When the initial managerial search took place, I didn’t mind the hire of Terry Collins over Wally Backman. In fact, I thought it was the right move (and still do) because I felt that a Backman hire would have simply been a move to appease fans, but not to necessarily win ball games.
Every fan who stomps their foot and says “We’d be better with Backman!” is pretty much just inventing a fairy tale. For starters, there’s no way to know that. Secondly, if “we” are so smart and “know” Backman could turn a 75-ish win team into a “better” team, then why hasn’t anybody else hired him? Heck, why hasn’t anybody else brought him into a final round of interviewing?
For every fan out there who is now using the fact Backman was recently named the PCL Manager of the Year as their evidence that he should be the Mets manager, let me toss this nugget out to you.
In 1988, Terry Collins was the PCL Manager of the Year, so take it easy with the award sealing the deal.
The truth is, none of us know if Backman will be the right man to lead the Mets – I personally do not see it happening under Sandy Alderson because (unfortunately) I do not think Alderson puts as much stock into the field manager as some of us would like him to.
For those that are in lock step with Alderson, I’d find any argument that says the Rays, Indians, Yankees, Angels, and Orioles would be as consistently successful without Maddon, Francona, Girardi, Scioscia and Showalter to be totally invalid.
This isn’t a Wally piece though. This is me recognizing that Collins is not the man to lead the Mets into what HAS to be a successful 2015 campaign. He was/is a good team-soldier but I think it’s time to move on. The problem is, I don’t think they will because I think he fits the mold for an Alderson-type manager.
But, let’s assume for a second that Alderson can do what all great executives do and go outside their comfort zone when needed.
One name that you never, ever hear tossed around is Roger McDowell.
Before I get into the case FOR McDowell, I totally understand that the incident in San Francisco back in 2011 was unacceptable and I’m in no way advocating for such behavior. However, he admitted his mistake, and hopefully learned from it.
Mets fans want a manager with Mets roots right? I don’t necessarily understand why it’s so important, but it clearly is. So McDowell obviously qualifies there.
McDowell has been the pitching coach for Atlanta since 2006, and replaced one of the greatest pitching coaches in recent memory (Leo Mazzone) and nobody really noticed.
McDowell has consistently gotten the best out of his pitching staffs in spite of injuries, age or experience.
For those looking for personality, but also a spark in the clubhouse and demand for excellence– how does McDowell not fit that criteria?
There used to be a thought that pitching coaches couldn’t win as managers in the big leagues – but then the 2013 season happened and John Farrell proved that theory to be false.
McDowell sat next to one of the greatest Managers (Bobby Cox) in recent memory for five years, and also played for Davey Johnson & Tommy Lasorda. That’s not a bad trio to have on your resume.
For a team like the Mets who are so focused on pitching getting them over the hump – a guy like McDowell leading the way sounds like a pretty good fit to me.
What if your staff for 2015 consisted of McDowell at the helm, Backman on the bench, Teufel as a base coach and Warthen as the pitching coach (not sure about hitting coach right now)?
That’s a staff that is put together based on talent and the current team philosophy, and not purely for nostalgic reasons.
I don’t know if McDowell wants to be a Manager, nor do I know for certain that he would be the right guy for the job – but I do know that his name seemingly never gets mentioned by fans because we’re so fixated on Backman, and he has the resume, paired with the personality and experience to be a serious candidate for the Mets moving forward.
Plus, who doesn’t wanna see Bartolo Colon react to a hot foot?
