The New York Mets say goodbye to Buck Showalter, their latest manager in the last six years. According to AP News, the 67-year-old was fired on Sunday following a disappointing summer season for the team. Showalter’s departure precedes the introduction of the new president of baseball operations on Monday.
Showalter has had a long career managing baseball teams. Before the Mets, Showalter had managed the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Rangers, Orioles and had even won four Manager of the Year awards. Showalter managed the Mets since late 2021 and led the team to a 101-61 record last season.
“I was honored to get a chance to manage a second New York team,” said Showalter during a pregame news conference. “I’m proud of what the Mets did. We won close to 180 games in two years. Especially last year, as much fun as I’ve ever had in the game. It reminded me why I’ve always loved this kind of work.
“I wish things could have gone better this season because the Mets fans deserve that. In my heart, I always wonder what could have happened if this happened or that happened, but I try not to live in that world. It’s not the ending I wanted, but I still love this city and the players.” he said.
In a separate postgame press conference, New York Mets owner Steve Cohen discussed Showalter’s departure and the new baseball operation’s president, clearing the air that Showalter’s firing had nothing to do with the poor summer season.
“Buck did everything we wanted him to do. Obviously, the season was a disappointment, but it’s not Buck’s fault, OK? It’s spread across the organization,” said Cohen.
“When hiring a president of baseball operations, they’re entitled to bring in their own people. It became clear he wanted to go in a different direction and that’s certainly his right and I gave him that right. It’s no different than when a CEO comes into a new company. They bring in some of their own people,” he continued.
The Mets are now in the market for their next manager. There haven’t been any confirmations of candidates for the position. That said, speculation is running wild online.
