The Mets have hired Desi Druschel as assistant pitching coach, per Andy Martino of SNY (X links). Druschel has had that same assistant pitching coach title with the Yankees for the past three years but will now move across to town to work for the Mets under pitching coach Jeremy Hefner. Yankee manager Aaron Boone said earlier today that there was one change coming to his coaching staff, so perhaps this was what he was referring to.
Druschel has been coaching for years, working for high schools and colleges starting back in 1996. In 2019, the Yankees hired him away from the Iowa Hawkeyes, giving him the job of minor league manager of pitch development. He was promoted to the major league staff after the 2021 season, working as assistant pitching coach under pitching coach Matt Blake.
It’s impossible to separate player performance from the contributions of a coach, but for what it’s worth, the Yankees had good pitching during Druschel’s time with the club. Yankee pitchers had a collective 3.68 earned run average over the past three seasons combined. That’s fourth in the majors for that stretch, behind only the Astros, Dodgers and Mariners.
The Mets had a collective 3.96 ERA in 2024, 15th in the league. There should be plenty of roster turnover by the time the 2025 season starts, as each of Sean Manaea, Jose Quintana, Luis Severino, Adam Ottavino, Ryne Stanek, Drew Smith and Brooks Raley became free agents at season’s end. President of baseball operations David Stearns should be busy this winter in finding new arms in free agency or the trade market. However it shakes out, Druschel will join Hefner in trying to help the Mets get the best out of them.
Who wants a stinkking Yankee coach on our team?
Mendoza did just fine.
#AgentF Mets won despite Mendoza not because of him
I think he did a good job keeping the team ready and focused, but I don’t think he is a good in game manager and they won often despite his decisions, specifically his terrible use of the bullpen and his decisions on who should be in the lineup. Moving Lindor to the lead off spot might be his only good lineup move all year. He was out managed by a mile in the playoffs. Starting Senga was extra dumb.
We’ve got a “stinking Yankee” manager.
This is such a goofy take. 1 you have the former Yankee bench coach as your manager and he did a fantastic job. 2, this guy has worked under a top 3 pitching coach in the majors. Look at the names who performed amazing for the Yankees the last few years, it’s beyond Luke weaver. It’s Tim hill, Ian Hamilton, Tommy kahnle, clay Holmes, Ron marinaccio, etc… The entire bullpen has punched up under Matt Blake and you just got his understudy, great move for the Mets.
Dude. Your manager is a Yankee and now you poach an assistant. You also signed Severino. Mets love poaching Yankees.
The Yankees have a history of “poaching” ex Mets. Strawberry, Gooden, Cone, Mazzilli, long time ago, Charley Smith & Duke Carmel. not to mention JD Davis & Kelly Stennett. And the worse, color commentator Seaver. Watch them sign Alonso.
Totally forgot our ex mgr 3B coach Rojas.
I just yelled to my wife, hey Honey, the Mets just hired Desi Druschel as assistant pitching coach!!!!!!!
You already have the Yankees 2023 bench coach as our manager.
He couldn’t convince Cole he needed to get his a$$ over to 1st base to cover ground balls to the right side of the infield. I guess he figured the Mets pitchers could!
everyone blames cole for the yankees meltdown
how about judge with the lazy catch?
how about volpe with a disastrous throw?
how about catcher interference?
cole’s pitching was the only reason the yanks even had a shot in game 5 and his defenders blew it big time
“Everyone blames Cole…Cole’s pitching was was the only reason”..In my opinion, when you take into account all factors, including durability, innings and performance, Gerrit Cole has been MLB’s best pitcher of the last 5-7 years.
All That being said, things are magnified in the World Series and Gerrit Cole simply melted down and had a brain cramp at the worst possible time against the Dodgers. He simply HAS to cover first base in that particular situation.
Coltrane, it’s called PFP. Pitchers Fielding Practice. Every team goes through insuring spring training and periodically throughout the season. That play at 1st was with 2 outs! If he covers, they’re out of the inning. My two cents worth from a non Yankees fan
Nobody ONLY blames Cole. Stop your whataboutism.
They all made mistakes, including Cole, so they should all own up to it. These were basic fundamental plays that were not made.
Actually, Severino had a tough time with that last season and yet he was still a Gold Glove finalist
Cole won a Cy Young with them just last year and finished second two years before that but one play negates all of that, apparently.
LUCY IM HOOOOOME
Yea but try it with a German accent
Fine. We’ll let the Mets have this steal from the Yankees. The last of the offseason!
True. If the Mets sign Soto, it won’t be a “steal” from the Yankees since he’s a free agent and no longer part of the Yankees organization.
Theft!
Wrong.