The Mets have gone through too many managers over the past 5 seasons, none have sticked through since Terry Collins left in 2018. From the failures of Luis Rojas and Mickey Callaway to firing Carlos Beltran from the Astros cheating scandal then to Buck who could not manage to bring a team built for contention back in the playoffs the year after finishing with 101 wins. Managers don’t always stick but are truly the glue that bonds a team together. It’s the leader that can take any squad of players and turn them into winners and fight to contend.

The hiring of ‘name brand’ managers have failed miserably recently over the years. Big market teams think the answer to all their prays is an experienced manager this way of thinking isn’t always the best answer for success. Majority of them haven’t continued to be stellar after falling off as managers. Only a few have prevailed continued success and those team are contending in the ALCS playoffs this year; Bruce Bochy of the Texas Rangers and Dusty Baker of the Houston Astros. It’ll be a real Texas showdown and the first time the two Texas teams face off in the playoffs and it’ll be even bigger for the two greats leading their squads. Baker who hasn’t managed since the Nationals let him go in 2017, but when News broke of the Astros cheating scandal and AJ Hinch was let go Baker immediately took over and the Astros haven’t looked back since. Aiming to be the first team to win back to back World Series since the Yankees did it 3 consecutive times from 1998-2000.

But this is a rare case, most of the time hiring old managers doesn’t always workout, the best example is hiring Buck Showalter, a man who was not a huge fan of modern day analytics struggled to keep the Mets afloat in the difficult National League race. White Sox hired Tony LaRussa and only had one good season before Russa stepped down in 2022.

Joe Maddon after leading the Cubs to their first World Series victory in 108 years in 2016 and the Rays first AL pennant in their franchise history in 2008 struggled to turn around an Angels team in 2022 before he was inevitably let go by management by having a team consisting of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani out of playoff reach. And most importantly Joe Giradi who was let go by the Phillies last season. Joe Giradi who led the Yankees to consistent success in the early 2010’s with most prominently the 2009 World Series title was seen as one of the best managers on the market when he was let go by the organization in 2017.

It wouldn’t be until 2020 that the Phillies brought him back in the spotlight hoping he could turn around their playoff drought of 9 years and bring the fighting reds back into contention with big names like Bryce Harper and Zach Wheeler to lead the path. Giradi failed to impress in his 2.5 years with the organization. Having a below .500 record in 3 season (.484) was not cutting it enough for the team to keep him as manager. After a horrible start to the 2022 season where the Phillies went 22-29 the Phillies cut tie with the old veteran and subbed in bench coach as Rob Thomson as interim manager.

No one really knew if Thomson could handle this role and the pressure to turn them around to fight for a wild card spot. With the Mets and Braves dominating the National League East, it seemed impossible to challenge the thought of being in serious contention. Rob Thomson came in and changed the mentality in Philly, they went 65-46 the rest of the day and earned themselves #3rd wildcard spot. The Phillies had a dominant postseason run led by star aces in Zach Wheeler and Aaron Nola but fell short to the Houston Astros. Rob Thomson became the star manager for the Phillies and for the second consecutive year they reached the NLCS and may be in line with their first World Series win since 2008 😉

They had a no name bench coach take over a crumbling Phillies team and bring them to the World Series. To reiterate the Mets should take notes in this and stop always thinking we need to have the fanciest names to lead the squad, the name does not always indicate success as previously mentioned. But a name in particular that has always been in rumors about becoming the next Mets manager but never got his chance is Joe Espada bench coach of then Houston Astros.

The thoughts of hiring Espada years ago was not as appealing to the Mets as it may be now, they weren’t interested in taking the chance with him as a rookie manager but I believe going the route of Mickey Callway and Luis Rojas was far worse. But seeing that Rob Thomson has made significant strides with the Phillies it wouldn’t be a surprise another bench coach can lead the way. Joe Espada has been there through all the glory of the Astros regime, he was the right hand man from AJ Hinch to Dusty Baker, he’s the man who I believe is most capable to run for the managerial title. That’s only if David Sterns doesn’t magically bring Craig Counsell from Milwaukee with him to New York!