Next Met Manager Candidates

[bmfc1]

The "wagons are circling" around Willie. If they continue on this pace for much longer, then he's gotta go. I hope not, and they go on and win the Series, but just in case...

who is next? I'm asking for reasonable candidates.

I'll start with: Ken Oberkfell, AAA manager
Lee Mazzilli, only because Joe and Evan touted him on FAN (he did a bad job in Baltimore)
Jerry Manuel.

Long shots: Davey Johnson
Wally Backman.

[HahnSolo]

Backman, for 3 reasons:

- Personality-wise, he is the anti-Willie. Some emotion out of the dugout would not be a bad thing.

- Motivation: He knows he only has one shot, if he ever gets it.

- I truly believe he will be successful for somebody. I would hate for it to be with another team.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I posted the following in the "When Will Willie Be Fired?" poll. It's a list of potential replacements within the Mets organization. (The theory being that it's easier to replace from in-house when the season is underway.)

Ken Oberkfell Manager in New Orleans. In his fourth year as a AAA manager. Has also managed one year a AA (Binghamton) in 2004. Managed St. Lucie in 2002 and 2003, Capital City in 2001. Managed at Single A in the Phillies organization from 1997 through 2000. Tim Teufel Managing the St. Lucie Mets, and losing a lot of games. Managed in Savannah last year, St. Lucie in 2004 and 2005, Brooklyn in 2003. (I don't know where he was in 2006.) Edgar Alfonzo Managed Brooklyn in 2007 and will be there again in 2008. Also managed the Cylones in 2001. In between he was coaching in St. Lucie and Binghamton. Also managed Kingsport, in 2000. Nick Leyva Manager of the Kingsport Mets this year. Had a losing record as the Phillies manager from 1989 through 1991. Tom Nieto Named Baseball America's best managerial prospect (1997). Has seven years of managing experience at the Single A level in various organizations. (None with the Mets.) Jerry Manuel Managed the White Sox from 1998 through 2003. (Record of 500-471.) Al Manager of the Year in 2000. Bench coach for the 1997 Marlins. Six years as a third base coach in Montreal. Howard Johnson Managed the Cyclones in 2002. Four seasons as a minor league hitting instructor in the Mets organization. (St. Lucie, Binghamton, Norfolk.) Sandy Alomar Sr. Many years as a major league coach. Interim manager for Iowa (AAA) in 1991 and Williamsport (A) in 1994. Has also served as a manager in the Puerto Rican winter leagues. (Manager of the Year in 1986 and 1993.)

If I had to pick one of these guys, I think I'd go with Oberkfell.

I'm not sure what I think about Backman. I'm not sure I'd like seeing them managed by a jerk along the lines of Piniella or Bowa or Billy Martin. And I'm not at all sure that Wally wouldn't be one of those guys.

[Willets Point]

David Wright, player-manager. Ya betcha!

[HahnSolo]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I'm not sure what I think about Backman. I'm not sure I'd like seeing them managed by a jerk along the lines of Piniella or Bowa or Billy Martin. And I'm not at all sure that Wally wouldn't be one of those guys.

I think he might be one of those guys. And I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

[Frayed Knot]

And I'm sure that as soon as the new guy is named they'll start to hit immediately.

[Benjamin Grimm]

HahnSolo wrote: I think he might be one of those guys. And I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing.

Maybe not. But I'd rather have a smart guy than a loud guy.

And maybe Backman is a smart guy, at least in the dugout, if not in his personal life.

[bmfc1]

Sorry I didn't see your earlier post, BGrimm.

[Benjamin Grimm]

No problem. It was buried in the middle of a lengthy thread.

[Guest mario25]

I am not looking for a Larry Bowa type guy but this team could use a manager with some fire. I say Backman 1st then Maz.... I think he deserves another shot

[Guest sharpie]

Not Mazzilli. I've never thought he had a whole lot going on upstairs.

[Guest AG/DC]

Backman has carried on like a raving maniac during his minor league career and yes, that's bad.

Do you recall how he got fired from the South Georgia Peanuts? He stormed into the radio booth and threatened to beat up a critical announcer. The guy was probably about 23 and had an audience of maybe 30, but whatever. He criticized Backman and Backman went after him. Took on the GM who tried to break it up for good measure.

I wore Wally's number when I was a teenager. It didn't do crap for me but I wore it, so I respect his legacy. But I want a show, not a sideshow.

The funny thing is that Wally seems to know that he's destroying himself but treats contrition as the province of other men. He'll have none of it.

The Peanut Legacy.

My short list is Valentine and then Johnson. Third is, I don't know, Gil Hodges, Jr.

Edited May 15, 2008 by Guest

[stevejrogers]

BRING BACK ART HOWE!

In all seriousness, I'm all in favor of giving someone a chance again (this time with actual managerial experience) instead of going for a retread. So promote Oberkfell or Nieto would be my pick.

[DocTee]

Orel hershiser. please.

[seawolf17]

[Guest themetfairy]

seawolf17 wrote:

I second that disguised motion!

[nymr83]

we want bobby!

[Willets Point]

SteveJRogers wrote: BRING BACK ART HOWE! In all seriousness, I'm all in favor of giving someone a chance again (this time with actual managerial experience) instead of going for a retread. So promote Oberkfell or Nieto would be my pick.

Wouldn't Art Howe be a retread?

[Guest d'Kong76]

If I were Bobby, I'd manage in Japan until ready to retire after watching
the Zen show.

Leaving the love for the boos would be very un-Zen.

[Willets Point]

I love Bobby.

NTTAWWT.

[DocTee]

And I love Oral!

Um., I mean, Orel!

[Guest AG/DC]

Nah, Zen would be to overcome attachment. Clinging to the cheers, fearing the boos. These things are attachment.

Come home, Vee.

Edited May 15, 2008 by Guest

[Fman99]

I second that emotion. I miss Bobby V.

I think Kenny O. is the most likely choice as he's a company man and he's been in the Mets system for a few years now.

Are there any other high energy guys out there looking for gigs? Aside from Bowa, who has shown himself to be an ass at every turn.

[Guest AG/DC]

mario25 wrote: I am not looking for a Larry Bowa type guy but this team could use a manager with some fire. I say Backman 1st then Maz.... I think he deserves another shot

HOw do you distinguish Backman from "Bowa-type" guys?

[Guest AG/DC]

A "sizzle trailer" for Playing for Peanuts:

[stevejrogers]

Willets Point wrote: SteveJRogers wrote: BRING BACK ART HOWE! In all seriousness, I'm all in favor of giving someone a chance again (this time with actual managerial experience) instead of going for a retread. So promote Oberkfell or Nieto would be my pick. Wouldn't Art Howe be a retread?

In all seriousness key part WP. I was joking about Howe.

[Guest AG/DC]

I'd love (if only for ten minutes) if they went nuts and hired Mike Piazza or Joe McEwing or Julio Franco or somebody with no experience.

I mean, that's gutsier (and perhaps no less crazy) than hiring a guy with the false experience of being Joe Torre's bench coach.

[G-Fafif]

Two dark-horse names based on nothing more than a braindrizzle on my part: Jose Valentin (owns a team in winter league, good influence on Reyes it seemed, forthright with media where Willie is quietly full of it) and if healthy Andres Galarraga (brief Met pedigree, incredibly respected, possibly healthy).

[Frayed Knot]

Anyone got any realistic suggestions?

[G-Fafif]

Frayed Knot wrote: Anyone got any realistic suggestions?

If Art Howe was a "realistic" suggestion in October 2002, then nothing's too crazy.