On today’s edition of The Sal Licata Show, Sal argued that Andy Green “played the Mets like a fiddle.” Green landed a three-year deal before the regular season even ended, and the Mets never ran the search they promised.
The big takeaway
A month ago, Green said he didn’t want the job because he wanted more time with his family. Now he has it for three years. The reluctance was a hedge: “He wanted the job and he threw the family stuff out there as an excuse in the event that the Mets wanted to go in a different direction.”
The process doesn’t hold up either. The Mets said there’d be a search, “and there wasn’t a search.” The media and fans have fallen hard for a manager who hasn’t earned it yet, a guy who was “a 90 plus game loser for four years” in San Diego. The late push came from Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor getting healthy.
“He’s managed under zero pressure at all. Has never had to deal with adversity since becoming the Mets manager.”
All of it lands on David Stearns, who hired Carlos Mendoza over Green in the first place. “So if Andy Green’s the perfect fit, well then why’d you choose Mendy instead of him in the first place?” Patience is gone with a front office that “can’t sniff the playoffs” while the owner spends billions. If Stearns ever wins a World Series, “I’ll dress up as RoboCop.” Until then, Green’s first full season carries one expectation: “It’s going to be, hey, you better go out there and win and get to the playoffs or else.”
One more thing
Jaxson Dart’s reported season-ending injury is the worst thing to happen to New York sports this year. “I don’t think there could have been a worse blow to New York sports.” Dart belongs with Jalen Brunson and Aaron Judge as the athletes this city can least afford to lose. The Giants aren’t finished, though: “I still believe that Harbaugh will get this team to be competitive.” And “Jameis Winston is a better option” than any of the names being floated.
The full episode is available below and on YouTube: The Sal Licata Show Episode 173