NY Mets: Whose seat is hotter, Luis Rojas or Zack Scott?

Sports fans love to fire someone when things go wrong. In baseball, the two most common punching bags are the manager and the general manager. Sure, we throw flames of fire at the hitting coach and pitching coach often, but it’s those two other positions that have a “take no prisoners” mentality when it comes to criticism. Nothing is different with the 2021 New York Mets. Manager Luis Rojas and general manager Zack Scott are fending off hordes of zombies hoping to take their job.

It’s definitely possible we see both Rojas and Scott lose their jobs after this season. I think we’re too deep into the season to see either exit early. The only exception to this might be a historic collapse to the point where the Mets are fighting for fourth place. By then, all bets are off.

Between the two, Rojas and Scott, I want to examine whose job is safer. Will this combination return in 2022 in full, split apart, or not at all?

The case for Mets manager Luis Rojas

Rojas is in a difficult spot. This has been the case since he took the Mets manager job. The second choice to Carlos Beltran, he took over after the legendary center fielder was ousted because of his involvement with the 2017 Houston Astros cheating scandal.

The Mets can’t even pretend he was their first choice. The previous regime brought him in out of necessity, not so much desire.

Inherited by the current front office, there was always some thought Rojas could lose his job before ever getting a full 162 games to manage. These two points are working well against Rojas in his pursuit to remain the skipper in 2022.

Rojas hasn’t been as brutal as some make him out to be. He has navigated this season, at times, well when the IL had more talent than the active roster. Players also seem to like him (or at least they did) which does carry some importance. However, I always worry he’s more of a best friend than a leader for them.

The front office can say Rojas’ job is safe. I’ll never believe it. Two potential misses at reaching the postseason might be enough for him to get in the unemployment line.

The case for Mets general manager Zack Scott

Another second choice for the Mets, Scott took over the general manager role on an interim basis after Jared Porter was fired. The organization has never made him more than the “acting” general manager which sounds something like the “assistant to the regional manager.”

Working in Scott’s favor is the fact that he was actually hired by Steve Cohen and Sandy Alderson. They definitely wanted to be able to pick his brain. For him, his job performance is what we can question.

A general manager can also only do so much to prove his worth. Scott didn’t get a full offseason to build the roster. Even at the trade deadline, I suspect Alderson was heavily involved.

The Mets missed big at the trade deadline, settling for cheap acquisitions rather than major “win-now” moves. His comments about the players, while refreshing to hear someone finally hold them accountable, may also end up biting him in the end. I’d be curious to know if this gained him a better parking spot at Citi Field or made things worse.

The verdict

Rojas is definitely in far more danger than Scott because of two main factors: he wasn’t the manager anyone in the front office originally hired and he may be on his way to failing for a second straight year.

Cohen has, however, reportedly had interest in making a big front office splash which could make Scott a casualty as well. This could simply mean Scott is put back to the position he was originally hired to have, but a demotion like this can already be demoralizing even if it makes sense.

Where the Mets finish will dictate the future of these two jobs. Rojas needs to finish within arm’s reach of the postseason to save his. Scott may simply be out of luck already.

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Would you fire one or both or neither of these men? Who would you look to hire?