…who is this guy and what does he have to do with a-rod…

However, in today’s Newsday, Ken Davidoff explains that Jaramillo is disappointed, because he hoped to have an opportunity to work for the Mets, while noting he has no interest in being a manager, thus suggesting he poses no real threat to Randolph

…i’d like to weigh in on this, but it’s becoming clear to me that there is a bit of politicking to this that we, as fans, cannot understand…i mean, if rudy and omar are such good friends, why is omar not convinced of rudy’s ambitions…or, if omar is, why is willie so uncomfortable or insecure, and if he isn’t, why is omar walking on eggshells…also, if willie’s nervous, and he should be, wouldn’t all of his coaches be managers in waiting…i don’t get it…personally, i find the idea that hojo earned the right to keep his job much more acceptable than this notion of not disrespecting willie, which is not adding up…so, omar, just stick with the pro-hojo stance, it feels more sincere and accurate…

By the way, Davidoff writes that Rickey Henderson will not return to the coaching staff, though Howard Johnson, Jerry Manuel and Sandy Alomar will.

…this will mean a job is open on willie’s coaching staff…yesterday, in a post for Mets Fever, Ed Ryan made an interesting case for replacing rickey with Mets Triple-A manager Ken Oberkfell, who has been coaching with the team’s minor-league system for the last seven years…

Last off-season, the 51-year-old Oberkfell interviewed with the Nationals for a position on Manny Acta’s bench.  He also interviewed along with Gary Carter to fill the first-base coaching job for the Mets, which ultimately went to Howard Johnson, who later switched to batting coach.

Oberkfell was named Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America in 2005.

“Ran into Omar Minaya at the World Series gala Tuesday night … and he said he couldn’t hire Rudy Jaramillo as hitting coach because he ‘couldn’t do that to Willie.’ Minaya said he didn’t want the appearance of a manager-in-waiting since Jaramillo was one of the ones he interviewed before naming Randolph Mets manager.  Jaramillo’s contract is expiring with Texas, which wants to keep him.”

…so, basically, it reads as like omar wants rudy, who he is very good friends with, but he feels such a move would undermine willie, which makes total sense…actually, if you recall, last week i wrote…

… jaramillo was a top candidate for the managerial job at shea before it went to willie, which would suggest that he could be willie’s obvious, some-day replacement, while sitting next to him on the bench all season long…

…it’s a shame, because rudy’s reputation is such that he would have made a great addition to this team’s coaching staff, while acting as a nice safety net should willie falter…however, if the Mets and omar believe willie is their man, then he needs to be respected and treated as such…

Heyman also provides information about the Yankees managerial search, while commenting on the future of Joe Torre.

…thanks to steven a for the link…

In the Daily News, Adam Rubin quotes Omar Minaya as saying he expects to bring back Howard Johnson as the team’s batting coach, while passing Jaramillo, who will soon be a free agent.

According to Minaya, it would be ‘unfair’ to Jaramillo, who had been interviewed for the team’s managerial position prior to Willie Randolph; and it would be unfair to Johnson, “who did an outstanding job as hitting coach.”

Meanwhile, at SI.com, Jon Heyman notes that the Rangers recently offered to keep Jaramillo as their hitting coach at roughly $500,000 per season.  However, he told the team he intends to explore his options.

…as i have noted before, jaramillo and Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long are widely considered the Rick Petersons of hitting coaches, in terms of how they are changing the way the job is done…

Earlier this month, at his blog for ESPN.com, Peter Gammons wrote that the Mets should hire Jaramillo, among other moves, in an effort to help improve for next season.

Last week at his blog for ESPN.com, Peter Gammons wrote that the Mets should hire Jaramillo, among other moves, in an effort to help improve for next season.

On Monday, in the Daily News, Adam Rubin explained why the Mets will not finalize Willie Randolph’s coaching staff until Jaramillo’s contract expires at the end of the month.

…as i wrote earlier in the week, 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 long…

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…

…actually, when he said it, i just rolled my eyes, knowing full well that he was once again confusing speculation and suggestion for fact…it happens all the time on that station, frankly…

Today, Francesa had the following to say, speaking with his standard authoritative, all-knowing voice…

“The Mets have stated now that these reports about Rudy Jaramillo are not true, that he’s not coming to the team.  I said there were reports that he was coming to the team, but the Mets called and said that he is not coming to the team, that all these reports are untrue.”

…ummm, what reports…my job is to essentially follow every heart-beat across the Mets media, and i never once saw a ‘report’ about jaramillo coming to the Mets…i’ve read several that have speculated how the team may have interest, and will wait to make a move with its coaching staff until jaramillo becomes a free agent at the end of this month, but i do not ever recall a report that stated anything close to what francesa was spreading across the airwaves yesterday…yet, it didn’t stop him from doing so…unreal…

…the best part is that after the Mets call him off-air to clarify, he hits the airwaves and reports on the call like it’s some form of breaking news…hilarious…

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…