Andy Martino, SNY.tv | Twitter |
Here's a weird question. Was Carlos Beltran ever the Mets manager?
What we mean is, when the franchise lists its all-time skippers, will Beltran be included despite the fact that the team hired and parted ways with him before he ever saw game action?
The question has implications both trivial and meaningful for Luis Rojas. Is he about to become the 22nd or 23rd manager in franchise history?
Who cares, you say? Okay, fair enough.
But what about this one: Is Rojas the first Latin-American manager in the history of a franchise that makes its home in a borough rich with immigrant communities? Or was Beltran?
The closest parallel in recent baseball history is the Arizona Diamondbacks, who hired Wally Backman in November 2004. Four days after the announcement, the DBacks fired Backman over revelations of past legal and financial troubles.
The Diamondbacks' official website does not list Backman as one their managers. He never managed, so it didn't happen.
Well, the Mets are going in a different direction. Word from the team is that they will list Beltran as their 22nd manager, with a 0-0 record. Rojas will be the 23rd manager in franchise history, and technically the second Latino in the position.
Please alert the Pulitzer committee about this important investigation.