3 worst NY Mets managers in franchise history

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The Mets have had some bad managers over the years. Some had to suffer through brutal seasons which were pretty much not a reflection of their abilities. Guys like Casey Stengel and Wes Westrum who endured the early years as “lovable losers” and so they weren’t subjected to the harsh ridicule of fans and media. And then there were others…who they, themselves, were brutal.

So you might ask, if Stengel and Westrum are given a pass, then who WOULD be considered the three worst managers in New York Mets history? The answer may surprise you. Oh…and the criteria is that the person had to have spent at least two full seasons as a Mets manager…so that we can fully understand the pain we, as fans, had to endure.

3) Dallas Green

Dallas Green would lead the Philadelphia Phillies to their first World Championship in team history in just his first full season as manager in 1980…after taking over during the 1979 season. It would be his very first managerial gig.

The Phillies were the reigning champions and off to another first place finish in 1981 when the strike hit, and lost momentum when play resumed in the second half of a split season.

Green had a very tough demeanor and was constantly at odds with his players. So following the ’81 season, he took the GM job with the Chicago Cubs. Green began rebuilding the Cubs by pilfering the Phillies organization…including getting some unknown prospect by the name of Ryne Sandberg. But disharmony followed Green to Chicago and even though he built a winner in Chicago, he was forced out after the ’87 season due to constant arguments with the Cubs hierarchy.

He was hired by George Steinbrenner for the 1989 season to replace the easy-going Lou Piniella. Green and Steinbrenner would butt heads and Green would be fired before the end of August.

Then came the Mets. When the Mets fired Jeff Torborg…who really should also be on this list…in 1993, they replaced him with Green who had been working as a scout in the organization.

Green would be at the helm of a very frustrating time for the Mets, as they had recently finished dismantling the last of the late 1980’s Mets and were in the one period where the Wilpons spent money…a LOT of money. Bad signings, bad trades, bad attitudes…and a manager who really needed anger management classes…all the ingredients for a volatile clubhouse.

The bottom line is that Green would never duplicate the success he had in his very first season as a manager with the Phillies. He would never lead a team to a record above .500. And his worst work was with the Mets… 3 ½ seasons with a .447 winning percentage. He was obviously not the answer.

2) Art Howe

Bobby Valentine was one of the most successful managers in Mets history. He replaced Dallas Green and immediately the Mets became fun to watch again…and significant. But, after 7 seasons, the act got old and with Valentine becoming too boisterous, and looking for more control, the Mets went in a different direction and grabbed for a more subdued character in Art Howe.

Howe was a puzzling choice from the beginning. He had absolutely no ties, no connections to the Mets organization. He was not a recognizable name as a player, nor as a short-time manager. The only thing anyone could point to was that he was the manager of the Oakland A’s…the Moneyball Oakland A’s.

Howe was a decent player during his time, nothing special. He spent the bulk of his career playing for the Houston Astros and after he retired, he was offered the job to manage there. In five seasons, his teams never finished above third place and he finished there with a sub .500 record of 392-418.

Which brings us, or rather Howe, to the A’s. Howe was puzzling for the Mets, but also odd for the A’s. No ties whatsoever. Yet, he brought a calm demeanor that was probably perfect for the Bay Area team that was trying to emerge from the doldrums. And under the direction GM Billy Beane, and his Moneyball philosophy, the A’s turned things around midway through Howe’s seven year run as manager.

The A’s did not win a World Series during that time. But it was the tension between Beane and Howe that was festering. Howe was portrayed as a defiant malcontent in the movie Moneyball. Whether that is true or not only those parties involved will know for sure. What IS known is that Howe eventually became estranged from Beane and, well, that doesn’t work very well.

So after Howe leads the A’s to a 103-win season, he is dumped and is hired to replace Valentine, his friend, and with whom he served on Valentine’s coaching staff with the Texas Rangers. It was a disaster.

After leading the A’s to 102 wins in 2001 and 103 wins in 2002…he led the Mets to 66 wins in 2003 and 71 wins in 2004. Wait…to better understand it…95 losses in 2003 and 91 losses in 2004. There…that’s better.

Howe was not right for the Mets. He was not a great fit for New York. And there were some pretty decent players on those teams including a couple of Hall of Famers. And, to be honest and objective, the Mets were in the midst of a transition, as Jose Reyes and David Wright were making their debuts, and Carlos Beltran was about to be acquired. But if Howe were any good, he would have survived the down years in order to enjoy the success.

Apparently, even though he was given that chance in Oakland, he was still shown the door after consecutive 100-win seasons. He wasn’t going to be giving the same wiggle room in New York. And rightfully so. Two seasons of Howe was enough.

1) Joe Torre

Joe Torre is revered in New York. Some of it I understand…and some it I don’t. His a local product made good….actually…made great.

As a player…his best years were elsewhere…with the Braves and with the Cardinals. He was a pretty decent catcher who was a really good hitter who converted himself successfully to a third baseman and then first baseman.

By the time he put on a Mets uniform, he was just not very good anymore. In fact, he is most noted for hitting into four double plays in one game. And he always blamed Felix Millan for that. Because if Millan, who was hitting in front of him, hadn’t hit four consecutive singles, Torre could not have possibly achieved such notoriety.

The Mets became Torre’s first managing job when he was asked to be the player-manager following the firing of Joe Frazier in 1977.

Before getting into his managerial time with the Mets, it is important to note his time elsewhere.

First stop after the Mets, Torre returned to his former team, the Braves. And in his first season in 1982, he led the Braves to a first place finish in the Western Division of the National League. After finishing second and third the next two seasons, he took a break from the dugout and became a broadcaster for the California Angels for six seasons. He then joined another former team, the Cardinals. He wasn’t very successful with the Cardinals, and finished there with a sub .500 record.

Torre would, for some reason, be brought in by George Steinbrenner to manage the New York Yankees. He would replace, believe it or not, a young Buck Showalter, who was there to build the dynasty that Torre would eventually benefit as manager. And he did benefit.

Torre would become the manager of a Yankees dynasty that rivaled the best Yankee teams in history…that including four World Championships in five years…and another two American League pennants. Only once in 12 seasons did the Yankees finish with less than 92 wins…and even that one season ended in a WS championship.

So…now…let’s get to Torre as manager of the Mets. It is true that Torre became manager during one of the worst periods of Mets history. Remember, it was 1977. That was the season of the Midnight Massacre. The night they traded Tom Seaver.

There were some aging players like Jerry Koosman, Jon Matlack, Bud Harrelson, John Milner, Ed Kranepool, etc., still around. But you had some young players like Lee Mazzilli and John Stearns. It didn’t matter. The Mets were absolutely brutal under Torre.

Torre’s best contribution as Mets manager? He took the face of the franchise, Lee Mazzilli, who was an exciting player in centerfield, and the Mets most productive offensive player, and decided to turn him into a first baseman. Why? Because he turned himself into a first baseman years earlier? Torre was a catcher and an entirely different player. Mazzilli was a speedy outfielder who got on base, stole bases, and had a little bit of pop. Mazzilli didn’t survive the switch. It ruined him and he was never the same player after Torre got through with him.

To put it in perspective, Torre’s success with the Yankees equaled his failures with the Mets. He had a terrific .605 winning percentage in the Bronx, and a brutal .405 winning percentage in Queens.

While Torre is hailed a hero and glorified as a Hall of Fame manager…nothing he accomplished, or didn’t accomplish, as manager of the New York Mets is a part of that legacy. In fact, it’s best left forgotten.

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