Sure, there is plenty of heat under the seat of New York Mets manager Buck Showalter as his team enters Monday seven games under .500. However, replacing Showalter with these three candidates could do more harm than good.
It seems almost like an eternity since Buck Showalter was named as the National League Manager of the Year as the New York Mets came off a 101-win season. Despite a collapse that cost them the NL East title and an early exit from the postseason, the Mets were still a hot pick this offseason to return to the World Series for the first time since 2015.
However, all of that buzz has faded into the distance as the Mets enter Monday's tilt in Queens against the Milwaukee Brewers with a 35-42 mark. The Mets are 15.0 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and 8.0 games out of a Wild Card spot, indicating there is a lot still to do if New York is serious about making the postseason.
Could a change in the dugout be the spark the Mets need? We've talked about three potential replacements for Showalter in this article, but change just to make a change isn't always the right move. In fact, sometimes a change can actually hurt a team more than it helps it.
Here are 3 candidates to replace Buck Showalter who could set the New York Mets back
New York Mets manager candidate to avoid: Joe Girardi
Oh sure, we listed Girardi as a potential replacement for Showalter in a previous article … but sometimes you need a little time to really think about it. And, the more we have thought mixing Girardi back into the Big Apple sports scene, the more we don't like the vibe it would create.
If Girardi wanted to go back to managing the Yankees, that's one thing. But for the Mets to hang their hat on a former manager of not only their cross-borough rivals but also the guy who used to guide the Phillies? Well, that may be a little too much for Mets fans to swallow.
While there's no doubt that Girardi will likely land somewhere, there's also no doubt why he's currently looking for a job. His removal in Philadelphia sparked the Phillies to the World Series, so could that say something about how he meshed with a clubhouse in the NL East?
Yes, he's a name who will be thrown around if the Mets decide to move on from Showalter, but there are plenty of negatives that seemingly come along with bringing him on board.
New York Mets manager candidate to avoid: Joe Maddon
There is no question that Maddon will always be able to have someone buy him a drink or dinner on the north side of Chicago after he helped the Cubs win their first World Series title in a century. However, his time in Anaheim overseeing the Angels is a warning sign to any team thinking that he can recreate that Wrigley Field magic in other stadiums.
A 12-game losing streak was the last straw for the Angels when it came to Maddon's leadership, cutting ties with him after going 130-148 in two-plus seasons overseeing the dugout in Anaheim. Ironically, he was let go shortly after the Phillies set Girardi (our previous entry in this article) free of his duties.
While injuries and thin depth played a role in the losing streak that ultimately sealed Maddon's fate, there were also plenty of questions about his bullpen decisions, the same subject that is haunting Showalter right now in the eyes of so many Mets fans. While bringing in Maddon would represent some fresh ideas, it might result in the same logic that is already causing New York fans to lose sleep.
Replacing one very experienced manager with another very experienced manager just doesn't feel like the type of swap the Mets really need to make to generate a spark.
New York Mets manager candidate to avoid: Wally Backman
This one may seem a little out of the box, but stick with me, Mets fans.
If you've followed the team long enough, you know that there are plenty of ties between the Mets and Backman, including nine seasons calling Shea Stadium home between 1980-88. Part of that tenure, of course, includes the 1986 World Series run that Backman played a critical role in (he slashed .333/.429/.333 in 22 plate appearances against the Boston Red Sox in the Fall Classic).
Backman has also been connected to the Mets after moving on from them on the field, including managing the Triple-A team in Las Vegas from 2013-2016. His end with the team was not pretty as he was reportedly fired for not going along with the franchise's decisions on player usage, with one media outlet reporting it as "a pattern of defiance."
Obviously that's not going to set well with any front office, even one that looks vastly different than the current set-up the Mets have. However, even though new people may be in charge in Queens, expect the waves from the past to still wash ashore if Backman's name was brought up to take over the team.
Now managing the independent Long Island Ducks, even if Backman was brought back, the potential for skirmishes between the manager and front office because of that "pattern of defiance" could bring even more drama in a season that has already had plenty for the Mets. Simply put, bringing back a familiar face, even with managerial and playing experience with the franchise, would not be worth it.
