Frayed Knot

The move isn't official yet, but this would be the 33 year old Blake Butera. Assuming this comes off it would make Butera the youngest ML manager since Frank Quilici was a slightly younger version of 33 when he replaced Bill Rigney as manager of the Twins 71 games into the 1972 season and less than two years after his five year career as a Twins utility player ended. He'd manage them through 1975. Meanwhile, the present day Twins are being environment conscious by recycling Derek Shelton into their manager's chair. Shelton had managed the Pirates since 2020 but didn't make it as far as Mother's Day in 2025. But it's good to see him get right back on the horse.

Killebrew was a great power hitter, he and Frank Howard were perennial AL HR leaders for a time. But let's just say he wasn't exactly a fitness nut. The Seattle Pilots (and probably a bunch of other teams that didn't have a player keeping a secret diary) referred to him as 'The Fat Kid'.

And somehow Sandy wound up sitting two rows Behind Harry & Meagan for Game 4 at Dodger Stadium.

Coming off a lengthy tour following three consecutive hit albums [born to Run, Darkness, The River] Bruce is now the definition of a full blown rock star, a label which eluded him despite the critical acclaim of his early efforts. But despite all the money and fame he's also starting to wonder what all this success means to him in the grand scheme of things. And while his post-tour downtime is producing a number of potential new songs, the songs he's choosing to stick with how he wants to use them start to take some odd turns as the artist struggles with his past, his future, and with his current state of mind. Based on the Warren Hanes 2023 book, DELIVER ME FROM NOWHERE, on the making of the NEBRASKA album.

[td] TEAM [/td][td]MANAGER[/td][td]HIRED[/td][td]CONTRACT [/td][td]STATUS[/td][td] BRAVES [/td][td]Brian Snitker[/td][td]May ‘16 [/td][td]Thru 2025 [/td][td]Will not return in 2026[/td][td] MARLINS [/td][td] Clayton McCullough [/td][td] Nov ‘24 [/td][td] ??? [/td][td] [/td][td] METS [/td][td] Carlos Mendoza [/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td] Thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] NATIONALS [/td][td]Dave Martinez[/td][td] Oct ‘17 [/td][td]Fired 7/6/25[/td][td]Replaced by Miguel Cairo as interim[/td][td] PHILS [/td][td] Rob Thompson [/td][td] June ‘22 [/td][td] Thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] BREWERS [/td][td] Pat Murphy [/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td] Thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] CARDINALS [/td][td] Oliver Marmol [/td][td] Oct ‘21 [/td][td] Thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] CUBS [/td][td] Craig Counsell [/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td] Thru 2028 [/td][td] [/td][td] PIRATES [/td][td] Don Kelly [/td][td] May ‘25 [/td][td] ??? [/td][td]Signed extension 9/29/25[/td][td] REDS [/td][td] Terry Francona [/td][td] Oct ‘24 [/td][td] Thru 2027 + ’28 club option [/td][td] [/td][td] DIAMONDBACKS [/td][td] Torey Loveullo [/td][td] Nov ‘16 [/td][td] Thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] DODGERS [/td][td] Dave Roberts [/td][td] Nov ‘15 [/td][td] Thru 2029 [/td][td] [/td][td] GIANTS [/td][td]Bob Melvin[/td][td] Oct ‘21 [/td][td]Fired 9/29/25[/td][td]Tom Vitello (U of Tennessee) three year deal[/td][td] PADRES [/td][td]Mike Schildt[/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td]thru 2027 - Resigned Oct ‘25[/td][td][/td][td] ROCKIES [/td][td]Bud Black[/td][td] Nov ‘16 [/td][td]Fired 5/11/25[/td][td]Replaced by Warren Schaeffer as interim [/td][td] BLUE JAYS [/td][td] John Schneider [/td][td] July ‘22 [/td][td] 2025 + ’26 option [/td][td] [/td][td] ORIOLES [/td][td]Brandon Hyde[/td][td] Dec ‘18 [/td][td]Fired 5/17/25[/td][td]Replaced by Tony Mandolin as interim[/td][td] RAYS [/td][td] Kevin Cash [/td][td] Dec ‘14 [/td][td] Thru 2030 [/td][td] [/td][td] RED SOX [/td][td] Alex Cora [/td][td] Nov ’17 - Jan ’20, Nov ’20 - present [/td][td] thru 2027 [/td][td] [/td][td] YANKEES [/td][td] Aaron Boone [/td][td] Dec ‘17 [/td][td] thru 2027 [/td][td] [/td][td] GUARDIANS[/td][td] Stephen Vogt [/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td] thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] ROYALS [/td][td] Matt Quatraro [/td][td] Oct ‘22 [/td][td] 2025 + '26 option [/td][td] [/td][td] TIGERS [/td][td] A. J. Hinch [/td][td] Oct ‘20 [/td][td] thru 2027 [/td][td] [/td][td] TWINS [/td][td]Rocco Baldelli[/td][td]Oct ‘18[/td][td]Fired 9/29/25[/td][td][td] WHITE SOX [/td][td] Will Venable [/td][td] Oct ‘24 [/td][td] ??? [/td][td] [/td][td] ANGELS[/td][td]Ron Washington[/td][td]Nov ‘23[/td][td]Thru 2025[/td][td]Kurt Suzuki hired 10/21/25 - one year deal only[/td][td] ASTROS [/td][td] Joe Espada [/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td] ??? [/td][td] [/td][td] ATHLETICS [/td][td] Mark Kotsay [/td][td] Oct ‘21 [/td][td] 2028 + ’29 option [/td][td] [/td][td] MARINERS [/td][td] Dan Wilson [/td][td] Aug ‘24 [/td][td] ??? [/td][td] [/td][td] RANGERS [/td][td]Bruce Bochy [/td][td]Oct ‘22[/td][td]Thru 2025[/td][td]Skip Schumaker hired 10/3/25, 2026 - ‘29[/td]

[td] TEAM [/td][td]MANAGER[/td][td]HIRED[/td][td]CONTRACT [/td][td]STATUS[/td][td] BRAVES [/td][td]Brian Snitker[/td][td]May ‘16 [/td][td]Thru 2025 [/td][td]Will not return in 2026[/td][td] MARLINS [/td][td] Clayton McCullough [/td][td] Nov ‘24 [/td][td] ??? [/td][td] [/td][td] METS [/td][td] Carlos Mendoza [/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td] Thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] NATIONALS [/td][td]Dave Martinez[/td][td] Oct ‘17 [/td][td]Fired 7/6/25[/td][td]Replaced by Miguel Cairo as interim[/td][td] PHILS [/td][td] Rob Thompson [/td][td] June ‘22 [/td][td] Thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] BREWERS [/td][td] Pat Murphy [/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td] Thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] CARDINALS [/td][td] Oliver Marmol [/td][td] Oct ‘21 [/td][td] Thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] CUBS [/td][td] Craig Counsell [/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td] Thru 2028 [/td][td] [/td][td] PIRATES [/td][td] Don Kelly [/td][td] May ‘25 [/td][td] ??? [/td][td]Signed extension 9/29/25[/td][td] REDS [/td][td] Terry Francona [/td][td] Oct ‘24 [/td][td] Thru 2027 + ’28 club option [/td][td] [/td][td] DIAMONDBACKS [/td][td] Torey Loveullo [/td][td] Nov ‘16 [/td][td] Thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] DODGERS [/td][td] Dave Roberts [/td][td] Nov ‘15 [/td][td] Thru 2029 [/td][td] [/td][td] GIANTS [/td][td] Bob Melvin [/td][td] Oct ‘21 [/td][td] Fired 9/29/25 [/td][td] [/td][td] PADRES [/td][td]Mike Schildt[/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td] thru 2027 [/td][td]Resigned Oct ‘25[/td][td] ROCKIES [/td][td]Bud Black[/td][td] Nov ‘16 [/td][td]Fired 5/11/25[/td][td]Replaced by Warren Schaeffer as interim [/td][td] BLUE JAYS [/td][td] John Schneider [/td][td] July ‘22 [/td][td] 2025 + ’26 option [/td][td] [/td][td] ORIOLES [/td][td]Brandon Hyde[/td][td] Dec ‘18 [/td][td]Fired 5/17/25[/td][td]Replaced by Tony Mandolin as interim[/td][td] RAYS [/td][td] Kevin Cash [/td][td] Dec ‘14 [/td][td] Thru 2030 [/td][td] [/td][td] RED SOX [/td][td] Alex Cora [/td][td] Nov ’17 - Jan ’20, Nov ’20 - present [/td][td] thru 2027 [/td][td] [/td][td] YANKEES [/td][td] Aaron Boone [/td][td] Dec ‘17 [/td][td] thru 2027 [/td][td] [/td][td] GUARDIANS[/td][td] Stephen Vogt [/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td] thru 2026 [/td][td] [/td][td] ROYALS [/td][td] Matt Quatraro [/td][td] Oct ‘22 [/td][td] 2025 + '26 option [/td][td] [/td][td] TIGERS [/td][td] A. J. Hinch [/td][td] Oct ‘20 [/td][td] thru 2027 [/td][td] [/td][td] TWINS [/td][td]Rocco Baldelli[/td][td]Oct ‘18[/td][td]Fired 9/29/25[/td][td][td] WHITE SOX [/td][td] Will Venable [/td][td] Oct ‘24 [/td][td] ??? [/td][td] [/td][td] ANGELS[/td][td]Ron Washington[/td][td]Nov ‘23[/td][td]Thru 2025[/td][td]Kurt Suzuki hired 10/21/25[/td][td] ASTROS [/td][td] Joe Espada [/td][td] Nov ‘23 [/td][td] ??? [/td][td] [/td][td] ATHLETICS [/td][td] Mark Kotsay [/td][td] Oct ‘21 [/td][td] 2028 + ’29 option [/td][td] [/td][td] MARINERS [/td][td] Dan Wilson [/td][td] Aug ‘24 [/td][td] ??? [/td][td] [/td][td] RANGERS [/td][td]Bruce Bochy [/td][td]Oct ‘22[/td][td]Thru 2025[/td][td]Skip Schumaker hired 10/3/25, 2026 - ‘29[/td]

Others aren't long enough.

Montero was a huge Top-five-in-all-MLB kind of prospect coming up through the Yanqui system and was out of the typical NYY catcher factory of big power/who cares if he can play defense [Posada, Gary Sanchez, current 1B/C Ben Rice, others] kind of mold. Was dealt, after one ML season to Seattle in what was, at the time, a huge 'challenge trade' of first year players: Sanchez for the 6'7"/28, RH pitcher Michael Pineda who was coming off an All-Star/5th-RoY season. Brian Cashman was quoted as saying he "swallowed hard" before pulling that deal thinking about the offensive potential he was giving up. The kicker was that neither went on to have the careers expected. Montero played one full season with Seattle plus pieces of three others and never saw the majors again. Pineda wound up with a nine year career but consisting mostly of mediocre seasons, four of those with the Yanx.

I didn't realize he was only one season from FA-gency already; also turns 29 in a few weeks. Drafted in '18 (9th round - just like deGrom!), debuted in '20, then really hit his stride in '23 but only w/a partial season (15 starts / 80 innings). That he followed that up with a unanimous CY season and possibly a second one is what put him on the map and in this position. One wouldn't think a Boras client would agree to a trade/extension on his FA-eve season. And, of course, that limits what a team would agree to give up for him. From California, HS in Arizona, college in Seattle. Not sure if any of that will play a factor.

The problem with the Nieuwenhuis game is that it was a dreary affair for the first 8 innings. So much so that even as he came up as the potential winning run the thought of him actually coming through was the furthest thing from my mind. I'm usually standing and often pacing during a tight NYM 9th inning, but I was still prone on the couch when he connected. I was so stunned by the result that I bolted upright before the ball even landed. Still, that win moved the Mets up to a meager 13.5 G out of 1st and 14 G below .500, so, probably not a top of the quarter century kind of game.

If your last name is Albert that probably serves as a powerful incentive to stay thin so as to not give people a ready-made nickname to hang on you.

Oh I get it, this -- "I wonder how we can get Mendoza to feel the stress." -- was all about Mendoza's dignity. Don't know how I missed that the first time around.

So let's hope he gets enough of it that he'll need to resign for personal/mental/medical reasons! Grow up!

Really! That's what you take from that?

Apparently via his own choice as he cited stress of the job which took a "severe toll" on him. "It's time I take care of myself and exit on my own terms"

Right around this time last year I speculated (somewhere on this thread) that the Mets would hold off on anything north of four years for Pete and be willing to walk away if some other team went to five. Turns out it seemed like nobody even went to four. So now you can just take that same mindset only maybe holding the line at anything over three years given that he's a year older. That gets you his age 31, 32, and 33 seasons. Would they swallow hard and match a fourth year if some other suitor offered? Maybe. OTOH, three years is a tricky length for camp Alonso/Boras to accept as it's not like going into age 34 season is an inviting time to be a FA for a 1B/DH

During the discussion on this thread a year ago I was saying that if someone offered Pete five years then the Mets should be willing to walk away. So now that it's a year later, the same argument applies except that the number should revert to four years as opposed to five. Pete had a better '25 season than he did in '24, but he never got an offer close to seven years then and I don't know he'll get one now.

So we're down to the final four. - all are division winners, no wild cards. First time that's happened with the expanded WCx3 format - in both cases the surviving teams finished with the best (MIL & TOR) and 3rd best (LAD & SEA) season records in their league and all won 90+ games (90, 93, 94, 97) - one team has neither won a WS nor appeared in one (SEA) over 49 seasons - one never won a WS and only appeared in one 43 years ago back when they represented the other league - one last won a WS 32 years ago. It was their second of two in a row but they haven't been back to one since (TOR) - and one won two of the last five including just last year (as you may recall) Pulling for MIL & SEA

Except that simply deciding to swing more often won't necessarily produce the same results in greater quantity and could very well result in a declining output. I had never heard the 'treat it as a 3-1 pitch' analogy before but it sounds like a good benchmark to me. There the attitude is, "I'm going to swing if it's MY pitch where I want it". But once that flips to, "I'm going up there a'hackin' cuz the numbers show I'm 'good at this' " then there's a good chance that you're no longer going to be good at this, or at least as good at this. cross-posted with above And, of course, there are always various game/score/inning/runners/outs/pitcher circumstances dictating that 1st pitch swinging isn't (or is) the right move at that time.

Yeah, IIRC, Cox had gone from managing the Braves, to managing the Jays, to GM'ing the Braves, to his second stint as managing them starting in 1990 ... and basically ran that gig straight through to retirement. He's recently had a stroke but is apparently doing reasonable OK.

Former managers David Ross (Cubs) and Walt Weiss (Rox), along with former ATL catcher Eddie Perez, and Mark DeRosa (came up with the Braves and, more recently, Team USA coach in WBC) are said to be leading candidates to helm the Braves going forward. Since Bobby Cox was named Atlanta Braves skipper 66 games into the 1990 season (replacing Russ Nixon), the Braves have had only three managers: Cox (1990 - 2010), Fredi Gonzalez (2011 - 2016), and Brian Snitker (2016 - 2025)

So I figured I'd revisit this thread with the second half of the season in the books. As expected, the Mets weren't nearly as un-clutch in the second half as they were in the first: regression to the mean and all that. It wasn't quite enough to make the year as a whole 'good' in that sense, but it was at least less bad. When we looked in June, the Mets were 6th (of all 30 teams) in OPS but 14th in runs scored, the second highest gap between expected RS rank and actual RS rank (only ATH had a wider gap). By the end of the season they were still 6th in OPS but had jumped to 9th in runs scored. Still not quite where you'd like to be, but a much smaller deviation from the expected. Several teams were as many as five or six slots lower (MIN, HOU, KCR). Looking at how the Mets compared to the teams closest to them in OPS (as we did back in June) they averaged some 15 fewer runs scored (or about 1/10th of a RS/G) as compared to the three teams above them and the three below. The average would have been closer to 25 runs fewer except that West Sacramento was even worse than the Mets so they dragged the average down. Back in June the Mets were right around 2/3 of a RS/per game below what their most similar OPS teams were scoring which put them around -50 runs scored. As far as individual players went, all the regulars except for Alonso were significantly worse across the board when hitting with runners on base vs bases empty. Vientos, Alvarez, Nimmo, and McNeil all were around 100 points worse with runners on and w/RiSP than w/bases clear. Meanwhile the big boys, Lindor & Soto were considerably worse, Lindor around 300 OPS points worse, Soto a stunning 500 points. Final numbers Lindor: 862 (OPS w/bases empty) 720 (men on base) 750 (w/RiSP) Nimmo: 765 - 754 - 888 (no wonder he set a personal RBI high) Soto: 1027 -- 786 -- 859 (still bad, but compared to where he was ... ) Alvarez: 714 -- 879 -- 800 Vientos: 685 -- 726 -- 747 Baty: 740 -- 759 -- 810

Who is this "they" that you refer to? The implication is you believe that every NYM decision maker over the past 60+ years operates under one long continuously unchanging philosophy.

I'm not sure that the market for Pete will be a whole lot different than it was last off-season. To his advantage, he's coming off a better year than he had in '24. On the down side, he's a year older. Not sure if those two exactly cancel each other out, but it's hard to see the landscape looking drastically different for the same player just a year apart.

'Toe' Nash was the perfect wish-upon-a-star ballplayer for the early days of the internet. The publicity generated by a few actual articles about him, which were in turn amplified by the echoing drumbeat of the early on-line world during his brief time with Tampa Bay, was enough to convince some fans that the next great thing had been discovered and it was only a matter of when, not if, he took the baseball world by storm. And why didn't the Mets sign him?!?!?!?!? ... ****ing lazy, cheap-ass Wilpons! Both sad, but also not surprising, to read of his death at such a young age.