The New York Mets will regret not hiring Joe Girardi as manager
As the New York Mets manager options pile up, it will be the candidate that got away to a division rival that they regret.
The New York Mets have some interesting options for the manager position since firing Mickey Callaway. One of their primary targets was Joe Girardi, who decided to accept an offer from their National League East rivals the Philadelphia Phillies.
Girardi is a World Series champion in 2009 with the New York Yankees as their manager and multiple time winner while playing for the franchise. He holds a career record of 988-794 in 10 seasons as a manager with his first with the overachieving Florida Marlins. He has experience with young players and has a proven track record of success that is a formula needed tremendously in Queens, New York.
Girardi spoke about his relationship with young players in his introductory press conference for the Phillies.
"“I went through that with the Marlins and went through that with the Yankees,” the 55-year-old Girardi told reporters. “And I felt that I was able to get the most out of those [young] players. We were one game from reaching the World Series, so if there was a problem, it didn’t show up in the wins and losses.”"
Girardi’s 2017 Yankees had to chances at getting that elusive victory to clinch a trip to the World Series. The Houston Astros were once again the reason for the ALCS exit, but it was a milestone moment in Girardi’s managing career. The longtime catcher was considered a manager of the year candidate for growing an overachieving Yankees that caught fire earlier than expected.
The Mets have had a carousel of managers and are still trying to find a permanent fit to at least outlast Terry Collins’ tenure. Collins was able to lead the Mets to a World Series appearance in 2015, and before that, it was Bobby Valentine in 2000. The stability at the top of the front office will be critical as well in regards to the strength of a good manager.
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The Mets will regret seeing Girardi multiple times a year in the Phillies dugout. Their next manager needs to make beating Philadelphia another top priority along with that much desired World Series title.