A Risk on Rickey
A surprising move by the Mets, who notified Rick Down Wednesday night that he was being replaced by Rickey Henderson as hitting coach. Down oversaw the Mets' dominant offense last year, and then this year's disappointing version, so who knows? Hitting coaches, Down among them, are accustomed to serving as convenient scapegoats.
But the real story here is not Rick, but Rickey, who becomes the most high-profile coach in all of baseball.
Joe Torre often tells how Reggie Jackson wanted to join the St. Louis coaching staff back when Torre managed the Cardinals. Torre declined, because he thought that Reggie's larger-than-life personality worked better in small doses; that's how Mr. October still works with the Yankees, parachuting in and out.
Rickey isn't an exactly replica of Reggie, but he, too, takes over a room when he enters it. Will he be able to pace himself through the grind of the next 75 games and (possibly) beyond? Will he learn all of his hitters' names? As a player, Rickey was notorious for being oblivious to most of his teammates and coaches.
The Mets obviously thought they needed a fresh voice. They took a risk, going with such a famous voice. We'll see if it pays off.
UPDATE: Well, as it turns out, Rickey is going to be the first-base coach, with Howard Johnson shifting to hitting coach. I take full accountability for Newsday's original story, which ultimately erred in reporting that Henderson would be the hitting coach. That's what Willie Randolph told Rick Down upon firing him Wednesday night, and two other people in the loop confirmed that for myself and David Lennon. Alas, the Mets had a change of heart in the interim. I think the question of how Rickey will fare as an everyday coach is still relevant.
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Comments (8)
RICKEY IS A PERFECT FIT. ESPECIALLY SINCE JOSE REYES' EFFORT WHILE NOT RUNNING OUT GROUND BALLS REALLY FALLS FLAT WITH ME. PERHAPS RICKEY COULD PASS ALONG HIS UNMATCHED EXPERTISE IN NOT RUNNING OUT GROUND BALLS WITH SUPERSTAR STYLE TO JOSE.
PS HOJO RULES!
Now that Henderson is back...let the (card) games begin !
I give Omar and Willie a great deal of credit for what they have accomplished. However, I don't really "get" this move. I don't see Rickey funtioning in a teaching, leadership, etc role. He seems to be self centered and invariably brings out the "Rickey will be Rickey" type comments. Not a great decision by the Mets.
The Mets did not "have a change of heart in the interim." When you were repoting that Henderson was the new hitting coach, everyone else was reporting that, though he had been added to the coaching staff, the decision as to who was going to be the new hitting coach, Ricky or Hojo, had not been made yet.
When are people going to realize that a hitting coach is not the problem or the solution. The problem this team has is plate discipline and the ability to bear down with important At Bats (runner at third with less than two outs). The Mets have been horrible at plating runners from third with less than two outs, this leads to not tacking on runs during the game and ultimately puts the Bullpen in danger during the late innings. The Mets are becoming notorious for getting small lead and losing late. This is a formula that is becoming common and will ultimately be the demise of the Mets. The only ones capable of turning this around are the players themselves, no coach is going to make a difference! Beltran has become increasing undisciplined in his approach and Delgado has been the most undisciplined hitter on this team. Delgado has consistently swung at pitches in his weak zone and pitchers have noticed, until this behavior stops he will continue to get himself out. Wright has changed his swing to a pronounced upper cut which has made him very susceptible to inside pitches and he now has begun to become a hitter that pithcing staffs can solve. Until these 3 change their hitting approach and behaviors the rest of the lineup will not gain any momentum. If Omar is really concerned about hte proper approach then he should point the finger directly at his boys, especially Beltran and Delgado because their inconsistencies are the main offesive problem of this team. Neither of these guys bear down in the crucial situational hitting at bats, they bith continue to get themselves out and other teams can pitch to them. Against the West division and their pitching staffs we will have no chance if thee behaviors continue. We do not pitch well enough to beat these teams without add on runs.
henderson is a mistake and time will show that. why not have just moved julio franco from player to coach, and he could have jusy slid down a few feet on the bench, where he was taking up room anyway.
Julio needs distance from the team. He sees himself as a productive player who was poorly utilized this season. Nonsense, and potentially poisonous in the clubhouse. There's no reason to think he would outperform Rickey at first, if Ricky is committed.
To BobAganoosh:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_heyman/07/19/scoop.thursday/index.html