News: Minaya Waiting on Jaramillo
Last week at his blog for ESPN.com, Peter Gammons wrote that 
should hire Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo, among other moves, in an effort to help improve for next season.
Today, in the Daily News, Adam Rubin explains why the Mets will not finalize Willie Randolph‘s coaching staff until Jaramillo’s contact expires at the end of the month.
Minaya recently told reporters that he is likely to bring back most of the team’s current coaching staff.
For more on Jaramillo, check out this report in the Sporting News from 2004, which, among other comments, reads…
“Jaramillo inspires such reaction because of a never-ending work ethic, complete belief in his players’ ability, adaptability and a method of teaching that is equal parts understanding hitting and understanding players.”
…also, from what i recall, he’s a disciplinarian, father-figure type, especially when it comes to the younger latino players…
Of course, last season, as reported in USA Today, Jaramillo was suspended for his role during Frank Francisco’s chair-throwing brawl with fans in Oakland.
…so, if he ends up in queens, i would suggest not booing him…
…nevertheless, this is a noteworthy maneuver, which will certainly push Howard Johnson back to coaching first base in place of Rickey Henderson…why…well, 1) jaramillo, and Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long, are widely considered the Rick Peterson of hitting coaches, in terms of how they are changing the way the job is done, but 2), and most important, jaramillo and Omar Minaya are close friends dating back to the mid-80s, and, if you recall, jaramillo was a top candidate for the managerial job at shea before it went to willie, which would suggest that jaramillo could be willie’s obvious, some-day replacement, while sitting next to him on the bench all season…ummm, awkward…
