Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Current Position: Cleveland Indians First Base Coach
Age: 6/18/1966 (51)
MLB Coaching Experience: Mets Catching Instructor (2008-2009); Indians First Base Coach (2010-2011; 2014-present); Indians Bench Coach (2012-2013); Indians Interim Manager (2012)
Alomar comes from a respected baseball family who has deep roots in baseball. For whatever it is worth, the Alomar family also has deep roots within the Mets organization. His brother, Roberto Alomar, played from the Mets from 2002 until 2004. His father served as a coach under Willie Randolph and Jerry Manuel. He ended his playing career with the Mets before embarking his own coaching career with the Mets.
Part of Alomar’s coaching career was with the Indians where he has served as a coach on the same exact coaching staff as new Mets manager Mickey Callaway.
Starting with the obvious, we do not know what relationship Callaway and Alomar had on the Indians. Before making any decision on a bench coach, how that coach would work with Callaway should be the first consideration. To the extent, if both respected each other and had a good working relationship, the Mets should look to reunite them on this coaching staff.
With Alomar, the Mets would be bringing a coach on board they obviously respect. As was reported by several news outlets, Alomar was considered a candidate for the Mets managerial job. Presumably, the traits the Mets saw in Alomar would translate well in his capacity as the bench coach.
When the Indians hired Terry Francona in 2012, Alomar was the other finalist according to GM Chris Antonetti.
“He’s got unbelievable experience as a player, and he’s now gaining that as a coach,” Antonetti told MLB.com about Alomar. “He’s got a very great way about him. He’s disciplined in his preparation. He connects with players exceptionally well. He relates to them well. He has a very high standard for success. I think when you combine those attributes, there’s a lot of ingredients for him to be a successful manager.”
He is a respected baseball man who is seen as a leader that has the ability to connect with players, both Latino and non-Latino. That’s an important trait for a Mets team looking to build a complete coaching staff. Certainly, his presence would be beneficial to not only stars like Yoenis Cespedes, but also younger players like Amed Rosario. As a catching coach, he could also be another sounding board for Travis d’Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki.
As previously noted, Alomar is also familiar with the Mets. While he was not here while Sandy Alderson was in charge, he became familiar with the inner workings of the front office as well as how to deal with the press. These are certainly traits that will help him and would also make him a good support system for Callaway.
It also doesn’t hurt that Alomar has served as the bench coach for both Manny Acta and Terry Francona. Alomar knows what different types of managers look for and need with their bench coach. He has also done that job with different types of managers. This would make him a vital resource to Callaway, who has never served as a manger at the professional level.
Lastly with Alomar, you have a person who really should have received a managerial job by now. This is a driven man, who will certainly do everything he can do to help him, his manager, and the New York Mets get back to the World Series.
