RealGM

"The Mets will meet with former Major League managers Jim Riggleman and Bob Geren as soon as Wednesday to discuss the team's bench coach position, according to a source.

New York is looking for a bench coach, ideally with major league managerial experience, to succeed Ken Oberkfell o the staff of manager Terry Collins."

Via Adam Rubin/ESPN.com


Read more: http://baseball.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ ... z1aToq99Hs

I'd really like to see them hire Jim Riggleman. He did a great job with the Nationals last year and I think Terry and him would work very well together.


Update- Mets have hired Bob Geren to be their new bench coach. It reportedly came down to Geren and Jim Riggleman with the front office wanting Geren and Terry Collins wanting Riggleman so it it seems like the front office won that battle.

http://www.metsblog.com/2011/10/14/rubi ... coach-job/

"Mets are bringing in L. Bowa this week as a potential bench coach. Bowa worked wonders with Cano. Could do the same for Reyes if he stays!"
11 Oct via Twitter for BlackBerry®

http://twitter.com/#!/wmcdonn25/status/ ... 4569521152

So, add another candidate to the list.

It's now being reported that it probably down to Geren and Riggleman. It sounds like Lary Bowa is not a candidate.
http://www.metsblog.com/2011/10/12/rigg ... nch-coach/

"Bob Geren is the front office's candidate from what I can tell, and Riggleman is Collins' candidate. Usually, front office wins. Usually."
2 hours ago via web

http://twitter.com/#!/NYPost_Mets/statu ... 4027566080

We'll see what ends up happening and who they eventually choose. I believe both are good candidates who can help this team.

I updated the 1st post as it's now being reported that the Mets have hired Bob Geren to be their new bench coach. So, it seems like every position has been filled except for the 1st base coaching position.

"There is speculation among fans and media that Terry Collins wanted one guy to be his bench coach, the front office wanted someone else, Ownership wanted another, and so on. But, in talking with people close to the team, I don’t get that sense at all.

In fact, it sounds to me like – though they were all very open minded towards the outcome, in terms of who to hire – both Collins and Sandy Alderson were looking for someone Focused, Prepared and Analytical, who is a Team Player (i.e., not a big ego), and has Experience Managing a Big League Team. I am sure they all suggested people who should be interviewed. For instance, I’m guessing Collins initiated Jim Riggleman (and hoped for Larry Bowa); I bet Alderson brought in Geren; and I’m sure someone from Ownership recommended Tim Teufel, and probably Dave Jauss. There were likely others on the list. However, knowing what they were looking for, and after conducting the interviews, and after talking to people close to the team and others familiar with the candidates, it sounds to me like they split the difference with Geren.

The way I understand it, the Mets feel Geren has the necessary experience, systematic approach and dedication to game preparation needed to replace Chip Hale. Also, I talked to people this weekend who are familiar with Geren’s time in the big leagues, and they all said he is very serious about baseball; he believes in a team having a hierarchy; and that players should know their roles and be disciplined in doing their job. And so, while there are players who this will rub the wrong way (like in certain circumstances in Oakland, it seems), it is consistent with Collins and what the Mets are trying to build. Also like Collins, they say he has a positive personality (which was not historically the case with other people interviewed for the bench coach job). What’s more, Geren is familiar with New York (having played four seasons with the Yankees in the early 90s). Lastly, he’s said to be a very good catching instructor.

In the end, he strikes me as one of these baseball guys who is more cut out to be a coach than a manager. Here, based on how he’s been described to me, it sounds like he’s best suited being Terry’s top lieutenant; where he can be charged with keeping people focused and on the same page; where he can work with catchers in Spring Training; and help organize game preparation for players and coaches throughout the season."

http://www.metsblog.com/2011/10/17/why- ... nch-coach/