You wouldn’t know it from the changes Jerry Manuel made to his coaching staff yesterday, but the Mets lost 92 games this season.
That depressing fact seemed to escape Manuel as he announced just two firings and the puzzling decision to include third-base coach Razor Shines among a surprisingly large number of holdovers.
Getting the axe were bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr. and first-base coach Luis Alicea, while pitching coach Dan Warthen, hitting coach Howard Johnson and bullpen coach Randy Niemann are receiving one-year contracts to return in their current positions after the Mets’ fourth-place finish.
Shines and catching instructor Sandy Alomar Jr. also are coming back, but in different roles still to be announced. Judging by Manuel’s comments yesterday, Shines could end up as bench coach as Alomar Jr. takes over for Alicea at first base.
Manuel, who is heading into the final season of a two-year contract, faced the most scrutiny for bringing back Shines after the former major-league first baseman was a total disaster coaching third base.
The Mets had 18 players thrown out at home this season, and Manuel also openly criticized Shines’ work as the team’s outfield coach because of Daniel Murphy’s struggles in left field.
“He’s a good baseball man,” Manuel said when asked how Shines could keep his job.
Warthen also was a bit of a surprise survivor after Mets pitchers issued a whopping 616 walks — three walks shy of the 1999 team record — and compiled a 4.46 ERA that ranked 20th in baseball.
Manuel said the coaches brought in to replace Alomar Sr. and Alicea will be highly experienced, and team sources said they could be former big-league managers.
Manuel knows 2010 will be a make-or-break year for him with the Mets. “It’s going to be a better team [next season],” Manuel said. “If we don’t, you’ll be talking to somebody else.”