After the Mets’ 2007 collapse, there was some speculation that Willie Randolph would lose his job. The Mets did not confirm that Randolph was coming back for a couple of days.
Had the Mets started the season with a new manager, rather than letting Randolph go 34-35, they would have had a much better shot at winning the NL East.
The Jets did not even wait 24 hours before getting rid of Eric Mangini. I’m glad the Jets acted a lot more decisively than the Mets did with regards to Randolph. Two years ago, Mangini was Mangenius, the rookie coach who led his team to the playoffs. Who’s to say he won’t be a good coach again someday somewhere else. But he’s not a good coach now, and the Jets are built to win now. In fact, their window might well have passed.
I wish I could be more optimistic about who the Jets will hire now. But 14 years ago, the Jets fired another young coach, Pete Carroll, after a late-season collapse. Owner Leon Hess, declaring he was 80 years old and wanted to win now, hired Rich Kotite.
At least the Jets-Giants rivalry isn’t the same as Mets-Yankees. I don’t think Jet fans will complain about “hiring a Giant” if the Jets get Steve Spagnuolo. We certainly didn’t complain when Bill Parcells came in.
And as of now, the best coach the Jets have had this decade is ex-Giant Bill Belichick, who was HC of NYC for just one day.
Pitchers and catchers can’t get here soon enough.
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