As many of you already know the Dbacks have hired a bunch of flashy names to help out Kirk Gibson in the clubhouse. The all-star cast includes:
Kirk Gibson: Manager
Alan Trammel: Bench Coach
Don Baylor: Hitting Coach
Charles Nagy: Pitching Coach
Eric Young: First Base Coach
Matt Williams: Third Base Coach
The 4 new additions (Trammel, Baylor, Nagy and Young) have “11 All-Star appearances, 7 Silver Slugger awards, 4 Gold Glove awards, 2 World Series championships, 1 World Series MVP, 1 Regular Season MVP, and 1 Manager of the Year award.”
As the Mets appear to have finalized one piece of the puzzle for 2011 and beyond, what names will Sandy look to fill Mets clubhouse?
Multiple reports have Alderson as the type of guy who does not believe in spending a ton of money on a manager. Those same sources also go back and forth on Wally Backman being the leading candidate for manager. Lets assume for a moment that Wally B is the new manager. Will Sandy look to surround him with experience the same way the Dbacks have surrounded a relative newbie in Gibson?
So lets have a little fun in the comment section. First you can answer the question should the Mets look to fill these spots with an “all-star” lineup or perhaps find the next “all-star” coaches? Second, have a little fun in coming up with your own all-star cast.
59 comments
GravediggerHebner
10/27/2010-11:15am at 11:15 am (UTC -4)
I see that picture and my first thought is “who ordered the snake pizza?”
Prismo
10/27/2010-11:17am at 11:17 am (UTC -4)
Silly, but:
Keith Hernandez: Manager
Alex Cora? Can pay him less than $2MM and don’t even have to see him on the field…: Bench Coach
Mike Piazza: Hitting Coach
Ron Darling: Pitching Coach
Doesn’t matter – maybe HoJo can do it if they insist on keeping him: First Base Coach
Also doesn’t really matter: Third Base Coach
Yeah, I picked all former-Mets. Let’s face it, I don’t know all these big name potential coaches around the league.
stickguy
10/27/2010-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
type of guys for coach really depends on who the manager is.
But, if they do hire a Wally, then I would expect to see an older, experienced, settling presence for bench coach. Not him, but even someone like Davy Johnson.
rest of them I just want someone good at the job, no need for “all star” names!
TRS86
10/27/2010-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
OK I will give it a try as you guys know I want to.
Ryno… manager
Hale… bench coach
Hojo… 3B (he’s gonna be here somewhere and it’s not like he’s a bad guy, just a terrible hitting coach)
Milt Thompson… hitting coach (slap in the face of the Phillies)
Mookie… 1B
Orel… pitching coach (that’s for you 4D –ducks–)
metsfan4decades
10/27/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Orel….UGH.
kistics
10/27/2010-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
who’s ryno?
Prismo
10/27/2010-12:29pm at 12:29 pm (UTC -4)
Ryne Sandberg
kistics
10/27/2010-12:32pm at 12:32 pm (UTC -4)
Nevermind.. got it
wannybackstra
10/27/2010-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
For one thing it seems highly unlikely that Alderson would favor a small ball manager like Wally Backman (see especially the article that Prismo linked from ESPN).
For another thing, it has always been my impression that great players have made for lousy managers. And from that I will speculate they have made for lousy coaches.
There are few Frank Robinsons and mentioned in the managerial class of crappy, average or non-player managers like Larussa, Scoscia, Weaver, Alston, etc.
I say find the best coaches not the biggest names. Anything else is just silly.
fongy2
10/27/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
Agreed!….The only caveat is our ball-park, which in some ways dictates having to have guys who can run and field.
I’d think THAT would be pretty obvious to Mr.Alderson.
TRS86
10/27/2010-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
Thanks for your time. LOL.
I too don’t really care who they hire as long as they produce. Thought we might have a little fun though. I did think it was an interesting move by the Dbacks and thus the thought did cross my mind if the Mets were to do this who would it be? That’s all.
wannybackstra
10/27/2010-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
Sorry. I thought I was just answering your question.
TRS86
10/27/2010-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
I was just laughing at the silly part. I agree choosing some all-star player cast for the Mets manager is a silly and useless activity. However, that’s what we do for much of our day. LOL.
fongy2
10/27/2010-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
Clint Hurdle???….With my Favorite Alltime Met Lee Maz as
Bench Coach?…Hojo Returning As Baserunning/Infield/1B coach?
Milt Thompson as Hitting Coach?…Chip Hale returns as 3B Coach?………
TRS86
10/27/2010-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Not bad.
fongy2
10/27/2010-11:38am at 11:38 am (UTC -4)
Man am I late to this Alderson hiring. If it is a done deal then great
job by Mr.Wilpon!….Very sage,experienced guy whos seen and been
part of it all over the past 30 yrs. Great job! I think there’s a big difference b/t getting a call from Alderson as opposed to Omar.
Certainly would think it carries alot more weight and makes one sit-up
a little. As for this Mgr/Coaching thing, when I saw the staff hired yesterday by Gibson, I was like “Wow”!….Friggin’ Allstar staff indeed.
However, is this really an allstar “Coaching” staff or just former Allstar
players now coaching. Frankly, I don’t care who our next Mgr and his
Coaches are…..I’ll put my full trust and faith in Sandy…..For Now.
TRS86
10/27/2010-11:45am at 11:45 am (UTC -4)
I thought the same thing fongy and that is why I came up with this post. I have no idea if it will equal success or not and I do agree with Wanny that good players certainly don’t have a track record as good coaches. Just sparked my interest though.
fongy2
10/27/2010-11:50am at 11:50 am (UTC -4)
I’m with ya!…..It has always fascinated me as a subject in sports.
The alltime great Managers,head coaches/coaches are almost
always the scrubbini’s of the last generation.
metsfan4decades
10/27/2010-12:03pm at 12:03 pm (UTC -4)
I really have no idea what Sandy’s coaching staff will look like. Like others, the only thing I do know is what I’ve been reading – which is he doesn’t believe in high profile/big bucks type of manager as he thinks it’s a bad use of payroll $$s.
What I do hope though is whoever is hired for manager, it’s of Sandy’s choosing and it truly is a ‘Wilpon’s hands off’ type of philosophy now. I’m sure we all don’t want to be reading about rumors that Sandy wanted candidate A for manager but the Wilpon’s wanted candidate B and wouldn’t let him hire who he wanted for the job.
fongy2
10/27/2010-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
I could be wrong BUT I don’t think we have to worry about that
with Mr.Alderson. I don’t think they’ll be Bagels and Coffee on the
north shore with Francesca on Saturday mornings or late night
cell phone calls to pet members of print press.
I have to believe that given his experience and background Mr.Alderson will operate as a professional and make sure those
he surrounds himself with will do likewise.
rustyjr
10/27/2010-12:11pm at 12:11 pm (UTC -4)
Ok this should be the list
Manager : mike Cubbage
Bench coach bob Bailor
Pitching coach – mike torrez
Bullpen coach Doug sisk
First base coach Jose Cardenal
Third base coach Razor Shines
Base running instructor – Lenny Harris
fongy2
10/27/2010-12:16pm at 12:16 pm (UTC -4)
Ha, ha….Good one Rustoleum!
rustyjr
10/27/2010-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
Bows
fongy2
10/27/2010-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
BUT …. I think you forgot Chico Walker as Hitting Coach….
rustyjr
10/27/2010-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
Actually the job belongs to Ron hodges
kingman 26
10/27/2010-12:26pm at 12:26 pm (UTC -4)
Attitude Coach–Lenny Randle
Hustle Coach-Richie Hebner
Hitting Coach–Ted Martinez (had a .254 OBP in 347 PA one year!!)
Pitching Coach–Mark Bomback
Community Relations Coach–Vince Coleman
Media Relations Coaches–Bobby Bonilla and Eddie Murray
Fight Coachs–Bud Harrelson and Kevin Mitchell
Health and Safety Coach/Umpire Relations Coach–Roberto Alomar
Family Values Coach–Francisco Rodriguez
Personal Finance Coach–Lenny Dykstra
Bullpen Behavior Coach–David Cone
njstuckintx
10/27/2010-12:30pm at 12:30 pm (UTC -4)
Would fight coaches or Hustle coach double as grit coordinator?
And no honorable mention to Ray knight’s ability to sucker punch Eric Davis as an assistant fight coach?
GravediggerHebner
10/27/2010-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
Pumped that both my Metsblog screen names (Bomback & Hebner) made your staff!
Prismo
10/27/2010-12:43pm at 12:43 pm (UTC -4)
what does your screenname mean anyway?
kingman 26
10/27/2010-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
Ah, youth!
Richie Hebner dug graves in the offseason to supplement his income in the 1970s!!
Prismo
10/27/2010-12:56pm at 12:56 pm (UTC -4)
Hey…I’m almost a quarter of a century old!
kingman 26
10/27/2010-12:59pm at 12:59 pm (UTC -4)
Oy.
Well, I like to think that I am the youngest 44-year-old on the planet.
As a wise man once said, “You are only young once, but you can be immature forever.”
GravediggerHebner
10/27/2010-12:48pm at 12:48 pm (UTC -4)
On the back one of Richie Hebner’s baseball cards, possibly 1979 but I’m not sure, was a drawing of a guy with a shovel in front of a headstone and the note “in the off season Hebner works as a grave digger at his family’s cemetery” or words to that effect.
Prismo
10/27/2010-12:57pm at 12:57 pm (UTC -4)
Thank you! And here I thought you worked in a cemetary.
GravediggerHebner
10/27/2010-1:03pm at 1:03 pm (UTC -4)
What made it stand out even more to me was that he was from New Hampshire so he was doing this in New England winters. I didn’t envy him that’s for sure.
Lots of ballplayers had off season jobs then but grave digging stood out as unique. I recall many of them sold cars. Can you imagine watching some middling player on your favorite team and then later that year buying a car from him? Better than having him dig your grave.
fongy2
10/27/2010-12:39pm at 12:39 pm (UTC -4)
Health and safety coach-Alomar.
Cold bro!….LOL funny….BUT cold!
GravediggerHebner
10/27/2010-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
While I am familiar with them (Nagy was a starter on an old rotisserie team of mine when it was called that) but I hardly think Eric Young and Chuck Nagy are flashy names. The other guys I would say are more widely known.
What I think this shows me is either these guys really just love baseball or MLB just didn’t pay that well comparatively when these guys played so they need money. Probably a combination of those things.
But in honor of playing along here is my totally fabricated staff (and by fabricated I mean I have no idea if any of these guys have even ever coached or would be interested in coaching):
Manager – Tony Pena
Bench Coach – Rich Gedman
Hitting Coach – Eddie Murray
Pitching Coach – Charlie Hough
1B Coach – Frank White
3B Coach – Hubie Brooks
Guess what these guys all have in common?
njstuckintx
10/27/2010-12:31pm at 12:31 pm (UTC -4)
they end in “E”?
GravediggerHebner
10/27/2010-12:36pm at 12:36 pm (UTC -4)
They were all reserves in the ’86 All-Star game.
njstuckintx
10/27/2010-12:38pm at 12:38 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, unless you call Gedman “Richie” and Frank “Frankie”, my theory is shot.
GravediggerHebner
10/27/2010-12:44pm at 12:44 pm (UTC -4)
They both must have been referred to that way at some point in their lives so I think your theory is excellent. Very creative and humorous at least.
I think that some subliminal power was working with me as I assembled this list because now that I look at it again I think every one of these guys except Hubie has coached at some point. Not as far fetched as I initially thought.
Mr North Jersey
10/27/2010-12:28pm at 12:28 pm (UTC -4)
If I could for 1 month see a group of guys coach a team I would love to see this combo and see how they perform.
Edgardo Alfonzo — Manager
Tim Teufel — Bench coach
Pedro Martinez — Pitching coach
Charlie O’Brien — Bullpen coach
Sandy Alomar jr — First base coach
Wally Backman — Third base coach
Mr North Jersey
10/27/2010-12:46pm at 12:46 pm (UTC -4)
Here is the latest article by Lennon.
He says at one point,
Losers:
The rest of the NL East: The Mets’ days as a division doormat could be coming to a close. Alderson won’t make this franchise into a World Series contender overnight, but the Mets already are a better team than they were yesterday, and with the resources to rebuild, it shouldn’t take long.
http://mobile.newsday.com/inf/infomo;JSESSIONID=4301902B75A7331372D3.2956?site=newsday&view=sports_blogs_item&feed:a=newsday_5min&feed:c=sports_blogs&feed:i=1.2406085&nopaging=1
GravediggerHebner
10/27/2010-12:51pm at 12:51 pm (UTC -4)
“Losers: the rest of the NL East.” As a Mets fan I sure love reading that assessment.
metsfan4decades
10/27/2010-1:27pm at 1:27 pm (UTC -4)
Love it. Nothing but good news and high praise today all around.
Hope it translates into good things going forward.
Thanks for the whole story. I tried to read it before but alas, I’m not one of the privileged.
TRS86
10/27/2010-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
Not sure I agree or like this statement: “Fred Wilpon already followed the commissioner’s lead on just about everything from the slotting system to contracts, and that will now continue with Alderson at helm. “
kingman 26
10/27/2010-12:47pm at 12:47 pm (UTC -4)
Seriously:
Manager–Tim Teufel
Bench Coach–Wally Backman
First Base/Hitting Coach–Keith Hernandez
Third Base/Baserunning Coach–Mookie Wilson
Pitching Coach–Bob Ojeda
Bullpen Coach–Jesse Orosco
Nowhere Near the F*#^!*& Team Coach–Razor Shines
Prismo
10/27/2010-12:55pm at 12:55 pm (UTC -4)
It’s been announced on MLB.com
Why haven’t the Wilpons sent out an email yet? Now it’s more than official…
khmustache
10/27/2010-12:59pm at 12:59 pm (UTC -4)
unrelated, but bobby v is being reported to have signed with the brewers… willie, bobby v…. all they need is davey, jerry and art howe….
njstuckintx
10/27/2010-1:02pm at 1:02 pm (UTC -4)
Don’t forget the JACKET!!!!
GravediggerHebner
10/27/2010-1:07pm at 1:07 pm (UTC -4)
Despite a couple people who claim to have insider knowledge saying that Bobby V was on Alderson’s list of candidates I just couldn’t believe it would really happen. His going to the Brewers ensures it won’t.
IMO if the Mets had got some questionable GM the manager being big time solid would have been more important. With Sandy on board I don’t think the field manager needs to be a heavy hitter (Bobby V, Torre, Showalter, guys of that ilk).
metsfan4decades
10/27/2010-1:31pm at 1:31 pm (UTC -4)
Another plus, IMO:
Francessa just noted the Mets hiring of Alderson saying: ‘I don’t know him well at all. Don’t pretend to’.
Good. I can’t wait for the first Francessa/Alderson interview on WFAN where Francessa tries to bait him.
wannybackstra
10/27/2010-3:38pm at 3:38 pm (UTC -4)
First time Fatcessa has admitted to not knowing something/someone?
oleosmirf
10/27/2010-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
i read somewhere that Alderson brought in Tim Wallach for an interview when he was with San Diego. I wonder if he would be considered here.
njstuckintx
10/27/2010-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
Good question. I also wonder how soon he’ll interview. Hired on Friday, interviews on Tuesday? I’d like to see some quick action here, proving he has a plan and strategy.
TRS86
10/27/2010-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
“LOS ANGELES — Tim Wallach said he is no longer a candidate for the Brewers’ managerial job and remains the most likely candidate to be third-base coach for new Dodgers manager Don Matttingly.
Wallach was notified Monday by the Brewers that he was out of the running to replace Ken Macha. Wallach, who managed the Dodgers’ Triple-A Albuquerque affiliate the past two years, recently signed a two-year deal with the Dodgers to be on the Major League coaching staff. The deal allows him to interview for managing jobs with a limited number of teams.
The Brewers were one of those teams. Toronto was refused permission to interview Wallach for its manager’s job because the Blue Jays are not on the list of teams Wallach submitted. He said he is “not interviewing anymore.”
metsfan4decades
10/27/2010-1:49pm at 1:49 pm (UTC -4)
I’m reading the Brewers and Bobby V. have a verbal agreement for Bobby to take over as manager.
GravediggerHebner
10/27/2010-3:00pm at 3:00 pm (UTC -4)
In SD during their last search for a manager then GM Kevin Towers brought in 6 candidates, then whittled those 6 down to 3 to have in for 2nd interviews which Alderson would take part in as team president.
Those 3 finalists were Bud Black, who got the job, Dusty Baker, who is now Reds manager, and Trey Hillman who has subsequently managed the Royals but I believe is currently unemployed.
The 3 guys who didn’t make Towers initial cut were SF Giants coach Ron Wotus, Cardinals coach Jose Oquendo, and Wallach.
wannybackstra
10/27/2010-3:37pm at 3:37 pm (UTC -4)
Well, Oquendo is not quite the hero Wally Backman was but is certainly a former Met! I’m fairly certain Larussa has stumped for him over the years,