Carlos Beltran

New York Mets: Carlos Beltran, Mets or Bust

by
New York Mets to interview Carlos Beltran.

Carlos Beltran only wants to manager for one team in 2020 and it is the New York Mets. The former Mets All-Star has turned down interview requests from the Padres and the Cubs, two of baseballs best locations this offseason.

Beltran spent 10 years of his career in New York as a Met and Yankee. He says he is ready to live in New York and all of the turmoil with the front office from his playing days has fully settled. Beltran could not comment too much on his future due to his role in the Yankees front office and the Mets preference to keep everything under wraps for now.

Beltran May Feel Ready, But is he Experienced?

He knows he has enough on field and clubhouse experience to be a successful manager, but still lacks the game managing experience. He thinks he can learn as the season goes on, but that should scare fans a little bit. On one hand, the last thing the Mets need is another clueless manager like Mickey Callaway. There were multiple game costing decisions that fell on Callaway because he did not have the experience or due to the front office forcing the move upon him.

On the other hand, first year managers like Aaron Boone and Rocco Baldelli had plenty of success during their first year. Due to his extensive career in the big leagues, he would seem to be closer to Baldelli/Boone than he would be to Callaway on the managing spectrum.

Will he Need to Make Big Decisions?

Managers across baseball are making less decisions now because the front office wants their hands in managing the game. This throws in a new variable, which put into question if all of Callaway’s decisions were his own. Beltran may come into the job willing to learn which will allow the front office to run the show. This would play right into Jeff Wilpon’s hand.

Despite that, Beltran’s baseball instincts will likely be better than Callaway’s, along with the group of coaches he will bring with him. If Beltran was interested, he could keep hitting coach Chili Davis and pitching coach Phil Regan around. It would certainly create some familiarity with the team.

Beltran would be a fan favorite to have back around and could create the connection that was even stronger than what Callaway had. If the Mets want to continue the trend of hiring young managers, Beltran would be the poster child for the movement.

New York Mets: Jeff Wilpon’s Power Struggle

by
New York Mets, Jeff Wilpon

Stop me if you have heard this one before…Jeff Wilpon wants full control over the New York Mets decisions. The COO of the organization looks to hire a manager who falls in line. Instead their aim should be a manager who will do things their own way.

This does not rule out the possible hiring of Joe Girardi or Buck Showalter, which is why they are still receiving interviews. Both managers are guys who want to run the team their own way and leave the front office out of their decision making. This was part of the reason why the Yankees let Girardi go because they wanted someone who would know their place in the organization.

First Year Managers Only?

It is hard to think any veteran manager will simply fall in line with what Wilpon/Brodie Van Wagenen want. Much like Mickey Callaway they will take a chance on a manager without any experience who will follow what he is told. If this is the case, expect another year(s) of futility from the Mets.

This has been the issue since the Wilpons took control of the Mets. Everything has to be done their way and no World Series championships in the last 33 years should show that this is not working. Jeff and Fred Wilpon never worked in baseball outside of owning the team and their baseball opinions are just as good as someone you find on the street. They are single handedly killing their own franchise and their idea that they know best will continue to hold back the franchise.

As the list of candidates settle, the manager who will not be a “yes man” deserves the job. Girardi/Showalter and a potential future hall of famer in Carlos Beltran do not fit that mold. The selected manager will be very telling of what the future of the team will be.

New York Mets: Carlos Beltran to Interview for Manager

by
New York Mets to interview Carlos Beltran.

The former Mets All-Star had a sudden change of heart as Carlos Beltran will meet with the organization in person. Just last week it seemed that Beltran did not want anything to do with the managerial job, but the outcry of fans in favor of Beltran might have helped push him into the interview.

Beltran is certainly an interesting move if the Mets opt to go in that direction. He did not have the best relationship with Jeff Wilpon when he played for the Mets. Wilpon thought he was an overpaid player and wanted him off the team towards the end of his Mets contract.

Another First Year Manager?

He spent time in the Yankees front office after he interviewed for the Yankees manager job. Much like Mickey Callaway he would be a brand new manager, but he would bring knowledge and big game confidence that Callaway never had. Beltran could be more controllable than a Buck Showalter or Joe Girardi which could be enticing to Brodie Van Wagenen.

Unfortunately, Mets fans bring up his strikeout against Adam Wainwright way more than they should. Beltran came to work an played hard every game for the Mets and helped bring the organization back to legitimacy. He had a dominant Mets career and was one of the reasons why the 2006 were a game away from the World Series. His Mets career ended in the trade which brought Zack Wheeler to the Mets. The fans want him back, but at the end of the day the decision falls on the Wilpons.

The Mets would be better served to trust Girardi or Showalter with the job, but you never know with the Mets. Beltran certainly has the knowledge to manage, but he has no where near the pedigree of other candidates. No matter who it is, the new manager will come in with very high expectations on their shoulders.