With the season coming to a close, fans are starting to wonder who the next manager will be and whether or not it will be interim skipper Andy Green. President of baseball operations David Stearns is still operating under the assumption that Green will return to the front office at the conclusion of the season. The Mets still intend to do a full managerial search for Carlos Mendoza’s replacement because, well, they have to take Green at his word.
Green has made a very good case for himself to remain in the dugout, so if the farm director has the desire to remain on with the Mets as the manager, he deserves a chance to stay. That doesn’t appear to be the case, though.
“I’ve always loved any opportunity you get to put a uniform on and go compete with a group of guys that you enjoy being around,” Green said Friday at Citi Field ahead of the start of a series against the San Francisco Giants. “You only get so many years doing that. Whether that’s as a player, coach, or manager, you’re thankful for every one of those. At the same time, I’m very thankful for what I got to do in the front office last few years.”
Green is clear on his purpose in baseball: to impact a team in a positive way. He also knows there are several ways he can do that. While many in his position might relish an opportunity for redemption, the former San Diego Padres manager isn’t looking at this as his second chance to manage. For him, this is an opportunity to help the organization in a time of need.
When asked if he misses managing more than he thought he did, the 49-year-old didn’t say no, but he definitely didn’t say yes.
“I think the healthiest thing to say in life is that you find that your job title doesn’t determine your contentment in life, and that you can find contentment in doing whatever you have to do,” he said. “If you truly just crave impact and helping people, all of our jobs provide those types of opportunities. So this job in particular provides that in a unique environment. I’ve always enjoyed that, and I do enjoy that. I’m so very grateful for what I’ve done in the front office as well.”
Whether it’s the farm director or as a general manager, the Mets will find a way to keep Green in the fold. His major league playing experience has been helpful on a staff that has only one former big leaguer, bullpen coach Jose Rosado.
Previously, the Mets had Rosado, Jeremy Hefner and Eric Chavez on the same staff, former players who were respected for what they did on the field during their playing days, as well as off of as coaches. Players seek advice from them on specific in-game situations, knowing they had been in similar ones during their own playing days. The current staff is respected for their ability to provide quality instruction and analytical aptitude. But a former big leaguer would make the staff more well-rounded.
Sometimes, you just need someone who was there.
So if the Mets aren’t going to hire a manager who has already managed at the big-league level, they might want to add playing experience to their list of desired qualities. Stearns isn’t ready to reveal what’s on that list just yet, saying he wants to wait until the end of the season. It could be a mad dash to hire a manager before teams start making transactions ahead of an impending lockout, which would be another benefit to retaining Green — the manager would already be in place at the start of the offseason.
But if it isn’t what he wants, the Mets have to honor his wishes to return to the front office.
“I think Andy has done a very good job in the dugout, but again, I think we will get to the point where I’ll more fully describe what we’re seeking in our next manager,” Stearns said. “Today is probably not the day to do that.”