Category: General

Mets Announce 2009 Coaching Staff

Here’s the breakdown:

Staying– Howard Johnson (hitting), Sandy Alomar, Jr. (catching), Sandy Alomar, Sr. (bench), Dan Warthen (pitching)

Leaving– Guy Conti (bullpen), Luis Aguayo (third base), Ken Oberkfell (first base)

New– Razor Shines (third base), Randy Niemann (bullpen)

Jerry Manuel knows Shines from their time together in Chicago and he was coaching the Phillies Single-A team last season. Niemann is doing his third tour as the Mets bullpen coach next season replacing Conti. Conti was a father figure for Pedro Martinez and this indicates that Pedro won’t be back with the Mets next season.

All three coaches that are leaving will be re-assigned within the organization including Oberkfell who’ll be managing the Triple-A team in Buffalo.

We don’t know who the first base coach will be yet though.

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Randolph Rejects Nationals Coaching Offer

Newsday and ESPN are reporting that Willie Randolph turned down the Nationals offer to coach third base or bench coach for 2009. Apparently, he felt that the bad relationship with Manny Acta was too much to overcome.

The article goes on to say that if Randolph doesn’t get the Brewers manager job he’ll stay home next season and collect $2.25 million from the Mets.

My feeling is that Randolph shouldn’t stay away from the game for too long if he wants to get back into managing a team. Even if he doesn’t get the Brewers job he could coach someplace for a season and continue to interview for managerial openings.

He lost the Mets clubhouse at the end of his short tenure. So he can’t be too picky about where he winds up at this point.

Report: Pierre Wants Trade From Dodgers

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According to MLB Trade Rumors, Juan Pierre’s agent told MLB.com that he’d be willing to waive his no trade clause for a ticket out of LA. He’s another bad contract player that the Mets may be eyeing as a swap for Luis Castillo’s bad contract.

The Dodgers are losing Jeff Kent to free agency and Blake DeWitt, a natural third baseman, was getting playing time at second base anyway. The Dodgers will need to be in the market for a second baseman.

Pierre has 3 years/$28.5 million left on his deal. And although he’s not an ideal fit skill-wise for the Mets, his contract matches up fairly well with Castillo’s 3 years/$18 million.

Pierre’s performance dropped off this year due to a lack of at-bats. The Dodgers have a log jam in the outfield. Pierre will only be 31 years old next season, not too old to make a contribution. He’s consistently getting around 200 hits when he plays every day. He doesn’t take a lot of walks but he could be slotted into the number two spot in the lineup, or at the bottom of the order. He’d be able to handle left field which is an area of need for the Mets as well.

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Report: Brewers Interested In Randolph, Valentine, And Johnson

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The NY Post is reporting that the Milwaukee Brewers are interested in talking to Willie Randolph about their vacant managerial position. Apparently, Davey Johnson is being considered as well. Bobby Valentine has expressed interest in the Brewers job as part of his quest to return to MLB.

The Brewers have a pretty good team but I’m sure they’ll end up losing CC Sabathia. That’ll take them down a notch. And any potential manager has to be wary that they fired Ned Yost with only two weeks left in the season. That was really odd.

Mike Hargrove and Ken Macha are being interviewed as well as Dale Svuem who took over when Yost was fired.

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Mets Bernazard Interviews In Seattle

The Seattle Mariners interviewed Mets VP of Player Development Tony Bernazard on Friday for their vacant GM position. The word is that Bernazard is a long shot for the job. Last off-season Bernazard interviewed, unsuccessfully, for the Pirates GM job.

Its difficult to gauge exactly what value Bernazard brings to the Mets. You’ll remember he was the subject of scrutiny in June of quietly engineering the firing of Willie Randolph. Who knows if there’s any truth to that?

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Links: Mets News Sept. 23, 2008

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Reader TD tipped me to this column by Jayson Stark on relief pitching in the NL East. I know it’s a sensitive topic but it’s a really good read. Thanks TD.

SI’s John Donovan continues the trend of writing about the Mets weak bullpen.

Mets P John Maine says he’s ready to go after throwing a simulated game yesterday.

Jerry Manuel says he won’t re-arrange the starting rotation this week.

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