Adam Rubin, of the New York Daily News, is reporting that the New York Mets are close to naming former minor league manager and Arizona Diamondbacks base coach, Chip Hale, as their new third base coach.
The 44 year-old, Hale, spent parts of seven seasons in the big leagues. Over the span of 575 career at-bats, he hit .277 along with seven home runs and 78 RBI.
One can only hope that this move will decrease the number of Mets players getting thrown out at the plate, which was a problem for the team last season.
Being that Hale was also a minor league manager, he could work well with the younger players on the team, such as Bobby Parnell and Daniel Murphy.
Another interesting note that Rubin points out is the Mets are considering bringing in ex-Arizona manager, Bob Melvin, to be the Jerry Manuel’s bench coach.
Melvin held the managerial position in Arizona from 2005 up until May of last season when he was let go due to the team getting off to a weak start.
Melvin’s highlight with the organization was leading the Diamondbacks to the NLCS in 2007.
You have to wonder where Razor Shines, the former third base coach and friend of Jerry Manuel, ends up after all this considering the fact that he had been rumored to be the leading candidate for the bench coach job next year.
Personally, I wouldn’t be all that upset if Razor was let go because despite the fact that he brought a positive dynamic to the team, he simply wasn’t a very good coach.
More importantly, though, is that if Bob Melvin does indeed come to the Mets, it is definitely not a good sign for the Mets skipper, who already was on a very short leash for next year. Now with a proven major league manager waiting in the wings Jerry Manuel may not be able to escape a prolonged losing streak.
All in all, I am in favor of both of these potential hirings, as these two individuals bring a bevy of major league experience with them and could help work on the team’s fundamentals, an area that needs a great deal of work.
Good story. These will be moves in the right direction. Hope the rumors become reality.
No matter what get Razer out altogether. He was bad, kinda like Jerry started to look like by the end of the season.
Maybe they should give them both a rest for next year.
I’D LOVE TO KNOW HOW MANY OF THE RUNNERS WERE SENT ON THE GAMBLE OF SCORE WHEN U CAN BECAUSE THE LINEUP WAS SO WEAK WITH REPOLACEMENT TYPES. LESS OFFENSE TYPICALLY CAUSES TAKING TOO MANY CHANCES THAT SEEM UNNECESSARY. I LIVE OUTSIDE OF CHARLOTTE,NC & CAN SAY RAZOR WAS WELL RESPECTED AS MGR OF CHISOX’ CHARLOTTE KNIGHTS(INT’L AAA)
I’m all in favor of adding Bob Melvin as bench coach. I think he recently won a manager of the year award. Knowing that a guy like Melvin is in the shadows, may force Jerry Manuel to not take as many silly risks that rarely pay off for the team. It might make Manuel more agressive with the squeeze, hit and run, and the types of things we need to do to be succesful at CitiField.
Has this guy got a resume. I mean, could he serve as an interim manager when Jerry gets booted in June? I am only talking a few months here, nothing long term. I am pretty sure that when jerry goes, Razor goes with him.
Razer Shines did not have a good year. Though he had been coaching at third base for the Chicago White Sox in 2007, he underperformed with the Mets in the same job. Some of his problems were likely related to his unfamiliarity with National League outfielder personnel, especially the throwing arms of right fielders. Rather than having Mets runners on second base play potential run scoring situations cautiously, he gave too many green lights.
But his overall contribution in the clubhouse and in the day to day practices was likely the best of any coach. He worked tirelessly and was always upbeat and cheerful.
I hope there is a spot for the glue Razer brings to the Mets. He was one of the few joys of the 2009 season.