are VERY clearly a very intelligent guy who has been around, but the ceaseless negativity is annoying and not constuctive.
trs86
9/18/2009-10:54am at 10:54 am (UTC -4)
I think you know better to believe anything the Wilpons, Omar or Jerry says right? In fact, expect the opposite right?
Kingman 26
9/18/2009-10:40am at 10:40 am (UTC -4)
Fong, we have had about 30% more days on the DL than the team with the second most days there.
Yes, the last two years were VERY disappointing, but this year, quite clearly, was decimated due to injuries.
We were in first as late as May 29, and were one game out as late as July 2nd, until the ridiculous and unprecedented amount of injuries became too much.
fongy2
9/18/2009-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
I know my friend, I said that above.
Kingman 26
9/18/2009-10:53am at 10:53 am (UTC -4)
Hmmm, I really thought you were being sarcastic there….
fongy2
9/18/2009-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
I was BUT more along the lines of the injuries as an
excuse for everything that went wrong this season.
Not by us so much as by the FO.
Isn’t that much more their MO than they just do the opposite of what they say?
Kingman 26
9/18/2009-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
The injuries are not an excuse for everything that went wrong this season…the injuries are THE REASON everything went wrong this season.
trs86
9/18/2009-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
To a point yes. I think we would have been in the hunt for sure if not for the injuries. But with down years from Pelfrey, Wright, Perez, etc and then the other press issues Omar had there were other problems. Including slotting Pelfrey as #2 and Murphy in a position he could not play.
fongy2
9/18/2009-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
Thats a little broad my friend.
But hey, atleast you’re on the same page
as the Wilpons and Omar.
fongy2
9/18/2009-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
Not to mention the unbelievably sloppy
play in the field and basepaths!
Good teams simply don’t play that way.
trs86
9/18/2009-11:19am at 11:19 am (UTC -4)
I am willing to blame the baserunning on trying to make something out of nothing. The fielding though, there is no excuse. Well except for the fact that you had guys playing too many positions and changing nightly, which goes back to Jerry again.
fongy2
9/18/2009-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
My point was that this team just didn’t play clean,crisp baseball the way a team
of vets should. Part of that is Jerry and
his coaches,part is the players and part
is Omar for the players he brought in or
didn’t. Like I argued coming out of spring,
this was a group which acted like they’d already won something and had championship
hangover instead of a hunger to get over the top having fallen short 3 straight times including not even making the playoffs the last two of that three.
They’re all guilty of that.
metsfan4decades
9/18/2009-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
Memories of 1988 leave me with a lingering ‘I hate you Orel’ feeling. I don’t know if I could ever take seeing him in orange and blue. LOL.
Maybe he left that FO job in ’06 b/c he moved to Las Vegas to become a professional gambler of sorts and thought it wouldn’t look good on his resume???
Mr North Jersey
9/18/2009-10:37am at 10:37 am (UTC -4)
4D your claws are showing.
metsfan4decades
9/18/2009-11:25am at 11:25 am (UTC -4)
HA! I guess all can tell just how much I like Hershiser – NOT!
gipperpdx
9/18/2009-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
I agree with 4D….I loathe the Dodgers – despite my home team now playing on a damn shrine to that hated franchise…and Orel / 1988 is one of the main reasons for my loathing.
That said, Orel is a class act…I wonder if he is “modern” enough for the current crop of players…is he too square? Maybe as pitching coach, not manager. Why not Duncan for PC though? The guy is a proven excellent PC.
trs86
9/18/2009-10:57am at 10:57 am (UTC -4)
4D did you block out the time that he was already here? LOL.
metsfan4decades
9/18/2009-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
No – LOL. I had a hard time with that also. I couldn’t believe we were bringing in Hershiser. He’s just a personal nemesis of mine.
He kinda culminates everything I hated about the way that ’88 post season ended…
Kingman 26
9/18/2009-11:01am at 11:01 am (UTC -4)
Hey, maybe some of these youngsters don’t remember 1988 MF4D—I am with you; I remember it, and last night when Rusty was emailing about this post, I asked if he could possibly provide some sort of spell or incantation we could use to block out the horrifying memory of 1988!!
fongy2
9/18/2009-11:10am at 11:10 am (UTC -4)
Ya know as heartbreaking as ’88 was, It does kill me as much as these past
3 seasons. Perhaps b/c looking back I can see they were destined to win it
all.Maybe if they’d had gotten beaten up my a far more talented A’s team,
it would crush me BUT they were on a magic carpet ride.
The last 3 seasons, I look back and think that with a tweak here or there
and we could have a ring or two. No Yankees dynasty and no great team in
the NL.
Kingman 26
9/18/2009-11:13am at 11:13 am (UTC -4)
Yes, we should have had three straight playoff appearances the last three seasons instead of one.
I certainly feel that way.
stickguy
9/18/2009-11:11am at 11:11 am (UTC -4)
Any man that can stick a knife in your back that cleanly, all while looking like an alter boy, I want on my side.
You think he might be able to teach Maine or Pelfrey a little something about the mental aspect of being a dominant SP, and getting the most out of your stuff?
metsfan4decades
9/18/2009-11:26am at 11:26 am (UTC -4)
To say I was heartbroken, would be an understatement. We went like what? 11-1 in the regular season with the Dodgers? Post season – no problem! It was the single most year I thought we had that world series trip in the bag.
Kingman 26
9/18/2009-11:35am at 11:35 am (UTC -4)
Could not agree more…I think there was one rainout, as we went 10–1 against those jerks in the regular season.
I thought we had it won too.
That damn Scioscia homer was a dagger too.
But for me, I think 1987 was as bad. If McDowell had not given up that homer to Pendleton, we would have swept that weekend and roared to a second straight title.
metsfan4decades
9/18/2009-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
Yes, I hated the way ’87 ended too, but I was never confident it was happening b/c of the injuries to the pitching staff that year.
Coming off ’86 I had such high hopes of a dynasty in the making. Went to opening day at Shea in ’87 thinking ‘let’s get this party started’!
Little did I know – would find out years later when it all came out – that Met team was doing just that, partying a little too hard (big understatement) and it all just fell apart.
fongy2
9/18/2009-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
Worse was the 4 pitch walk to a no threat of a hitter to
lead off the inning a batter before that,setting Scicosia
up to be the Dodgers hero.
As for ’87, yeah naybe, I too felt to air leave upon that
homer.
dirtysanchez
9/18/2009-11:04am at 11:04 am (UTC -4)
Well considering Orel’s resume..how much would he cost to bring him over. He would be a great addition but i doubt we will ever see him in on the mets..i mean hojo is still around. This team does not know how to find good help…and when they do, they get fired(rick downs anyone..). Good choice rus but i dont have any faith this team will take a flyer on him, hell they want manuel and omar to come back…
Mr North Jersey
9/18/2009-11:06am at 11:06 am (UTC -4)
The truth hurts. Can I have the sugar coated version instead?
trs86
9/18/2009-11:14am at 11:14 am (UTC -4)
We will see if they come back. At this point, I believe nothing anyone says. Hell I don’t know what to believe. After 2 years of being jerked around I am gun shy to believe anything the Mets or the press says.
metsfan4decades
9/18/2009-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
Agree 100%. I think we’ll find out very early in October what the Wilpons REALLY think.
fongy2
9/18/2009-1:05pm at 1:05 pm (UTC -4)
They think “Must get back to being able to play meaningful games
in September” Not Winning BUT “Playing meaning games in September”
stickguy
9/18/2009-11:07am at 11:07 am (UTC -4)
I would love Orel as the pitching coach. Warthan, like Jerry, gives no outward indication he brings anything positive to the table.
Not sure about manager though. I would actually like a fresh face (Teufel), and Orel fits the bill, but I would really rather get someone with at least a few years exeprience in the minors. Must be Willie on the brain! But, if Orel means no Jerry, then I am in.
Heres a radical idea, that should appeal to the Wilpons if they really are low on cash. Can HoJo and Warthen, and just make Keith and Ronnie the PC and HC.
But, don’t bring them on the field. Have them do it from the booth (you know they have to bite their tongues sometiems, right?) They can spot what needs to happen, and send word down, and hang around during practice time, and still call the games.
talk about a win/win/win!
And no, I was not totally serious, although I think Ronnie could make a fine pitching coach if he wanted to.
fongy2
9/18/2009-11:12am at 11:12 am (UTC -4)
If nothing else, Mex should be asked to help Murphy out defensively @1B in spring
training.
metsfan4decades
9/18/2009-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
The other night in the SNY booth during the game – Ronnie was talking about Parnell and his pitch selection in that 4th inning – and everything that was wrong with it. He then made an off handed comment something like – “that’s why they wouldn’t want me down there as pitching coach. None of them would like what I had to say about some of these performances”…..
fongy2
9/18/2009-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
They wouldn’t want the pay cut anyway!
wannybackstra
9/18/2009-3:35pm at 3:35 pm (UTC -4)
If Orel doesn’t want to coach here next season maybe we can convince him to pitch. At least he’ll give an honest thoughtful effort unlike Parnell and Ollie who refuse to throw the ball near the plate and have no clue how to do anything more than throw.
wannybackstra
9/18/2009-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
And since this topic relates to coaching and managment, I figure I’ll bring up the point in the game at which I turned the channel:
Jerry having Figgy bunt with runners on 1st and third and one out early in a tie game.
I know he’s trying to avoid the doubleplay there but for crying out loud could you please try to win the game at that point in time? (paging Herman Edwards, Coach Edwards) Maybe put the runner in motion?
Even better, if you want to avoid the double play, it’s a perfect time for a squeeze.