New York Mets missed by not hiring Joe Girardi as their manager

The New York Mets need to replace Sandy Alderson and Mickey Callaway then bring in Joe Girardi.

When the New York Yankees made the decision not to retain manager Joe Girardi, I immediately thought he would be a perfect fit for the New York Mets. He posted a 910-710 record managing the Yankees, winning one World Series in 2009.

Girardi can be arrogant and mind-boggling with the pitching staff but success is success. He was a National League catcher with the Chicago Cubs, a World Series winner with the 1996 Yankees, and was the 2008 Manager of the Year with the Miami Marlins.

Joe knows about winning in New York. He also was not cheap, and the Wilpons, who own the Mets, are all about being cheap.

The owners, along with Sandy Alderson, who was hand-picked by Commissioner Bud Selig to become the Mets GM, weren’t willing to pay for Girardi. Instead, they picked Mickey Callaway. Callaway was a successful pitching coach for the Cleveland Indians under Terry Francona. Sandy decided to not even conduct a second round of interviews after they met Callaway.

The Met fans were suckered once again. Talk is cheap, but this franchise certainly knows how to talk the talk. They just don’t ever walk the walk.

Girardi would have cost money, but his expertise in New York, dealing with the media and knowing how to submit a lineup, would have come in quite handy.

More from Rising Apple

Meanwhile, in the strangest offseason in Free Agent history, Sandy wasn’t aggressive as usual in striking for solid long-term pieces. Instead, he just did the minimum at the lowest cost. That is the Mets way, to bargain hunt.

Does anyone really think the Mets would ever engage in serious discussions for Bryce Harper or Manny Machado? They wouldn’t even go after Lance Lynn or Alex Cobb. They are struggling right now, but long-term would be worlds better than Jason Vargas.

When the Yankees traded Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, they brought back blue chip prospects. Now they have Gleyber Torres and Chapman.

When the Mets traded Jay Bruce, they brought back Ryder Ryan. Now they have Bruce and Ryan. Where is Ryan, by the way? Addison Reed brought back Jamie Callahan. Jacob Rhame was acquired for Curtis Granderson.

None of those prospects are with the Mets, because Sandy believes that Hansel Robles is the answer. Even after giving up yet another home run in Cincinnati, he is expected to remain in the majors this weekend.

As I have written before, Sandy and Mickey talked about accountability. It was a lie. They have lied to all of us. It is 2017 all over again. Poor performance continues to play and this team will now linger in mediocrity unless Sandy and Mickey are fired NOW.

The real problem is Fred and Jeff Wilpon

The real solution is finding a way to rid this city of the Wilpons. Selling the team would create positive hysteria for all Met fans, but commissioner Rob Manfred could care less. After all, there are teams that are purposely tanking. Manfred has his work cut out for him.

A new GM and hiring Joe Girardi would go a long way to bring the team back to credibility. Regardless of how 2018 plays out, the 2019 team would look drastically different and the minor leagues would start their rebuilding.

I wanted to give Mickey a longer leash, but poor decisions throughout the game topping off with the lineup snafu has shown me he is clearly not New York material. He makes Terry Collins look like the second coming of Walter Alston.

Next: Luis Guillorme belongs on the MLB roster for good

Want your voice heard? Join the Rising Apple team!

Write for us!

Mickey and Sandy, goodbye and good riddance.

The New York Mets need to replace Sandy Alderson and Mickey Callaway then bring in Joe Girardi.

More from Rising Apple

The real problem is Fred and Jeff Wilpon

Schedule