Per Mike Puma of the New York Post, the New York Mets plan to interview Joe McEwing for the open managerial position in the coming days.
McEwing, who will turn 45 on October 19th, started his baseball coaching career as hitting coach for the Charlotte Knights. Before the 2009 season, he was named manager of the Winston-Salem Dash, the Single-A affiliate for the White Sox. McEwing was named Manager of the Year for his work managing the Dash in 2009.
He has been the third base coach for the White Sox since the 2012 season when Robin Ventura was manager, but is now seeking a managerial position at the Major League level.
“We love Super Joe,” White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf told the New York Daily News. “I have no doubt he will make an excellent manager and I don’t want to lose him. But at the same time, we can’t stand in his way, just like years ago we couldn’t stand in the way of Jim Leyland when he was our bench coach and left us for the Pirates.”
All but the youngest Mets fans remember fan-favorite Joe McEwing‘s playing days with the Mets. From 2000-2004, he was the ultimate utility player, playing every position except pitcher and catcher — and playing them well. During his five years with the Mets, he hit .243/.296/.348 with 15 home runs.
“Joe made more from his God-given talent than any player I ever played with,” former Mets pitcher Al Leiter told the New York Post. “I was not surprised when I found out he got into coaching, and I think he would be an awesome big-league manager.”
“It’s a tough market and you need a tough mind like a Joe McEwing,” former Met and MLB Network analyst Cliff Floyd said. “But to me a first-year manager in that environment is hella tough. Do I think he can handle it? Absolutely.”
“Maybe he is the guy who can get to Matt Harvey. Maybe he is the guy who can go, ‘Look, it’s great that you are single and enjoying all that comes with being the Dark Knight when you got that title, but let’s pitch like him and everything else will fall into place.’ ”
As the Mets look to fill the vacuum Terry Collins left behind, McEwing will certainly be seriously considered. Kevin Long has already interviewed to be the next Mets manager, while Jon Heyman predicts Alex Cora will get the job. Any of those three men would be good choices, so Sandy Alderson has a tough choice to make.
