MIAMI — The Mets yesterday eliminated “coaching staff” as a potential area for improvement heading to next season.
Manager Terry Collins said all six members of this year’s staff will be asked to return for 2013, and aren’t viewed as part of the problem that led to the Mets’ fourth straight losing season.
Hitting coach Dave Hudgens, pitching coach Dan Warthen, bench coach Bob Geren, third base coach Tim Teufel, first base coach Tom Goodwin and bullpen coach Ricky Bones all received Collins’ endorsement in conversations with general manager Sandy Alderson, who yesterday gave the manager his blessing to keep the staff intact.
“They have done a very good job,” Collins said before the Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Marlins last night. “They are very hard workers and we know we had some lapses at times, but when you are around these coaches to watch them prepare and watch them do their job, they have done a good job.”
It remains unclear what role, if any, Wally Backman will have within the organization next year.
Backman managed the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate at Buffalo this season. A close friend of his told The Post Backman isn’t keen on shifting to Las Vegas — where the Triple-A team will relocate in 2013 — and may explore opportunities outside the organization.
“I bet you he will be gone,” Backman’s friend said.
Backman had conversations last offseason with his mentor Davey Johnson about possibly joining Johnson’s coaching staff in Washington, but returned to the Mets with the hope he would move closer to realizing his goal of becoming a major league manager.
Ramon Ramirez allowed a go-ahead RBI double to Rob Brantly in the eighth inning, sending the Mets to defeat. Jeurys Familia, in his first major league start, pitched four shutout innings, but walked six as the Mets (73-87) lost their third straight.
As for the Mets’ coaching staff, Warthen was thought to be the most vulnerable, as the last remaining coach from manager Jerry Manuel’s regime. The Mets’ pitching staff began play last night ranked 11th in the NL with a 4.11 ERA.
“I think I have done one of my best jobs ever this year,” Warthen said. “I think I’ve gotten better because I’ve learned more, I think I know the league better, I know the guys more and what I think they can do.”