And Then There Were 2

Wally Backman is (wisely) turning his full attention to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Jim Leyland has little to no interest in managing the New York Mets.
Neither Jim Wriggleman nor Terry Collins was ever a realistic candidate.

That leaves Mets fans with only two options: Willie Randolph and Rudy Jaramillo. There is also the possibility of hiring Jaramillo as the new hitting coach to work under Randolph, which in all honesty is not a bad option.

If I were Jaramillo, I would think twice (or maybe three times) about taking the position of hitting coach with the Mets. For starters, there is the existing mess and turmoil. In addition, Jaramillo has been blessed enough to hold the title of hitting coach in a park that could turn Mike Matheny into the next Silver Slugger recipient. Sort of like Rick Peterson being a pitching coach in Oakland and New York (he's had the right parks and the right players to work with).

Does Jaramillo really want to become the hitting coach in a park that conjurs up images of the dead-ball era and has nothing left in the stalls but a few broken down old horses? If so, you would have to really point to Omar Minaya as the reason he would do so.

Bobby Valentine? Forget it ... the Wilpons wont rehire a guy they already fired and the last thing Minaya wants is someone who will talk down to him the same way Frank Robinson likely did. Minaya wants control and the Wilpons want their pride.

Short post today, just mumbling aloud.