Coaching Changes

[Edgy MD]

Bob Geren's got a nice, solid managerial head on his shoulders. I'm in a storm, I have confidence that head is gonna steward me through to the other side.

The Many Faces of Bob Geren

Bold


Disappointed


Introspective


Searching


Faithful


Depressed


Defiant!


Constipated


Resigned

[Vic Sage]

in a pinch, you could probably use that head as a flotation device.

[seawolf17]

I love error cards. Don't know who it is, but it ain't Geren.

[Edgy MD]

Mike Puma, sinking his teeth into the story like the cat that shares his name.

Backman could leave Mets for Nationals Mets Blog Mets on Twitter By MIKE PUMA Last Updated: 3:49 PM, October 11, 2011 Posted: 3:13 AM, October 11, 2011 Wally Backman, a candidate for the Mets' managerial opening last offseason, could soon leave the organization, according to a team source. The fiery Backman, 52, is considering the possibility of joining Davey Johnson's coaching staff with the Nationals -- likely as the third-base coach. The Nationals have not yet officially announced Johnson will return next season, but that is considered a formality. The source said 68-year-old Johnson may look to groom Backman for the managerial job, much in the same manner Bobby Cox took Fredi Gonzalez under his wing with the Braves before retiring. Johnson was Backman's manager with the Mets in the 1980s, a run that culminated with a World Series title in 1986. Backman spent last season managing Double-A Binghamton to a 65-76 record in the Eastern League. He is the front runner to manage at Triple-A Buffalo next season if he stays with the Mets, but he is not a candidate for the major-league staff. The Mets recently promoted Tim Teufel, who spent last season managing at Buffalo, to third-base coach with the major-league club. Chip Hale, who had been the Mets' third-base coach, last week was named Athletics bench coach. The Mets are still searching for a bench coach and first base coach. Ken Oberkfell and Mookie Wilson will not return next season. Backman was a finalist -- along with Hale and Bob Melvin -- for the managerial job that went to Terry Collins last winter. The Mets recently picked up Collins' option for 2013, and Backman could view the Nationals' coaching opportunity as a quicker path to managing in the big leagues. Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/backman_may_go_to_nats_0qi0tpzVVZ14obpAxe1RpK#ixzz1aXM3XAbn

[metirish]

Sounds like it would be a good move for Wally.

[Frayed Knot]

Shirley a guy with the name of Mike Puma could come up with a more enticing headline for this story.
Something maybe on the order of: Davey got Back(man)

[Edgy MD]

Well, he'd have to put a question mark after it, as he's got one un-named team source. If nothing else, the story gives him a few ounces more leverage in maneuvering for his 2012 assignment in Metville.

[Edgy MD]

Andy Martino says Bowa is off the list of potential Met bench coaches, but unsure whether he removed his name or the Mets have. Mr. Bigglesworth interviewed today.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Edgy DC wrote: Andy Martino says Bowa is off the list of potential Met bench coaches, but unsure whether he removed his name or the Mets have. Mr. Bigglesworth interviewed today.

Galarraga?

[TransMonk]

Per Metsblog, it looks like the job is going to be Geren's according to Heyman.

[TransMonk]

Heyman today on CNNSI:

Jim Riggleman would have been a great choice for Mets bench coach. He is close with Terry Collins. Of course, the front office there seems to hold all the power, so it's not a surprise that they hired as bench coach another Oakland friend, Bob Geren, who wasn't too well-liked by some A's players. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Huston Street called Geren, "My least favorite I have ever encountered in sports.''

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/10/14/albert.pujols/index.html#ixzz1anOn9y00

[metirish]

Heyman with some negative Mets reports, shocker.

[Frayed Knot]

That Street/Geren story is nothing new. It came out earlier this year when Geren was let go as Oakland mgr.

[Edgy MD]

Heyman today on CNNSI: Jim Riggleman would have been a great choice for Mets bench coach. He is close with Terry Collins. Of course, the front office there seems to hold all the power, so it's not a surprise that they hired as bench coach another Oakland friend, Bob Geren, who wasn't too well-liked by some A's players. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Huston Street called Geren, "My least favorite I have ever encountered in sports.'' Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/10/14/albert.pujols/index.html#ixzz1anOn9y00

A big shut-up to John Heyman.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Of course it's possible that Street is the jerk here.

I don't know that, of course, but just sayin'.

[Edgy MD]

Well, both he and Brandon Fuentes complained about "unorthodox" managing style, which I took to mean "not coddling the closer." I get that he wasn't ready to go down by locking people into roles they weren't succeeding at. But I guess he was juggling them and not letting them know their changing stati. That's not cool, but... they failed him, too, you know?

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Heyman today on CNNSI: Jim Riggleman would have been a great choice for Mets bench coach. He is close with Terry Collins. Of course, the front office there seems to hold all the power, so it's not a surprise that they hired as bench coach another Oakland friend, Bob Geren, who wasn't too well-liked by some A's players. In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, Huston Street called Geren, "My least favorite I have ever encountered in sports.'' Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/jon_heyman/10/14/albert.pujols/index.html#ixzz1anOn9y00

"Another Oakland friend?" Whichever junior Borasite is doing your fact-checking, Jon-boy, you're going to have to start double-checking.

Alderson never worked with or over Geren at any point during his tenure with the A's (or Padres, for that matter).

[bmfc1]

Heyman will use any opportunity to give the Mets a shot, even if it has no basis in fact.

[Ceetar]

They only sign Oakland/Moneyball/OBP guys is the new they only sign Latin guys.

[MFS62]

Heard a Backman interview on radio today (WFAN?) during which he said he won't be leaving the Mets organization. Talked about their future, especially pitching. It sounded like he'll be managing Buffalo next year.

Later

[Edgy MD]

bmfc1 wrote: Heyman will use any opportunity to give the Mets a shot, even if it has no basis in fact.

And is there any doubt that, had the Mets chosen Riggleman, Heydude's opinion on him would have fallen from "great choice" to Quitty McQuitstein, who quit on his team and will quit on you too if you give him half a chance?

Every day, Heyman misses Benitez more and more.

[Ceetar]

The moment we've all been waiting for.


METS NAME TOM GOODWIN FIRST BASE COACH

FLUSHING, N.Y., October 29, 2011 � The New York Mets today announced Tom Goodwin as first base coach. Goodwin, 43, finished his fourth year with the Boston Red Sox organization last season and his third as the organization�s Minor League Outfield and Base Running Coordinator. He coached Lowell (A) of the New York-Penn League in 2008, where the Spinners finished first with a 40-33 record. Goodwin also managed the Lewisville Lizards of the independent Continental Baseball League in 2007. Originally drafted out of Fresno State University in the first round of the 1989 Amateur Draft by Los Angeles (NL), Goodwin played 14 seasons in the majors and finished with a .268 (1,029-3,846) lifetime batting average. The outfielder and native of Fresno, CA played 1,288 games for the Dodgers, Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs. Goodwin recorded four seasons of at least 50 steals, with a career-best 66 swipes in 1996 for Kansas City and finished his career with 369 stolen bases. From 1995-2000, he never finished lower than seventh in the American League in steals. Goodwin won an Olympic Gold Medal in 1988 as a member of Team USA�s baseball squad.

[Edgy MD]

That's interesting. I was looking for an infielder, but I'll take it.

Pretty analogous to Pettis.

[list:3rtkl9yt][*:3rtkl9yt]Each is a speedy former outfielder.[/*:m:3rtkl9yt]
[*:3rtkl9yt]Each spent the majority of his career in the AL.[/*:m:3rtkl9yt]
[*:3rtkl9yt]Each wore Willie Mays' 24 with the Rangers.[/*:m:3rtkl9yt]
[*:3rtkl9yt]Each played about 1,200 games.[/*:m:3rtkl9yt]
[*:3rtkl9yt]Each stole about 350 bases.[/*:m:3rtkl9yt]
[*:3rtkl9yt]Each had negligible power --- 21 and 24 career homers.[/*:m:3rtkl9yt]
[*:3rtkl9yt]Each is listed at 6'1" and 165.[/*:m:3rtkl9yt]
[*:3rtkl9yt]Each sadly (but justifiably) replaces Mookie Wilson as Mets first base coach and outfield coach.[/*:m:3rtkl9yt][/list:u:3rtkl9yt]

Main difference is Pettis got more walks and Goodwin more singles.

[Edgy MD]

I was expecting a lot of transactions and appointments that people were sitting on during the World Series and earlier to be announced Monday, but I guess this wasn't big enough for anything more than a press release, so they let it off the leash on a cold, precipitous Saturday.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: I was expecting a lot of transactions and appointments that people were sitting on during the World Series and earlier to be announced Monday, but I guess this wasn't big enough for anything more than a press release, so they let it off the leash on a cold, precipitous Saturday.

yeah, probably not. the beat guys didn't even have it before the press release email.

[stevejrogers]

bmfc1 wrote: Heyman will use any opportunity to give the Mets a shot, even if it has no basis in fact.

Three GM regimes ago (if you count Duquette as his own guy and not an extension of Phillips) but I wonder if that's yet another shot at the Art Howe hiring, and therefore a not so subtle suggestion that Fred & Jeff still carry more weight than the GM.

Course that is giving Heyman too much credit in his jabs...