Read: Bobby Valentine is the Obvious Next Step
The most obvious next step for Bobby Valentine is Flushing, says Bob Klapisch in a report for FoxSports.com.
According to Klapisch, “Jerry Manuel has two months, at best, to prove he can reverse the Mets downward spiral, which began all the way back in Game 7 of the 2006 NL Championship Series.”
Klapisch feels one long losing streak could get Manuel fired. “Question is,’ he asks, ‘would ownership have the guts to re-hire Valentine?’
…i want to give Jerry Manuel the chance to be successful, and i wish him the best… but, if he does end up being fired, i think i made myself quite clear, last October, here, that i want bobby to be his replacement… i know some people will like the idea of doing a total 180–degree turn from manuel with Wally Backman… but, i just can’t see wally getting promoted so soon… i mean, backman’s Cyclones do not play their first game until mid June… so, backman in Queens during 2010 doesn’t seem to make sense…
…as i explained in October, to me, valentine is more than a manager, he’d be a shift in brand, a change in the type of player acquired, etc., and it would have to part of a larger organizational shift… and, i’m not sure the Mets are ready for such a bold move, though they should be…
…by the way, thank you, klap, for the shout out in your report… much appreciated…
Updated at 12:25 pm:
Anthony L: Klap is right, would the Mets even hire Valentine? Or is it a pipe dream?
Matthew Cerrone: Frankly, I don’t think such topics are being talked about over there, as they have faith in Manuel and, obviously, think he will be successful this season. That said, from what I can gather, Ownership still thinks very highly of Valentine, and so, in the event the team is looking for a new manager, I do think he would be seriously considered.
