Jerry Manuel has made some minor moves with his coaching staff. No one on the staff had contracts following the 2008 season.
Hitting coach Howard Johnson, pitching coach Dan Warthen, bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr. and catching instructor Sandy Alomar Jr. will all return in 2009.
Guy Conti, the Mets bullpen coach for the past 4 years, will be replaced by Randy Niemann. This will be Niemann’s third stint as the Mets’ bullpen coach and he has been in the organization for 22 years. He was the bullpen coach when the Mets went to the World Series in 2000 (and of course was also a member of the ‘86 Mets). For the past two seasons he has been serving as the Mets Minor League Rehabilitation Coordinator.
Replacing Luis Aguayo at third base will be Razor Shines. Shines was the third base coach for the White Sox in 2007 and spent this year managing the Phillies’ Single-A affiliate, the Clearwater Threshers. He managed the Threshers to a 64-76 record (Hopefully this means the Phillies have poor talent in Single-A).
If nothing else, at least Shines carries a fantastic name that, if appropriate, will lead to some thoughtful headlines.
Ken Oberkfell is also out as first base coach. Both he and Aguayo will be reassigned within the organiztion. The organization appeared very high on Oberkfell last year when he was managing in New Orleans so I wouldn’t be surprised if he were assigned to manage in Buffalo.
The first base coaching position is the only position yet to be filled.
Maybe the Mets can name Roberto Alomar first base coach and have the Alomar trifecta?(Or maybe Alomar at 2B?) I would say both possibilities are doubtful.
