OK so now that Saint Joseph Of The Bronx Bombers has revealed that he will not be back withthe Dodgers next season, both the blogosphere and the twitterverse is abuzz withboth rumor and speculation that his next destination will about two miles from Laguardia Airport. That’s right , if you believe all the rumor and conjecture, Joe Torre is bound to succeed Jerry Manuel as the next manager of our New York Mets. Yeah and if you believe that I have a flame throwing left handed pitcher named Ollie that I’m willing to let go for just a dollar !. No I am sorry but I cannot see Joe returning to the place where his managerial career first took root. First off I feel whomever the General Manger is next season – whether it is Omar Minaya, Kevin Towers or whoever it maybe will want to have his own choice in place – and Joe might not be considered the first choice for the job.
Secondly The Mets generally do a 180 degree turn when they choose their managers. Case in point is when the Mets fired Bobby Valentine who was a extremely animated, firey and cocky son of a bitch with the so laid back most people thought he was dead Art Howe. Willie Randolph was more of a quietly intense kind of manager and they replaced him with the extroverted and loose Jerry Manuel. So I have to see the Mets going with the firey type of manager again like a Wally Backman, Larry Bowa or yes even a second coming of of Bobby V.
Third off I think the price of Joe would scare Jeff and Fred Wilpon away. The last two Mets managers were paid mere pittances in contrast to Torre who is the highest paid manager in the game today. Yes I know Bobby Valentine will command a high salary but he is both younger and I think he has the hunger to win where as Joe has already proven himself as a winning manager who doesn’t need to prove anything.
Lastly I still do believe there might be some bad blood on Joe’s end from being fired back in ’81. Joe only spent two seasons under the Ownership of Doubleday/Wilpon ownership but I am sure the hurt still lingers.
So will Joe Torre be the next manager of the Mets . I highly doubt it. But whoever will be the next manager of this team, he will have a uphill battle to make this team a contender once again.
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Today would have been the 85th birthday for Mets pitching coach , Harvey Haddix (1925) He was with the team in 1963.
Mets starting pitcher from ’80-’83,Scott Holman is 52 (1958)
Middle reliever from the ’94 team, Roger Mason is 52 (1958) .
Sadly on this date in 1982 Mets coach and minor leauge manager,Clyde McCullough passed away.
New York Mets purchased pitcher, Dean Chance from the Cleveland Indians on September 18, 1970.
Mo Vaughn was extremely pissed off when he saw that Mama’s of Corona closed down early last night ! He was really in the mood for about 10 of their famous sausage and pepper heros. It is safe to say Mo was not in a good mood !
And it’s almost time to celebrate ! Yes that’s right – there are just 14 more games left until Jerry Manuel becomes the ex-manager of the New York Mets !!
9 comments
oleosmirf
9/18/2010-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
Torre is not happening. doesnt make sense for either party. Santana is likely out for most of next season so the chances of us being a playoff team already is low.
the big question is will ownership try to fool themselves into believing they can win and make more terrible FA signings or will they go with a young, inexperienced team and maybe overachieve.
CaseStreet
9/18/2010-12:06pm at 12:06 pm (UTC -4)
I haven’t read any rumors but I have to believe Torre has to be on the shortlist for the next Mets manager mainly because after the last few years taking a risk on Willie and Jerry who were low prestige managers, the Wilpons will want to bring back a sense of “class” to the Mets manager. IMO, Torre will bring back a sense of professionalism that Valentine or Backman can’t.
metsfan4decades
9/18/2010-12:52pm at 12:52 pm (UTC -4)
Joe Torre is not the way to go, IMO. The money should be spent on the best GM they can find. We don’t need to spend millions on the next manager.
stickguy
9/18/2010-1:12pm at 1:12 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t see it, and certainly don’t want it.
for 1 thing, Joe has given off the vibe that he is all about money, and wants a gimme to work with. That is, at age 70, he does not really want to “work” at the job.
Plus, being 70, it is hard to see him as a LT building kind of guy. He would be a better fit for a team that has all the parts, is likely on it’s last 1-2 years of a window before imploding, and is just missing that presence to give it credibility.
Mets need someone that wants to get their hands dirty, building the team up the right way, and wants to be around to drive the bus a few years from now too. Joe is probably looking for 1 more free shot at a quick ring, and of course a major pile of cash, neither one of which the Mets in the next couple years are likely to offer him.
Besides, can’t we try for a manager that actually knows how to use a BP for a change? And Joe never was a good strategic guy.
He was willie, with the ability to smooze the media and not be paranoid.
rustyjr
9/18/2010-1:26pm at 1:26 pm (UTC -4)
Well put ! It’s the Clift notes version of my point lol
metsfan4decades
9/18/2010-1:37pm at 1:37 pm (UTC -4)
Also, I wasn’t keen on Mattingly either so glad to see he’s not in the mix. I think that was all set up for him anyway. Torre took Don with him out to Dodger land as both knew Torre wasn’t going to be their long term and he probably saw it as his best chance at his first mangerial gig. So good for him.
I don’t want to see Bobby V as the next manager either. I agree with sticks opinion above. Bobby V is going to cost a ton and that money could be better well spent – namely in the form of the next GM.
kingman 26
9/18/2010-2:09pm at 2:09 pm (UTC -4)
No chance, no way, no how; Rusty you are right on the money.
Torre is like Phil Jackson at this point, and IF he decides to manage again, it will be somewhere where he can be overpaid and inherit a team ready to win. That is most definitely not the Met situation, and all signs also point to the Wilpons most definitely not paying the huge managerial sum Torre will surely demand.
Torre did a good job with the Dodgers for sure, and was clearly better with the Cards–and MUCH better with the Braves–than given credit for, but his resume largely consists of guiding a franchise which had an incredible farm system in the mid-90s, the highest payroll and probably the highest percentage of drug cheats to 4 rings.
Nothing about Torre shows him to be a manager suited to maximize young/questionable talent and/or motivate underachievers. If he was hired in the spring of 2007, that might have made sense. For 2011 it makes zero sense.
Bobby V is clearly the man for the job, and if the Wilpons won’t pay him, taking a flier on Wally or Teufel or even Gary Carter would be the next best bet.
Torre speculation is ridiculous media drivel.
stickguy
9/18/2010-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
the carter option is actually growing on me. I do have a soft spot for former catchers as managers.
And whoever did that analysis a few weeks ago came up with what, 9 out of 32 managers were former catchers?
kingman 26
9/18/2010-3:40pm at 3:40 pm (UTC -4)
Pretty sure it was Grave–who else?
Carter could be the sleeper excellent option, and I must admit that that piece was eye-opening.
Scioscia, Bochy, Girardi, Leyland, Maddon—hell, even Torre started out as a catcher.