Masse's firing far from a shock

By Mike McGann
Posted Friday, October 6, 2006

Another sign that Brian Cashman is really running the Yankees these days was the firing of Trenton manager Bill Masse. While my old colleague George A. King of the Post has Masse’s reaction to the firing — he was surprised, no one really should be.

Meanwhile, the questions start about who, if anyone, will return among the Mets' minor league managers and coaches, although AA Binghamton's 2006 skipper Juan Samuel appears headed to the Phillies.

While the Mets are keeping a low profile right now, the quick firing of the Trenton caused headlines in New York — King, the long-time Post Yankee beat writer, offers Masse’s take on the firing:

"Obviously, it's Cash's call," Masse told The Post. "I talked to Cash and I am floored and shocked. According to Cash, I put winning ahead of development."

I’m far from alone in having a different perspective, on things, although Cashman and the Yankees declined to comment. In short, Masse was pretty much the most difficult person to deal with among all of the Mets and Yankees minor league teams. He’d routinely storm around if his team was winning — slam doors, lock out the media after games and generally be excessively angry.

Masse doesn’t seem to get that there’s a fine line between being fiery and being a jerk. And while his teams performed, there were always concerns that he put winning ahead of development and could be rough on young pitchers — not exactly the kind of reputation that you want to have as a AA manager.

The fact that Masse seems so surprised — and publicly trashed Cashman — tells you more about the story than anyone else could. Trenton and the Yankees will be much better off without this hot head.
 

Speaking of AA managers, don’t expect to see Binghamton manager Juan Samuel back in 2007. He is expected to join Charlie Manuel’s Phillies’ staff, as the new third base coach.

While the Mets are focused on the postseason, the team is beginning to evaluate their options. The early buzz excludes Gary Carter, who if he doesn’t get one of the big-league openings will likely manage New Orleans or be added to the Mets’ big-league coaching staff, as well as his 1986 teammate Wally Backman — who interviewed for the job at the 2005 Winter Meetings, although Backman could be in the mix for the Trenton job.

One other candidate mentioned, Tony Tijerina, currently Mets’ director of field operations for the minor leagues — who filled in for a large part of the 2006 season as Norfolk’s manager while Ken Oberkfell was sick — probably won’t be an option. There’s been some scuttlebutt that he won’t be back with the organization in 2007.

Until those issues are resolved, don't expect things at new affiliate Savannah or Brooklyn to be sorted out. The best bets to return from what we hear are Frank Cacciatore (who may be in the Binghamton mix, as he has Eastern League experience) who managed Hagerstown in 2006, and George Greer, who's excellent teaching skills were put to the test in Brooklyn in 2006. Neil Allen, who was Columbus' pitching coach in 2006 but resigned after the season, may be in line for one of the Mets' minor league coaching spots.

The Mets may also look at more changes in the scouting department, after the third straight disappointing draft in a row — each done by a different staff — but nothing will be finalized until after the World Series.