Great suggestion by Delcos.
If not Gardenhire, my choices would be either Charlie Manuel, who got a raw deal in Philadelphia, or going through another era of Davey Johnson, who clearly does not want to retire from the Washington Nationals. Johnson, of course, won’t come cheaply.Please, let’s not hear anything about being too old. Both are sharp and still have considerable to teach and fire left in the tank.However, since neither would happen we’re back to Collins.
So before you roll your eyes…
7 years with the Mets .588
3 with the Reds .543
2 with the Orioles .574
2 with the Dodgers .503
3 with the Nats .552
Thats .562 in 17 years.
Oh, and you named him the greatest manager in Franchise history.
Wrong, Bobby Valentine is the greatest manager in Mets history. Davey’s Mets teams, aside from 1986, underachieved.
Before you bury Davey’s teams as underachievers, remember the era they played in. Only two teams in each league made the playoffs. In 1984, the Mets had the 3rd best record in the NL. In 85, the had the second best record in the NL. In 87 they again had the second best record in the NL. They did dip in 89 to the 4th best record in the NL. Finally in 90, the Mets once again had the second best record in the NL. So, if Davey managed under the sames rules that Valentine managed under, he would have made the playoffs almost every year. Davey is the Mets greatest living manager and I would love to see a sequel. As for Charlie Manuel, no thank you….
Davey treats the players like men. He doesn’t impose stupid rules. That’s why managements across the game hate him. Davey has always been a winner, but I think he’s a little old for the job now. Hire him as Special Advisor, and bring in his prodigy: Backman.