Good morning, all. I hope your week is off to a terrific start.
New York Mets manager Buck Showalter is in the second year of a three-year contract. I would not be surprised, if he does not return as manager in 2024. Whether club owner Steve Cohen reassigns him to another spot in the organization - a favorite George Steinbrenner tactic - or just pays him off and sends him on his merry way remains to be seen, but some of the Mets’ failures in 2023 fall on Showalter’s shoulders.
The New York media loves Showalter, going back to his days as manager of the Yankees, but his managerial record has always been inflated by the shade this same media has given him. Fact is, Showalter has been a good manager, not a great manager at all of his stops. He has never won a pennant, thus never managed in a World Series and has always been suspect in his handling of pitchers in the big spot.
In less than two years, Showalter’s tenure with the Mets has turned sour. Welcomed with open arms under new owner Cohen in 2022, Showalter, the media promised, would turn around the team culture. The Mets were about to steal the city from the Yankees; the Mets were about to begin an era of dominance; Showalter was going to lead them to the promised land and secure his spot in the Hall of Fame. Instead, the Mets have become an unmitigated disaster.
The Mets were contending for the NL East crown for much of Showalter’s first season, but collapsed in the last week of the season against who else, their nemisis the Atlanta Braves. A week later they were ousted by the San Diego Padres in the wild card round, losing two-of-three on their home turf.
Billionaire Cohen promised the loyal fanbase the Mets would close the deal in 2023. After spending some of his fortune to sign Max Scherzer in 2022, he added another pitching great, Justin Verlander, in 2023, while inflating his team payroll to a MLB record $335M. Mets fans on social media were crowing louder than your neighbor’s rooster, after that signing. Might as well forget the season and stage the parade up the Canyon of Heroes.
Well, something has happened on the way to October; the Mets have become a laughingstock. Scherzer and Verlander are gone, traded for the proverbial prospects, the Mets record is way below .500 and these days they have to battle to get by the Washington Nationals, let alone the perennial contending Braves. The payroll of the Mets current roster is now less than what they are paying players no longer on the club. Cohen is operating the team budget like the U.S. government, although you can make the case he is in much better financial health.
Numerous stories emerge from the New York media - which loves a good controversy - that the clubhouse culture is toxic, that Verlander and Scherzer did not get along, that Verlander was a “diva” and that slugger Pete Alonso is also trouble in the lockerroom. ESPN broadcaster and ex-Met David Cone came to Alonso’s defense in Sunday night’s telecast, claiming none of what has been said about Alonso is true.
It does not matter. What is true is the Mets have been an embarrassment, regardless of how deep the owner’s pockets are. The situation has gotten so out of control that Scherzer spilled the beans that the Mets braintrust told him the club is looking to contend in 2025 or 2026 not 2024, a big reason he demanded a trade. That led Cohen to send a letter out to season ticket holders, claiming the Mets were not throwing in the towel for next season.
Stories are circulating that GM Billy Epler is also in trouble and that the Mets will hire highly touted Milwaukee Brewers executive David Stearns, whose contract expires after the season. Whether it’s Epler or Stearns or even the reincarnation of Bing Devine, it’s this typist’s opinion Showalter is out as manager, after this season. His dugout demeanor even seems to indicate it. If body language is an indicator, Showalter appears to be resigned to his fate.
Not all of the Mets disasterous season falls on Showalter, but part of it does, and when you read about a toxic clubhouse, that usually is a harbinger of a manager about to be dismissed.
No matter how the job description of a major league manager has changed over the years the sage advice of Casey Stengel on what makes a successful manager still stands: “Keep the five players who hate the manager away from the five players who are undecided.”
As for the Yankees
The other New York baseball club, the Yankees, are another disaster. If anybody is on the hot seat, however, it is probably manager Aaron Boone. GM Brian Cashman will survive. He always does. The Yankees need major changes. Don’t expect it.
August in New York was supposed to be an intense time for this baseball-crazed city, instead it has turned into football season, four weeks before the Giants and Jets season openers.
College football’s shake up
Do not feel alone, if you are confused about what is happening on the college football conference front. The Pac 12 is disappearing faster than a snowman in 90-degree heat. Is that the Big 10 or the Big 12, getting new teams? What of the ACC? The number of schools changing conferences makes your head spin.
Money, of course, is the big reason these schools are playing conference hopscotch, big money. College football is the major reason behind the outlay of all this dough by the TV networks. Believe me, except for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, college basketball is nothing more than a program filler for these networks, once the football season is over.
Mark my words, however, college basketball will also be impacted by these machinations. The day is going to come when March Madness, as we know it, will also disppear. The Power 5 conferences will break away and have their own elite tournament. There will be no more Princeton upsetting Arizona. Money, naturally, will be the motivator behind the basketball upheavel. It always is. Bet on it. It’s legal.
The perfect backdrop
For some reason, I have really been marveling at the sunsets and beautiful summer skies, while broadcasting Hartford Yard Goats baseball games this season. While in Portland, ME last week, broadcasting the Yard Goats against the Portland Sea Dogs, I took this shot of Hadlock Field, after the sun had set. Enjoy.
That is going to do it for this week’s newsletter. As always, thank you for your support and have a terrific week.
SPORTSCASTER DAN