If you haven’t heard by now (which would mean you must be under a rock) the Mets have hired former A’s manager Bob Geren as their new bench coach. When you get right down to it the Mets & A’s swapped Bob Geren for Chip Hale as Hale left the Mets to go be the bench coach for Bob Melvin who replaced Geren after Geren was fired back on June 9th in the midst of a season high 9 game losing streak.
Before his firing Geren had been publicly criticized back on May 23rd by his closer at the time Brian Fuentes after losing a game 4-1 to the Angels in which Fuentes was charged with the loss after being asked to come in and pitch the 8th inning. After the game Fuentes who with that loss was now 0-4 over his last 4 appearances while sporting a very high 13.50/ERA in that span aired his frustrations to the media saying,
That soon followed with another former player Huston Street who was now pitching with the Rockies chiming in as well saying,
It was not just players that spoke publicly but coaches as well. Former A’s coach Bob Schaefer who was fired after 1 season on Geren’s staff said the following,
In a season in which a lot of trust and communication was built between the players and Collins who himself had his battles with his former players that led him to resign back in 1999 when he was the Angels manager you have to wonder if hiring Geren was the best move.
11 comments
Anonymous
10/15/2011-12:40am at 12:40 am (UTC -4)
the bench coach is just there to support the manager, feed him stats, give opinions, etc. i don’t think there is much need for him to communicate with the players, that’s up to Collins.
Besides, it is one guy saying that. Odds are, plenty of other players liked him just fine.
Mr North Jersey
10/15/2011-12:58am at 12:58 am (UTC -4)
Just for the sake of curiosity Stick, let’s say Collins is ejected from a game in 2012. Who do you think will manage the rest of the game Teufel or Geren?
Anonymous
10/15/2011-2:16am at 2:16 am (UTC -4)
Geren. I assume you are going with the idea that he is a bad communicator, but that to me isn’t really about in game times, but outside the lines. Setting roles, stuff like that. Nothing that would make a whole lot of difference for finishing out a game here or there.
Mr North Jersey
10/15/2011-2:46am at 2:46 am (UTC -4)
Normally I believe it’s the bench coach but I was wondering if Collins would leave who he may have a better relationship with as manager and was wondering if that was the case would he choose Teufel over Geren?
I’m probably over-thinking it in fact I know I am so thanks for the reply. I’ll put this one to bed and move on.
Anonymous
10/15/2011-1:42am at 1:42 am (UTC -4)
I’d of preferred Bowa or Riggleman but if our season goes badly I myself am not going to sit back and say “damn that Geren and his lack of communication as a bench coach this is why we’re losing”. If it comes down to Geren playing a key role in wins and losses then it will be a first for the position of bench coach. They may have just chosen Geren since he was a catcher as a player and they want someone to work with Thole who played the position. I doubt it, but I really can’t get that worked up over a bench coach hiring. He’ll have earned his keep just by getting Hale away from Wright and those ludicrous sidearm throws.
TRS86
10/15/2011-1:54am at 1:54 am (UTC -4)
Words from an underperforming miscast closer, another closer who was disgruntled that he was traded and a guy that got fired. We can trust their words or just trhere Sandy. Besides, it’s a bench coach.
Anonymous
10/15/2011-2:17am at 2:17 am (UTC -4)
agreed.
Mr North Jersey
10/15/2011-2:34am at 2:34 am (UTC -4)
Valid points by all and as been said already he is just a bench coach. The concern is but a slight one at best mostly due to the apparent trend of people so publicly stating their dislikes about Geren that I don’t often see.
Hopefully Geren will be a good addition proving his worth to the staff and fitting right in.
MetsFan4Decades
10/15/2011-4:14pm at 4:14 pm (UTC -4)
I kind of hoping they’d hire Riggleman but I’m sure they had their reasons for hiring Geren instead. Has HazMet said, can’t really get too worked up about it.
Anonymous
10/15/2011-9:06pm at 9:06 pm (UTC -4)
Meh, really holding out until we can start getting some of the more important Met updates I.E. Jose Reyes and perhaps even a FA acquisition of a closer.
Anonymous
10/16/2011-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
Better stock up on beer and snacks, it’s going to take a while!