The Mets released this press today from GM Sandy Alderson:
“We had productive meetings today with Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss as we begin the interview process for our Manager position.
We”ve scheduled interviews with Wally Backman, Terry Collins and Chip Hale this weekend in California.”
As round one of the managerial search completed today in New York, we can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel signifying the end of a search for a manager and the beginning of the search for players on the field.
The two interviewed today, Bob Melvin and Dave Jauss, is an indication of what we can see for the next week or so: an internal search for a manager.
That’s not to say that the Mets will not be looking elsewhere to fill their managerial void, but to begin the search off, Alderson is content with interview those who have spent time within the organization.
Bob Melvin was brought to the Mets this past season as a scout monitoring the AL East and West. Previously, he managed the Seattle Mariners in 2003 and 2004 and then the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2005 to 2009.
He sports a career 493-508 record as a manager, highlighted by the prestigious NL Manager of the Year for 2007.
His nickname, “The Mad Scientist,” was derived from his ability to switch things up in he clubhouse and in the lineup, which resulted in a certain amount of success.
Melvin could bring a lot to this Mets team as they go through a stage of transition in management. His experience and knowledge of the game, and also the fact that he fits Alderson’s outline for a manager, is something that the Mets need in a leadership role.
If Melvin did get hired, there could be no objection solely based on Melvin’s track records of boosting mediocre teams back to relevancy, which is something we hope the Mets are aiming for.
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Dave Jauss on the other hand is someone who I had previous thought was out the door after Alderson took control of the Mets.
With previous ties to ex-manager Jerry Manuel from the 1980s Montreal Expos, Jauss looked like a goner as soon as ownership dismissed his friend Manuel.
This was not the case and he was interviewed today with Melvin, further representing Alderson’s desire to hire from within.
Jauss served as the Mets bench coach this past season under Manuel and word on him is he is a very baseball-smart, very hands-on type of coach. He would be a decent option to serve as a bridge from this past year’s team to where the Mets vision themselves in the future.
Alderson seems to have a clear-cut description for how he views the next New York Mets manager, and the fact that Jauss is a candidate certainly makes me think that he has got a legitimate chance at landing the job. Either way, the search continues.
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Up next for Alderson, he travels to California on Monday to complete a sports-marketing lecture at Cal Berkley, and while there, as he is quoted, he will be interviewing Wally Backman, Terry Collins and Chip Hale.
As interviews continue to take place, I will be here to break down those candidates who are in the running for managing the Mets with continual posts and breakdowns.
Check back later to read my analysis.
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