The Mets have interviewed Padres first base coach and former big league utility man Skip Schumaker for their managerial vacancy, Dennis Lin of The Athletic tweets. The interview took place yesterday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post adds.
Like the vast majority of the Mets’ candidates to this point, the 39-year-old Schumaker (40 in February) lacks any managerial experience. But since hanging up his spikes after the 2015 campaign, he’s worked in the Padres organization in a variety of capacities. Schumaker first joined the front office as a special assistant to the baseball operations and player development departments. He worked with the Padres’ minor league affiliates in that capacity and has since taken on a prominent role on the Major League coaching staff, beginning in 2018.
General manager Brodie Van Wagenen is surely somewhat familiar with Schumaker; while Van Wagenen didn’t represent him directly during his playing career, Schumaker was a client of Van Wagenen’s now-former agency, CAA Baseball (where he was represented by agent Nez Balelo). He joins a growing list of interviewees that includes Joe Girardi — the only candidate with Major League managerial experience — as well as D-backs director of player development Mike Bell, former big league outfielder Carlos Beltran, former Astros bench coach Eduardo Perez (currently of ESPN fame), Twins bench coach Derek Shelton and current Mets quality control coach Luis Rojas.
Notably, that list doesn’t represent the entirety of the Mets’ search, per Andy Martino of SNY (Twitter link). Additional candidates could yet receive interviews as the team continues its quest to replace the recently fired Mickey Callaway. You can keep up to date with the Mets’ managerial search as well as the six other active searches throughout the league by bookmarking MLBTR’s 2020 Managerial Tracker.
now that’s an interseting option.
outside the box for sure
Damn, the Mets are interviewing everybody.
Wonder if they’ll give Dykstra a look?
Isn’t he in prison?
shh, dont tell them
Wally Backman deserves a second 4 day stint
Oh boy another client of CAA. The Mets are still scamming. They interview Girardi but they don’t want to pay him. They’ll let someone else hire Girardi so it looks like they’re still searching. Why would the Mets hire another manager without managerial experience? They fired Callaway with issues related to inexperience. They want the cheap guy and they’ll hope he works out.
Hey – at least he has a fitting name!
Having been with the Pads since 2015 – Skip know a thing or two about a winning… he’s seen so many teams pass through San Diego doing just that.
now that was funny!!
ESPN has confirmed Wally Backman was Interviewed today also for the open Mets skipper spot .
Loved this guy in his playing days, he turned himself into a real fan favorite with his hard-nosed play. He’s got a good knowledge of the game, so he could turn out to be a real find if they hire him.
I was actually surprised Callaway wasn’t fired after Brodie Van Wagenen took over but Wilpon probably didn’t want to pay for a new manager.
My money is on Kevin Mitchell…
Lol . . . . instead of Jeff Kent ? c’mon !!
You got the right idea. There’s a slew of ex-Padres under consideration around the league (look at the Cubs, 3 or 4 ex-Pads there alone).
Plus, Kevin Mitchell will get those guys in line or he’ll cut ya’!
The number of candidates, most of whom are extremely uninspiring, proves the ineptitude of this team’s leadership. From the owners to the incompetent GM, it’s hard being a Mets fan.
Again, teams that win the World Series hire managers with experience. Alex Cora last year was the only guy since 2006 to win the World Series with his first team as manager. Look at all the hotshot young managers that are failing this postseason: Roberts makes crucial mistakes for the Dodgers when it matters and can’t win in the postseason despite winning 302 games over the last 3 years. Baldelli gets blown away in 3 games after winning 101 games in the regular season. Boone has the Yankees in exactly the same place as they were two years ago facing elimination by the Astros. And who’s the heavy favorite to win the World Series right now? The Astros, lead by former Diamondbacks manager A.J. Hinch. Experience, experience, experience. In the post-season there is no margin for error and no time for managers to learn how to manage.
The Mets have a talented roster that needs to get over the hump to win it all, They missed the playoffs by only 3 games, and I can think of at least 3 games they would have won had Callaway not made inexcusable errors. Skip the growing pains, skip the prospects, sign a vet.
Totally thought you were going to end that with Skip the growing pains, skip the prospects, skip Skip…
That would have been great, but you ruined it. Lol
Haha yeah I forgot who the article was about for a minute there, there’s so many candidates. I also found out another interesting fact from last year too: the Mets were 1-5 against the Brewers last year and all but one of those games was decided by 3 runs or less. They go 5-1 or 6-0 in just those games and they’re in the playoffs… so frustrating. A great example of how every game in a 162 game season still matters.
Cannot play the what if games.
If Bruan Cain and yelich don’t get hurt they brewers take the division.
There is zero reasons why the Mets would have gotten to the playoff this year or the next. They are the bums, pure and simple, they hired a freakin agent as a gm. Seriously?
Anyone managing the Astros is going to the WS.
Only LaRussa wasnt with his first team in 06….
The Mets should really interview Bobby Bonilla. I mean, he’s already on their payroll.
Looks like they’re going cheap for a manager.
I’m throwing my hat into the ring!
I feel like he’d be a great option. He’s been around for years and probably learned a lot underneath some very good managers.
Like Green in San Diego?
I was going for La Russia and Mattingly lol
Now you’re on the Green train?
The Mets will be interviewing Bobby Bonilla and if they hire him he will get 1m a year for 40 years.
I heard that Brodie Van Waggen is goint to interview his chauffeur and barber next week.
Great name for a manager!
I always wondered if homer bailey should’ve been a hitter.
The Mets need to fire the Agent/GM the guy doesn’t have the foresight to acknowledge a rebuild he could have made a big splash at the deadline by dealing Thor, Degrom and the other big names instead he took on Stroman. They need to hire a proven manager to get the players in line and provide the leadership.
Schu would make a good manager…