With the Mets casting a wide net in the search for their next manager, another name has come to light as the rumored “mystery candidate.” Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports that Brewers bench coach Pat Murphy has already had multiple interviews with the team and is in the mix for the job.
Whether the talk of a “mystery candidate” elicits an eye-roll or curiosity, prepare to hear more of the same: Andy Martino of SNY reports that there are more unnamed candidates in the running, and that Murphy is not the “bombshell” candidate that has attracted so much speculation.
Murphy, 60, has worked as Craig Counsell’s right-hand man since the 2016 seaosn, a job he earned after a six-year tenure managing in the Padres’ minor-league system and serving as the interim Major League manager for 96 games in 2015. He has extensive experience coaching in the college ranks, serving as the head coach of the Notre Dame baseball program from 1988-1994 and coaching at Arizona State from 1995-2009.
Murphy will join a narrowing pool of candidates for the Mets job, though that pool is certainly being narrowed down. Eduardo Perez has been rumored as a “front runner” while Tim Bogar, Carlos Beltran, Luis Rojas, and Derek Shelton have all been brough back for second interviews. If that group indeed comprises the finalists, it appears the Mets will once again turn to a manager with no prior Major League managerial experience—depending on how one counts Murphy’s interim stint with the Padres. The team has considered candidates from a wide range of backgrounds, and after missing out on Joe Girardi, it’s a bit of an unusual group. However, the search seems to be nearing its conclusion, though a third round of interviews likely remains.
who isnt at this point.
Sadly, I sent an email about the position. I never heard back.
classic Mets PR
They’ll get back to you!
Your probably too expensive for the Wilpons.
Me.
It’s gonna be easier to name who isn’t under consideration over who is, soon.
LOL!
As a Phillies fan, I have to admit that I feel a little bad for the Mets. They had front row seats to the disaster Philadelphia just had with Kapler, why would they want to put themselves in the same situation?? Hire someone with Gdamn managerial experience for crying out loud. Who are these guys?? What a joke
to be fair, at least Murphy has some experience
The Nats, Mets and Phillies all hired 1st time managers for the start of 2018. Both Kapler and Calloway got fired after year two. Kap at slightly under .500 and Mickey 2 games over. Martinez has the Nats two wins away from a ring.
Regardless of experience, all 3 have terrible bullpens. Martinez won about 5 games more than Mickey this year.
I think your Experience requirement is overrated.
How about Alex Cora in Boston. He won the World Series in the first year.
Cora was the first manager without previous MLB management experience to win a World Series since Ozzie Guillen in 2005. And given the Astros’ performance this weekend, it looks like it’ll Martinez won’t be the second
Madonna could have managed that team to WS
Well played philsphan1979. Well played. I think we just had a breakthrough here. Not often a Phil’s fan and a Mets fan agree on anything.
I’m proud to announce we are all candidates for the Mets managerial opening. The Mets did announce that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is no longer a candidate.
He had good organization and moral skills.
Sure, because slaughtering innocents reeks of morality.
Obviously it was a joke
And not a good one. Some things aren’t funny, ever.
Washington post thought he was something special
Nope. Weekend in Flushing.
Badda Bing!
Lapmando. Funniest comment I’ve seen in a long time. Thanks!
Well I pulled my magic 8 ball out and shook it and I asked it “oh 8 ball who is the mystery candidate that the Mets interviewed?” The 8 ball responded, “Pat Murphy.” I was shocked!!! I said, “oh 8 ball can we really afford a big name like that?” The 8 ball said “3 years 2.2 million with a club option for a fourth year.” The 8 ball knows all!!!
David Wright ??
Well, it would follow the Cubs’ path.
the “bombshell” mystery name is Tony Romo . . . . the Mets are going completely out of the box !
It worked with the GM…..
No
I think it’s more likely it’s Tim Tebow
Do it
Proves the world the Mets are a joke going no where
Heidi Whatley is the “bombshell” candidate.
What’s trix, Murphy?
Tim Tebow.
Is that the right Eduardo Perez linked?
Clearly not
nope
So are there “more unnamed candidates in the running” or is it a “narrowing pool”? Pretty lame article.
What are the Mets doing smh?
They are giving everyone a shot except for Showalter
Probably the wisest thing they’ve done in quite some time. Buck needs to go live in the mountains and quit bothering us.
The new Mets manager is at the game tonight, throwing out the first pitch…..
The Mets pivot, making Tim Tebow their starting first baseman and manager, trading Alonso to the Yankees for Corey Lidle’s right femur and the ashes of Thurmond Munson. You heard it here first.
Cricket
Sell the Team!
He stunk up the place at ASU. Perfect for for the Mets
You’re right, he was terrible at ASU:
Murphy was hired by Arizona State University as the head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils baseball team in 1995. The Sun Devils won the Pac-10 Conference championship in 2000 and consecutive Pac-10 championships in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Twice in that same decade, Murphy had teams finish in the Top 3 in the country; a feat matched by only ten other schools. Murphy’s ASU teams were consistently present in the national Top 25, including a streak of 100 consecutive weeks in the polls that lasted from 2000 until the middle of 2005. Murphy led the Sun Devils to the postseason for nine straight seasons and 11 of 12. His teams set an NCAA record of not being shut out in 506 consecutive games between 1995 and 2004, shattering the previous streak of 349.
In 1998, he won Baseball America’s Coach of the Year award and was Pac-10 Coach of the Year four times (2000, 2007, 2008 and 2009). He led ASU to the College World Series four times (1998, 2005, 2007, 2009).
Murphy’s career record at ASU was 629–284–1.
Do just a little research man. At least try.
Sounds like Bob would turn down Coach K for an NBA headcoaching job based on his credentials…
When does the mystery team get involved with this hiring?
Shucks I thought Sheldon Cooper was the mystery manager .
What a letdown for the “mystery candidate”. I wanted A-Rod and J-Lo to manage the team! At least there would be SOMEBODY to look at during boring Mets games… and J-Lo isn’t bad either!
I don’t know why more teams looking to tank a season don’t do something like this. The Marlins were going to lose 100 games with Mattingly managing or Gal Gadot managing while wearing a Marlins colored Wonder Woman outfit. Have the coaching staff consist of Charlize Theron, Zoey Saldana, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams and a few other Hollywood starlets, and we’ve got a very entertaining season.
For the Mets, does it matter if the hitting coach is Mila Kunis or not when it comes to Robinson Cano batting without his inject-able “Flintstones vitamins”?
Go Yankees!
So the Mets are starting over with first interviews
I want Bob Ueker!
So, the Mets fire a manager that won 86 games with a team that many are surprised won that many games, and now they are down to the current list of candidates.
Does anyone really need to think about how this is going end?
my pick out of all the names bandied about is still Tim Bogar. he was manager of the year at three different levels of the minors and his combined managerial record is 362–266. he’s won every where he’s managed. my bombshell pick is either Mike Piazza or John Stearns,both having managerial and coaching experience. Piazza with the WBC and Futures games and Stearns, as manager, won 2 consecutive championships in the minor leagues.