In today's New York Times, Lee Jenkins takes a walk down memory lane when it comes to finding the New York Mets a new manager to replace the soon-to-depart, Art Howe -- taking a look at members of the famous 1986 World Series championship team.
The ex-players Jenkins names all have one thing in common: None of them have any experience managing at the Major League level.
But that's not entirely true. One member of that team has 14 years of Major League managing under his belt. In those 14 seasons, he won a World Series championship, five division titles and finished under .500 over a full season only once.
He's a disciple of the great Earl Weaver, whose style of managing most closely mirrored the principles used by adherents of Moneyball today. And best of all, he's got an ornery personality, and is the sort of manager who will stand up to the front office, and tell them when they're running the organization into the ground.
Ladies and gentlemen, meet the once and future manager of the New York Mets:
A pipe dream? Of course. But tell me anyone else available who has that sort of record?
Well, it worked for the Redskins, in bringing back Gibbs. I don’t see why not.
I agree that Johnson would be the kind of manager that a team like this needs desperately, which is exactly why the Wilpon’s won’t hire someone like him. They’re only interested in ‘yes’ men. I’m sure even sweet Lou is finding Tampa a bit more to his liking in comparison for working with those two idiots.