Robin Ventura Rumored As A Favorite to Become Mets Next Manager

CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 02: Robin Ventura
CHICAGO, IL - OCTOBER 02: Robin Ventura

Former White Sox manager Robin Ventura one of two early favorites to become next New York Mets Manager. He played with Mets from 1999-2001.

After a managerial tenure with one of his former teams, Robin Ventura has emerged as one of two early favorites to become the next manager of the New York Mets according to Mike Puma of the New York post. Current Mets hitting coach Kevin Long is the other rumored favorite.

Ventura played with the Mets from 1999-2001 and is very popular with many of the team’s fans. Similar to his time with the White Sox. Currently Terry Collins is managing the Mets, but his contract expires after this season and he doesn’t appear to be coming back as their manager.

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According to Puma, the Mets managerial search should last into November. Although Ventura is a fan favorite with Mets fans, its odd that he’s being rumored as a favorite for the Mets managerial position. Ventura only had one winning season as manager of the White Sox through five seasons and that was in his first year managing the team in 2012.

Along with having just one winning season as manager, Ventura was unable to prevent the Sox from collapsing in September of 2012 to miss the playoffs. The Sox were in first place for 126 games that season, but lost the American League Central division by three games to the Detroit Tigers in 2012. The Sox would not have another winning season with Ventura as manager and finished his tenure with a 375-435 record.

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Ventura also oversaw a bizzare series of events in the Sox clubhouse while manager. From the sudden retirement of Adam LaRoche, to Chris Sale going on a jersey-cutting tirade. Despite those happenings, Ventura was still liked by the Sox front office and this could help him into being hired by the Mets as manager.