Luis Rojas will meet the media on Friday at Citi Field when he is officially introduced as the new Mets manager.
When news came out Wednesday that the Mets had chosen Rojas to replace Carlos Beltran, the reaction was mostly positive -- Rojas has been with the Mets since 2007, has terrific credentials, and is viewed by many as a rising star.
But one of the main concerns some had revolved around how Rojas would handle the media on a daily basis. He'll get his first test on Friday.
Here are five (of many) questions Rojas should be asked...
Do you still need to earn the respect of the players?
Despite having already managed a vast majority of the players on the roster while in the minors -- including Pete Alonso, Jeff McNeil, Dominic Smith, and many others -- there is a thought that Rojas may need to work to earn additional respect now that he's in the big league manager's chair.
Rojas has been lauded for his communication skills, and lots of players he's managed have discussed how approachable and even-keel he is. Will he have to change that approach at all in order to command additional respect?
Additionally, would it be difficult for a 38-year-old manager to bench (or carry out the benching) of an older player due to poor performance or lack of hustle?
Is there any concern about not being the initial first choice?
Rojas wasn't even a finalist along with Eduardo Perez and Derek Shelton when the Mets hired Beltran in November. Because of that, there have been cries from some of "if Rojas wasn't ready in November, what makes him ready in January?"
The above cries have gained more life due to reports that some Mets decision-makers have faith in the long-term success of Rojas but some concern about whether he's ready to excel right now.
This is a very nuanced situation, though.
Rojas not being among the finalists the first time around doesn't necessarily mean he was deemed not ready. There were lots of highly-qualified candidates who didn't get the gig, and lots of highly-qualified candidates (including Buck Showalter and Dusty Baker) who weren't even strongly considered. Rojas was strongly considered the first time around. And he has plenty of backers in the organization.
Perhaps Brodie Van Wagenen, who is a fan of splashes, saw Beltran as a splash. Perez also would've been a bit of a splash. Shelton, not so much.
How does Rojas feel about the circumstances? And is there any concern regarding how things played out?
What kind of manager are you?
We know Rojas is smart, approachable, analytical, and prepared. That's a hell of a start. We also know he lives and breathes baseball. But what kind of in-game manager is he? How does he run a clubhouse? How will he run his spring trainings? Is he a fan of longer leashes for starting pitchers and undefined roles for relievers? Is he totally analytics-driven or will he still bunt from time to time? Does he inform players of off-days in advance and refuse to deviate? How does he handle adversity on and off the field?
What was the hiring process like with Brodie Van Wagenen and others?
Rojas went through the process with Van Wagenen and his lieutenants back in October and again in recent days. What was the process like the first time around?
After Beltran and the Mets parted ways, did Rojas come back in for a face-to-face interview or was the communication over the phone? What was he asked before the Mets chose him and what was his initial reaction upon being chosen?
Have you reached out to your father for advice?
Rojas' Father, Felipe Alou, was the first Dominican-born manager in Major League history.
Has Rojas called his dad yet for advice on how to handle being a first-time manager in the bigs? If so, what was the advice?