Melvin likely would keep Callaway as Mets manager
If hired as general manager of the New York Mets, Doug Melvin likely would keep Mickey Callaway as manager.
The former Texas and Milwaukee GM has his second interview Tuesday with the Mets, meeting with owner Fred Wilpon and his son, chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon. Agent Brodie Van Wagenen and Tampa Bay senior vice president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom are also finalists for the job.
Callaway replaced Terry Collins after the 2017 season and the team started 11-1, then was hobbled by injuries and finished fourth in the NL East at 77-85.
“My feeling is that he probably deserves a chance to do this again,” Melvin said during a telephone news conference. “I want to sit down if I get this job and talk extensively with Mickey and see his philosophy and that. But I think he does probably deserve a chance because he’s been a good baseball guy.”
Sandy Alderson was hired as Mets general manager in October 2010 but took a leave of absence in July when he had a recurrence of cancer and said the team’s poor record did not justify him returning. The team’s baseball decisions have been made since by the trio of assistant general manager John Ricco and special assistants Omar Minaya and J.P. Ricciardi, all reporting to the Wilpons.
“I’ve been given the freedom to, if I want to bring people in,” Melvin said. “But I don’t want to jump to conclusions that I’m going to go and get rid of a bunch of people and go and bring in 10 people that I know.”
Now 66, Melvin was general manager of Texas from 1994-01 and of Milwaukee from 2002-2015. He shifted to an adviser’s role in August 2015 as the Brewers were headed to a 64-98 record, saying then: “The job has grown to the point that it’s probably suited to somebody younger than me.”
McGwire won’t return as Padres bench coach
SAN DIEGO >> Padres manager Andy Green says Mark McGwire won’t return as San Diego’s bench coach next season in order to spend more time with his family.
McGwire, who hit 583 home runs during his big league career, spent three seasons on the Padres’ staff.
“He wants to watch his two boys play high school baseball,” Green said in a text to The Associated Press. “We talked about it a lot before the season ended.”
McGwire lives in Irvine in southern OrMcGwire joined the Padres after spending three seasons as hitting coach of the rival Dodgers. Before that, McGwire was hitting coach of the Cardinals for three seasons following a hiatus after his steroid-tainted playing career ended.
Longtime Giants announcer Greenwald dies at 83
SAN FRANCISCO >> Longtime San Francisco Giants broadcaster Hank Greenwald has died at 83. The Giants say he died Monday after battling heart and kidney complications.
Greenwald spent 16 seasons as the team’s play-by-play broadcaster. He called Giants games on radio from 1979-86 before leaving for a two-year stint with the New York Yankees. He then returned to the Giants and called their games until he stepped down in 1996.