Mickey Callaway’s firing has drawn most of the headlines out of Queens today, though the Mets will also be making a change at bench coach, as MLB.com’s William Ladson (Twitter link) reports that Jim Riggleman will not return to the club in 2020.
Riggleman was hired as bench coach last winter, making the Mets the latest stop in a 46-year career as a player, coach, and manager all over the baseball world. Riggleman is best known for his time as a manager, posting a 726-904 record over five stints with the Padres, Cubs, Mariners, Nationals, and Reds, most recently serving as Cincinnati’s interim manager during the 2018 season. His vast experience in MLB dugouts was seen as a key factor in his hiring with the Mets, who were looking for a veteran voice to assist Callaway, who had just completed his first season as a Major League manager (and indeed, as a manager at any level).
You’ve had a great career. I hope he can find a job, but if not, have a happy retirement Jim!
726-904. Only the Mets could think this was a guy they needed to hire…
If he’d had a winning record he would still be managing.
Got to think John Gibbons gets on somewhere as bench coach with all these openings
He was drafted by the Mets. It’d be kind of neat if he became their bench coach.
Rifleman is a very good “baseball guy”. Hope he catches on somewhere.
Riggleman…damned auto correct!
He did a nice job with the Reds. David Bell wanted his people but I thought Riggleman was worthy of an opportunity to stay in a perfect world.
Indeed, no hard feelings here in cincy. Rig inherited a ridiculous situation and made the best of it. Hope he lands on his feet or rides off into the sunset a happy man.
Dray, mom got your favorite pudding