The official decision concerning the fate of Mets’ coaches won’t come until later this month, but general manager Sandy Alderson, in an interview with The Post, didn’t sound as if he is itching to make changes.
That could bode well for pitching coach Dan Warthen, who is the last holdover on the staff from former manager Jerry Manuel’s regime and has been a question mark to return in recent seasons.
“I think the coaching staff has done a solid job,” Alderson said, adding he and manager Terry Collins will discuss the coaches within the next 7-10 days. “Obviously we haven’t gotten the production out of the bullpen we would have liked, but I am not sure that is related to any coach. But Dan has done a nice job over the last couple of years, and I do believe he has developed a rapport with many of the pitchers.”
Earlier this week Collins praised Warthen for his role in helping rookie Matt Harvey make a smooth transition to the major leagues.
Third base coach Tim Teufel, first base coach Tom Goodwin, bench coach Bob Geren and bullpen coach Ricky Bones all joined the Mets this season. Hitting coach Dave Hudgens is completing his second year with the team. Warthen became Mets pitching coach in June 2008.
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Friday night’s 7-3 victory marked the first time the Mets and Brewers had met since Milwaukee’s slugger Ryan Braun was hit by a D.J. Carrasco pitch during a game at Citi Field on May 15, a plunking the Brewers viewed as intentional since Rickie Weeks had homered immediately before Braun came to bat.
That was the game in which Collins removed David Wright from the lineup soon after Braun was hit for fear of retaliation. Wright disagreed with Collins’ decision and the two had a heated discussion in the dugout.
Before the game, Collins said he didn’t think there would be any repercussions.
“Being there, I certainly felt the same thing [as the Brewers],” Collins said. “Our pitcher said he didn’t do it on purpose. The perception was that he did. I don’t think anything will fester now. It has been a long time and [Carrasco’s] not here.’’
Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke agreed with Collins.
“That’s so long ago that it really doesn’t even come into my mind at all,” he said. “We’re at a point right now, we’ve got to worry about beating these guys and winning as many games as we can. So I’m not worried about that.’’
Sure enough, the game went off without a beanball incident. Wright went 2-for-5 with two strikeouts. Braun was 1-for-3 with a walk.
Roenicke also said Collins never talked to him about the incident when both were coaches for the NL All-Star team in July and said he didn’t know about a report this week which said Collins and Wright sought out Braun at the All-Star Game to try and smooth things over.
“I guess I’m not informed,” Roenicke said.
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The Mets and the Single-A Brooklyn Cyclones have renewed their vows and will remain affiliated at least through the 2016 season. The four-year extension is the longest allowed by Major League Baseball.