In a post to Mets Police, Shannon Shark explains why Bobby Valentine is the only man for the manager’s job in 2010.
Actually, I have been thinking a lot about 
Valentine, as well, ever since he officially announced on his blog that he will not be returning to Japan. Yes, he has his own blog.
The thing is, I am not sure Jerry Manuel has done anything to warrant being fired. Frankly, I think he’s done an admirable job navigating through this 2009 injury-storm.
As I have written before, the way I understand it, Omar Minaya and Manuel are tied to the hip. In short, if Minaya is ever fired, the new GM will hold Manuel’s future in his hand. But, under no circumstance will Minaya be firing Manuel.
In a poll on MetsBlog.com in June, 97 percent of 5,000 voters said they still have a positive view of Valentine.
I love Bobby V, too. I think he’s brilliant, albeit avante garde and controversial, he’s entertaining, he’s unique, he’s feisty, players either love him or hate him and because of this he seems to get the most out everyone – including us.
Reporters and baseball people often ask ask me why I like Bobby V so much, seeing as he never won a World Series while with the Mets. And that’s the thing, think about it: he lost to the freakin’ Yankees in the World Series… the Yankees… in a World Series… yet, 97 percent of us still like him. I mean, you need to be a pretty special personality to pull off losing to the Yankees, and the Braves, yet retain that level of goodwill. Look, it’s pretty simple: he’s an underdog, he’s unique, he’s a fighter and he wears his passion on his sleeve, just like we do, and so I think he connects with fans in a way that most managers do not – including Manuel, Joe Torre, and others.
That said, for the most part, Valentine seems to work best with disciplined, selfless talent, most of whom are primed to buy in to his style of play. For instance, I think David Wright would do well with Valentine, but I think Jose Reyes would struggle. So, if the Mets intend to rely on the Gary Sheffields of the world, the Carlos Delgado, Valentine should never return. However, if the Mets plan to build a team around hit-and-runs, less power and more doubles in the gap, timely stolen bases, bunting, a versatile bullpen, and basically play chess on a baseball field, Valentine is the best man for the job.
Last month, during an interview with ESPN 1050, Michael Kay asked Valentine if he would ever manage the Mets again.
Valentine did not answer the question directly, of course, though he was sure to say Manuel is a good manager for this team.
However, he did point out that his departure from the Mets was ‘not bad at all,’ noting the ‘personalities’ who he had issues with, and who had issues with him, are no longer with the organization.
From what I can gather, this is true. In talking with people close to the team, I believe ownership and Minaya still like Valentine, and continue to have a good relationship with him. It sounds to me like he and Minaya have remained remained in contact, as their relationship goes back a long, long way.
The thing is, a) the Mets have a manager they like, though they’re not against change, and b) ultimately, I sense the Mets view Valentine as a part of their past; so if they do make a change, they’ll be more inclined to move forward, not back.
This seems like a ringing endorsement of Bobby V:
So, if the Mets intend to rely on the Gary Sheffields of the world, the Carlos Delgado, Valentine should never return. However, if the Mets plan to build a team around hit-and-runs, less power and more doubles in the gap, timely stolen bases, bunting, a versatile bullpen, and basically play chess on a baseball field, Valentine is the best man for the job.
Let’s see: we can build an athletic team perfect for Citi Field or rely on 35+ aging, injury-prone sluggers on the downside. Think I know which direction I’ll go.
Valentine or Tony LaRussa should be the only options for the Mets next season. I like Jerry Manual but he is an American League manager and he still is attached to the last two collapses. It is certainly time to move on and as I’ve said many times “GUT – out” the entire organization starting with the GM and down.
Good lord, please not that Zima-drinking loser LaRussa. That guy is such a clown and has such thin skin, he wouldn’t last two weeks in NY. He challenges those tough St. Louis reporters to fights, imagine him and those tinted glasses at night in NY.
On the plus side, we could finally get some Mets on steroids.
I’m not a Manuel fan, but I want no part of LaRussa.
LaRussa wears tinted glasses because he suffers from migraines and the kleig lights of the stadiums bother him. It has nothing to do with striking some sort of pose.
LaRussa has proven he can successfully manage an underachieving team to a WS win and has done so in both the NL and AL. He ranks 3rd in managerial wins in baseball – behind Connie Mack and John McGraw (Cox is 5th and Torre is 10th – Valentine is 45th)
With LaRussa comes Dave Duncan – and I would LOVE to see what Dave Duncan could do with Ollie Perez, Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese.
Finally, LaRussa is a big boy and knows what he would be getting into should he choose to come to New York. If he does, the Mets would be fools not to welcome him with open arms.
see, that’s what I don’t get: what in the wide, wide world of sports does LaRussa have to gain by coming to this orginization? he’s rich, he’s beloved where he is, he’s resppected throughout the game, and he’s a champion with nothing to prove…what does this orginization offer him, other than hyper scrutiny and dysfunction? I just don’t see it.
Oh I agree – if LaRussa comes to NY, it’s because he will choose to do so more than anything the Mets could offer him. That’s why I think he will know full well what he’s getting into if he chooses to come here.
One reason I can think of is the challenge of managing a NY-based team and winning a WS for a NY team before he retires. And of course the increased commercial revenue opportunities for him. But those are probably not great incentives.
Here’s the answer to your question:
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
I don’t think money alone is enough of a reason. Or rather, I don’t think he’d be offered enough (ie: an offer he can’t refuse) for it to be enough of a reason.
more for the challenge then the money
So if Mets scratch out a run or two in Game 7 of NLCS and beat Cards, if LaRussa still the genius you (and he) claim him to be?
Otherwise, he’s known as someone who routinely lost to heavy underdogs in big spots.
That’s why pointing to postseason success as a barometer for a good manager is ridiculous. In fact, it’s why calling someone a “good manager” is ridiculous in and of itself.
Hey, he got swept by the Red Sox the year before and I still would want him as manager.
I know LaRussa is sometimes referred to derisively as “the genius” but he is what he is. Some fans like him, some don’t. To me, he’s proven himself a winner and he’s a creatives (sometimes too creative) guy who knows how to manage a bullpen and his starting rotation effectively. Plus he seems to be able to get mediocre players to overachieve.
If Valentine ends up coming on board I won’t complain, but I’d prefer LaRussa.
And you know what else can cause migraines? Throwing at somebody’s head, like LaRussa was all on board with yesterday.
LaRussa was NOT on board in regards to the head throwing incident.
Even St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa didn’t defend his pitcher, saying the Cards were attempting to pitch Wright inside but “you shouldn’t throw the ball up there.” Said LaRussa, “I’m not happy with Brad Thompson there.”
Right. And he still doesn’t believe Mark McGwire took steroids.
what would be the point of him saying Mark McGuire was on steroids when it hasnt been proven yet?
By that same token then, has anyone asked Bobby if he believes Piazza took steroids?
Hey, it was what it was. Thank Bud Selig for setting the tone.
Heres something I never mentioned on this site but I feel I should considering I knew the Mike Piazza thing and steroid rumors would come out eventually… I’ve met Mike Piazza many times and I know people very close to him -Knowing how religious Mike is and how ethical and proud his family is I would be shocked if he was on steroids. Shocked. I used to go to church with Mike before Met home games on Sundays at Shea Stadium in the Old NY Jets locker room. His personal priest,the same guy who baptized his kid and married Mike and his wife is my God father. The same priest and now Bishop still conducts Sunday mass before games at Citi Field. I’ve been told by him that Mike has denied the use of steroids to him – unless Mike lies to priests lol.. he hasnt done steroids..
…and people said the exact same thing about Andy Petite and Clemens. I love Mike, but I would be not at all surprised.
I’m not even going to comment on that…Did you even read what I wrote lol
Who said that about Clemens and Pettite????
Ok, why would you like BV as a METS fan? Let us count the ways, who could forget the grandslam single? Piazza’s HR after 911? The Subway Series? Back to back playoff’s? Todd Pratt’s HR? Timo Perez? I mean when I think of the “good old days” It is mostly the BV era. He had the best infield at the time, andm git th emost out of players we never heard of like, Benny Agbayani. He managed the team out of the darkness and into the light as a true contender. I have no problem with Jerry, pre say, but, he was part of the 2006 loss as well as the 2007 and 2008 debacles. He did NOT manage in 06 or 07, but , he was still in the dugout, setting the tone. Would BV be a step back into the past? YES, Is that a bad thing? That remains to be seen. I would love to see him be given a chance. Thats my two cents.
Okay, maybe Jerry Manuel shouldn’t be fired. But he definitely shouldn’t be the team’s manager. Move him to a role he’s ideally suited for: bench coach. He hasn’t had much to work with this year, true, but he’s been lousy at setting lineups and miserable at managing a bullpen.
If you give a kid 4 LEGOs and tell him to build a house, you can’t really expect him to do a great job. But if he’s just sticking the LEGOs up his nose, does it really give you the impression that he’d do a better job if you gave him the whole box?
That is hysterical and the best analogy I’ve heard regarding Manuel
Absolutely a hilarious and perfectly appropriate analogy. Simply brilliant.
If the Wilpons are as susceptible to fan/public opinion as people say they are, I’d be surprised if they kept Omar and by extension, Jerry on board next year.
They can justify firing Omar by saying he simply did not deliver on what he promised when he first came on board at the end of 2004. Even with all the injuries this year, Omar promised the Mets in the WS by 2007 and for 2 straight seasons, they fell short. And as Omar goes, so goes Jerry.
Of course, the Wilpons extended Omar’s contract last year despite his failure to deliver. But if Bobby V ends up going to the Nats or the Cards while the Wipons stick with Omar (and Omar sticks with Jerry), then there will be a tremendous amount of pressure on Omar and Jerry to deliver a WS ring in 2010. Plus I suspect that fans will adopt a wait-and-see attitude before buying/renewing any ticket plans with the current crew at the helm.
As a season ticket holder you are right on balls accurate about this statement:
“Plus I suspect that fans will adopt a wait-and-see attitude before buying/renewing any ticket plans with the current crew at the helm.”
funny you should mention that. I live up in Vermont, to get down to a game takes a whole day of driving, plus, gas, tolls, parking, food and tickets to the game, IT AINT CHEAP, In 2006 I took my family to around 5 games, including game 1 of the NLDS, it was AWSOME !!! I bought seson tickets Saturday Plan, in 2007, My wife still yells at me today for spending the money on that. After the collapse, I did NOT attend a single game in 2008 and have only been to one game thsi season. The First Game Ever, Friday Night against the Rd Sox, a game we won 4-3. I cant see spending my hard earned money and time, to see a team that underdelivers and finds ways to lose games. When they change the attitude of the team and managemnet, perhaps, I will take th efamily on that long trek to CitiField again. Until that day I watch on TV and when things go downhill, I change the station, or, go to bed.
Matt:
How about a poll about who Mets WOULD LIKE to have manage the Mets in 2010….
__ Jerry Manuel
__ Bobby Valentine
__ Tony LaRussa
__ Other
I would bet that at least 85% would answer BV.
Matt should definitely put that poll up and send the results to Mets insiders.
Look, Jerry doesnt deserve to lose his job, but I’ll live with the team making one more mistake following a season with thousands of them, if it means we get one of the smartest managers in the game today to replace him.
Sure we’ll take a hit form the media, I say bring it on. Though he is a million times better than Randolph, Jerry is not gonna bring any championships home.
Bring Bobby V home.
You bring Bobby V back to NY and I’d say it takes less than a season for most Mets fans heralding his return to remember why he was ran out of town in the first place. Yes, ’99 and ’00 were magical seasons, but ’98 was a chokejob on the level of the level of the past two years, it took an alingment of the stars that happen once in a blue moon for us to claw our way back into the playoff picture in ’99 after having an absolutely pathetic September. 2001 was a lost season until the last few weeks of September. 2002 was an absolute embarassment punctuated by his god-awful “this is what a player looks like when he’s high” press conference.
Bobby V is another egomaniac who has a doghouse that’s as difficult to deciper as Manuel’s. Prior to 99, his team’s were notorious chokers which doesn’t bode well for this current group of guys. He likes to switch lineups on a whim. He notoriously gets under player’s skin. Yes, he got a team with Jay Payton, Timo Perez and Benny Agbayani to the playoffs, but he also had teams with very good starting pitching and fantastic bullpens that were stocked well enough even Willie could manage them.
Besides the fact the Wilpons are not going to bring this guy back into the fold considering how things ended the last time. This isn’t the Bronx, we’re not going to see Billy Martin and Lou Pinella 20 different times. The sooner Mets fans get this idea out of their heads, the better.
Interesting points, all. One would hope he’s gained some wisdom, having won in Japan, but the reverse could be true, that his ego has now doubled. Hmm.
Constnza I completely disagree with you about everything you said.
And maybe the Wilpons should start acting like “this is the Bronx” – I don’t see any problems over there as they compete for their 27th world championship.
Yeah because the Yankees were winning tons of WS in the 80s when they kept trying going back to the well with Martin and Pinella.
Bobby V is part of the past. We had some good years with him, some okay ones, and some unmitigated disasters. Fans were running Willie out of town last year when the team was around .500 – I could only imagine what would have been said on metsblog abotu Bobby V during the 2002 season, or when the team needed to win ONE game the last week of the season in ’98 to force a playoff game and couldn’t do it. And then they followed it up with another terrible Sept. in ’99 that took an outright miracle (thank you Brewers for beating the Reds when you had nothing to play for) to be negated.
Instead of rewriting history in order to relive our past, why don’t we have a clean break from it all. Bring in a fresh voice like a Paul DePodesta or whoever to run the FO who will then in term bring in a manager and coaching staff who share those principles. THAT’S how you rebuild the culture of this stupid team.
If I remember BV had Armando Beneitez as his closer? We ran him out of town and got Looper, what a huge improvment. BV was also plagued with Steve Philipps, the wrost GM in history. Short of the Piazza deal what did he do? After Ziel, Ventura, Hampton, Fonzie and many other players left, what did we have to work with? Alomar, Vaughn, Burnitz and Wiggy? And dont forget the Piazza to first thing. 2002-2005 all kind blur together into one big mess, but, 1998-2001 where fun and we had some good times.
As with most tempestuous relationships, time tends to magnify the positive aspects while downplaying the negatives ones.
I’m not crazy about Bobby Valentine, but if they choice is Bobby or Jerry, I’d take Bobby
But ideally, the Mets should go in an entirely new direction.
What about the 70′s and 90′s…Don’t tell me the Yankees dont know how to run a business… Please
Matt, how can you make comments like “Under no circumstance will Minaya be firing Manuel”? AND, “The Mets have a manager they like”? JERRY IS AWFUL MATT.
Have you wacthed many of the games this year? His handling of the bullpen and the bench has been atrocious. He overmanages and does a terrible job at it.
Guys like Bobby V and LaRussa can overmanage and get away with it because they’re sharp. Jerry is not.
BOBBY V MUST BE BACK HERE NEXT YEAR.
I for one will not go to 1 game next year at Citi Field if this team tries to sell me Manuel back, Maine and Perez as 2 of the 5 starters and Dan Murphy and or Angel Pagan as 1B/LF starters.
I will done spending any more of my money on the Mets at that point. I will still watch and cheer, but I don’t invest $.
This is a no brainer decision, but why should we ever assume that this organization will ever get it right.
ARRRGGGGHHHH!!!
I would love to see Bobby V back because I like his attitude and he makes me laugh, from the disguise to the “stoned batting stance.”
That said, Bobby V isn’t going to fix what ails the Mets.
They need a complete overhaul, one that involves an entirely new philosophy.
They need to start taking the long view, not gearing everything toward winning a WS in a specific year. Keep growing the prospects, drafting smartly/over slot, only signing premium Type A FAs (like Beltran/K-Rod), letting other guys walk to get extra picks, etc.
The goal should be to be in contention to make playoffs every year. With their talent and payroll, they should be in contention for next 10 years. You would hope to make playoffs 7 or so times in that stretch and maybe get lucky and win a WS or two in that period. It’s working for the Red Sox, no reason it can’t work for Mets.
dude, I agree with every word.
Bobby Valentine? Jerry Manuel? Willie Randolph?
Who really cares? Is someone really arguing that the difference between being a playoff team and sucking is our manager?
It’s about the roster. And we have some big holes to fill for 2010.
Mets have $92M committed in salary for next season and that only covers 2B (Castillo), SS (Reyes), 3B (Wright), CF (Beltran), 2 SP (Santana and Perez) and Closer (Rodriguez).
Arbitration may cover RF (Francoeur), SP (Maine), 2 RP (Feliciano and Green), and 2 bench OFs (Reed and Pagan). They will cost more than the $9.5M they made last year.
And tenders may cover 1B (Murphy), 2 SP (Pelfrey and Niese), 2 RP (Parnell and Stokes) and our backup catcher (Santos). They will cost more than the $4.2M they made last year.
That’s more than $106M and we still have to cover LF, C, two bench infiedlers and two relief pitchers.
And none of this counts actually upgrading our pathetic starting staff with a real starter. We’ve got A LOT of work to do on this roster for 2010.
Your right which is why we need a GM who knows how to be creative (obviously not Omar) and a new manager who also knows how to win while being creative with what he’s got. Aka Valentine or LaRussa – Old school National League managers
what does jerry “deserving” to be fired have to do with anything? performance is everything.
(and that’s ignoring that jerry does in fact deserve to be fired because of his boneheaded decisions and inability of his team to play solid fundamental baseball)
jerry may not be the biggest problem with this team/organization, but make no mistake, he is a problem
dykstraw, dead on…totally agree with you.
LETS GO METS !!!
(also, i don’t see what difference it makes that omar and bobby are tight, because omar won’t be making that decision)
That’s a good point. I wouldn’t want to start a new era of Bobby V with Omar’s player’s or taste though. If he takes over, I want it to remind us of when it was when he was manager. That’s the kind of team that you know can take a division or wild card and make something special happen.
Jerry Manuel may have not done enough to warrant a firing. But when you have an opportunity to get a better manager, you take advantage of it. Bobby V might not sit around and wait for this job to become available when Jerry’s contract expires.
As far as motivating his players goes, it’s hard to deny Jerry’s done a good job. He took over a 35-36 team and went 55-38 to end the year with an injured Wagner, Alou and Maine. He kept us within 1 game of first place through July 2nd without Reyes, Delgado and even Beltran for a couple weeks. He’s done his best with this crew.
But he’s said so many of the wrong things just like Minaya. He’s very insecure and can’t take blame for anything. He’s not the personality we need. This team has been on a roller coaster these last few years. They need a change.
Get a new general manager. Go for Terry Ryan. He’ll hire and bring in great scouts. He’ll know how to work with a budget yet make good signings. Hire Bobby Valentine as manager, Clint Hurdle as bench coach (until he’s able to get a manager’s job the same way how Willie Randolph is waiting in Milwaukee), Leo Mazzone as pitching coach, Carlos Baerga as first base coach, Jose Valentin as third base coach (I know it’s interesting), Ron Jackson or Paul Molitor (if he wants it) as hitting coach.
let’s hire kim ng as GM and mex as manager
i would renew my plan immediately
actually, as much as i was kidding, ng is probably the best candidate for GM out there, and that’s ignoring the massive PR windfall that would come with her hiring.
ned colletti is a clown. i suspect that she’s as responsible for the dodger renaissance as he is.
i’ve been screaming for depodesta but ng is probably a better choice.
props for dropping the Ng dime. She’s smart as hell, and you’re right that the PR benefit – especially here – would be gargantuan. ANd I’m on board w/ DePodesta, too.
Wait – didn’t someone in the Mets organization have something to do with her and sexual harrassment? I have a vague recollection about something like that happening. Could it have been the venerable Tony B even?
bill singer was an assistant to jim duquette who made some insensitive remarks about her chinese heritage. he was promptly fired. can’t see why that would be an issue re: hiring her.
Right – thanks for refreshing my memory on that. I knew a Met exec was involved somehow.
It is funny. The guy for the job, the guy everyone is clamoring for has been in the Mets organization for years now.
The only way it would happen is if Ricco became GM I imagine, but the perfect man for the job is Ken Oberkefell who probably one could argue should have been given the reigns last June (even though I actually think the assessments of Manuel are mostly dead wrong Oberkfell would have been a better choice). That he was only given a coaching slot last year and then pushed back to the baren Bisons this year made little sense.
Obie has the pedigree having grown as a player under Whitey Herzog, the temperment and best of all has worked with the likes of Wright and Reyes over the years, the two most critical position players the Mets need consider moving into next season.
They’ll f it up though and bring in either a once has been from elsewhere.
It’s an interesting idea. I think we might be best from working outside of the organization though. It’s nothing against Ken and I know he hasn’t had a great deal to do with the major league team’s every day play. I don’t mind bringing a guy who has experience in our organization. Whether that’s Bobby V, Clint Hurdle or even Davey Johnson. There’s other managers out there too though. This team would greatly benefit from a manager like Tony La Russa (who is a free agent at the end of the year). I doubt he’d leave St. Louis though (especially if they make the postseason).
I completely disagree that the Mets would benefit it all. LaRussa is not someone who would mesh well with the NY press scene. We are talking about a guy who threatened the St. Louis press corp by bringing in a fungo bat when that relief pitcher got killed two years ago in the DWI.
He is 66, his time is come and gone. There is nothing being built with him. The Mets had the right idea when they hired Randolph, but he was amazingly thin skinned for a guy who played and coached in the Bronx.
Tony LaRussa is not going to allow David Wright and Jose Reyes to step up on this team. Ken would, because he has been around them for years.
Pat I think you’re over analyzing the situation. I think any team would benefit from a proven successful National League Manager – If its either Valentine or LaRussa. I dont see Reyes or Wright having a problem with either one of them. When you have a group of guys with big egos (every major league ball player) I think a veteran successful manager would get thru to them as opposed to a guy coming from the minor leagues. I think that was the problem with Willie Randolph – Reyes didnt like him when he tried discipling him – Delgado obviously didnt like him. Bring in a veteran successful NaTIONAL LEAGUE manager along with a well respected General Manager and we will be good to go
Maybe. I know there’s that side of it too. The Dodgers took on an old manager who’s deadheaded and does the same thing over and over. Maybe it’s him just playing the Phil Jackson and taking over good teams at this point of his career but sometimes things work. The reason I don’t believe La Russa works here though is he has it good in St. Louis. He’s won a WS. He’s been there a while. He coaches a good team. Why leave? If they’re in the postseason, they’ll bring him back.
Exactly – Joe Torre is another good example. Look what happened after he left the Yankees and an unproven manager took over… They missed the playoffs for the first time in like 15 years…that is not a coincidence. These veteran managers have a presence that can not be matched by an unproven manager.
Personally – I rather this team bring in a proven successful Major League manager instead of a guy who has had success in the minor leagues.
Maybe Obie could be our first base coach again, bench coach, or third base coach. As for the guy at the top I rather see a Valentine or LaRussa two high profile proven National League winners.
Obie could always be offered a job as manager – When will we ever have this opportunity to be able to interview to guys like Valentine and LaRussa?
I just dont understand why you’d want to spend 4 million on a big-name manager like that drunk LaRussa when you can get Oberkfell or some other lesser name to do just as well.
No matter what his media friends say, LaRussa isn’t going to add wins to this team. I’d rather spend that money on the draft or players.
Valentine would be my first choice and we haven’t had a good manager since.
What’s $4 million dollars when you could bring two managers in that have been successful with lesser payrolls?
I am not interested in the leftovers of LaRussa’s mind and as much as like Bobby Valentine turning back the clock never works.
With the exception of LaRussa’s Cardinals in 2006 (which might as well been fate making good for the string of superior teams he saw get bounced to inferior teams in 2000, 2002, 2004 and 2005) the winning world series managers going all the way back to the 1990 Reds were guys who had teams that had buckled in the playoffs (Cox, Leyland) guys who had proven nothing yet (Pinella, Gaston, Torre!!!! Brenly, Scioscia, McKeon, Francona, Guillen, Manuel).
Getting a guy with a past is comforting but has rarely resolved itself in achieving the necessary goal winning it all.
Pinella, Gaston, Torre!!!! Brenly, Scioscia, McKeon, Francona, Guillen, Manuel
All those guys you mentioned are VETERAN managers with extensive Major League baseball MANAGING experience. Which agree with my point which is exactly what this team would need.
You want to bring a guy in from the minor leagues who has never won at a Major League level and has NEVER coached at a Major League level to manage a bunch of overpaid veteran players – that will not work.
For what it’s worth too, even though he was only a pitching coach here for 1 1/2 years, Dave Wallace was very successful under Bobby V.
And he and Bobby never saw eye to eye, Wallace was forced on Valentin when Steve Phillips fired Valentines whole staff in June of 1999.
Yeah, I know. But they didn’t have to hold onto him in 2000 if they didn’t think it’d work. As soon as he leaves is as soon as the decline began. I understand that mix might not work long term though. I know that Bobby V, as well as Manny Acta could be the leading candidates for the job if Jerry’s let go. I’m assuming that means Warthen goes too. But we’ll see.
not following this?
What I was going with is that Dave Wallace should be looked on well for his successes with the organization. I understand he might not be the best mix with Bobby, but if it were a different manager he’s not a bad option as a pitching coach.
Dave Duncan, one of the best pitching coaches in all of baseball, comes with Tony LaRussa…. just saying
The manager should submit a set of names 2 maybe 3 for each job he needs to fill on the coaching staff, he should make his case for his top guys and the GM should have a conversation on why or why not he might disagree, but under no circumstances shoudl the mangers staff be compromised. In the end it created a circus around Valentine a decade ago, it did the same around Randolph just recently.
Why do you think you know that this is how things work??? Dave Duncan has been with LaRussa for how long??? Unless he gets a head coaching job elsewhere I would find it impossible for La Russa not to bring his coaching staff with him to his new team.
A lot of praise will be given too successful general managers and managers. The end result is what counts the most. Just look at Cashman. 5 more starts and Pavano would have made more starts than the entire 4 year contract the Yankees gave him. I’m not sure what GM works best to Bobby V’s style, but I don’t think it’s Omar. He’s not going to get him the players he needs.
I’d hire Kim Ng. Maybe she could restore some competency to the office. The Dodgers seem to always produce players from their own system.
Did somebody mention ACTA? Please no!!!!
He’d be worse than Jerry. I wonder if some of the posters watch the games?
Acta is an awful strategist and when the Mets play the Nats. He messes up almost every move. GOD NO. NO ACTA!!!!! That will put me over the edge.
Truly. Getting to the Series with that rag-tag bunch of mostly nobodies was an accomplishment in and of itself.
If only Timo had run hard, who knows what might’ve happened afterwards.
Great, now I’m even more depressed.
I think that behind the 1986 team, the 2000 team is the best team in recent years. Had Beltran swung and hit that pitch, who knows.