Why Luis Rojas' moves in managerial debut proved Mets are in very good hands

The big stars were the difference on this strangely sterile Opening Day at Citi Field for the Mets: Yoenis Cespedes doing his best to make up for two lost seasons with a loud home run; Jacob deGrom pitching as brilliantly as ever; and Edwin Diaz getting a relatively no-sweat save -- all vital signs for this 2020 season.

But let’s not overlook the more subtle strategic decisions in Friday’s 1-0 win over the Braves that might be an early indication young Luis Rojas is a keeper as the manager.

For starters, his very first lineup did not have Robinson Cano hitting third, unlike the exhibition games last weekend, and good thing for that or Mets’ fans everywhere would've lose their minds. Whether it was his call or that of Brodie Van Wagenen, it was important that Rojas look like he’s in charge, demonstrating that he realizes Cano is past his prime.

With that in mind, it was perhaps even more significant that the rookie manager replaced Cano at second base in the top of the eighth with rookie Andres Gimenez with the Mets protecting that one-run lead.

It made all the sense in the world, as Gimenez is an outstanding defender, while Cano has lost significant range to age. But did you really think Rojas would have the nerve to make such a move this early?

I know I didn’t. Talk about setting a tone for the season: this was a move that indicated the new manager isn’t going to let egos, reputations or anything else get in the way of winning games.

“One of the things I prioritize is communication,” Rojas said during his post-game press conference via Zoom. “I spoke with Robby about it. You want your best defender in that situation. Cano is a solid defender, but Gimenez has more range.

“(As a team) we’ve gotta be humble enough about passing the glove, or passing the bat, or even passing the wheels (in a pinch-running situation).”

Rojas made it all sound rather matter-of-fact, but it’s never that simple when dealing with egos of star players. Remember how even Joe Girardi was afraid to move Derek Jeter from the top of the lineup in his final season when the Hall of Fame shortstop was limping to the finish line?

Cano is nearly on that level -- he’d be a lock as a Hall of Famer if not for his failed drug test a couple of years ago, and he still believes he’s a very good second baseman. In addition, he made a point of endorsing Rojas as a candidate to Van Wagenen after the Carlos Beltran debacle, so you could almost understand the young manager being beholden to the eight-time All-Star.

As such, it speaks to the relationship Rojas has with players young and old. In fact, his people skills are a big part of why the Mets decided to give him the job after cutting ties with Beltran.

“He just has a feel for that part of it,” one Mets’ person told me last night. “The players trust that he has the best intentions for the team and for him. It’s not an easy thing to define but he has a quality about him. There aren’t a lot of rookie managers who would be willing to make a move like that one game into their managerial career.”

As it turned out, Gimenez made a couple of nice plays, showing off his aforementioned range. One of them may have been pivotal, as he moved toward second to cover the bag when Dansby Swanson broke from first on a pitch, only to have to stop and change direction to flag down a ground ball hit by Johan Camargo for the second out of the inning. Cano might not have been able to reverse course so quickly, in which case the Braves would have had runners at first and third with one out against Justin Wilson.

And speaking of which, Rojas made another somewhat gutsy strategic decision right after the Gimenez play in the eighth, leaving the lefty Wilson in to pitch to Ronald Acuna Jr. with two outs and the tying run at second base.

It looked like a spot that called for Dellin Betances and his devastating breaking ball, which has helped him hold right-handed hitters to a career .167 average, but Rojas stuck with Wilson and was rewarded for it, as the lefty struck out Acuna looking with a backdoor slider.

“He’s got weapons to get righties out,” he said of Wilson.

Still, the manager had to know he would have been roundly second-guessed had Acuna tied the game there, so if nothing else, Rojas wasn’t afraid to buck the conventional move there.

It all made for a memorable managerial debut in a manner Rojas never could have imagined, in an empty ballpark that was almost eerie at times, especially when Cespedes hit his bomb to left to break the tie in the seventh inning, and the only noise in the stadium came from the Mets’ dugout.

Rojas said he was acutely aware of that pandemic effect at that point, noting “the intensity of the crowd” was missing, yet he said for the most part he was too busy managing to notice.

“There was no difference as far as getting locked in,” he said. “You prepare early to make sure you’re on your toes, but things come up in a game and you’ve gotta think quick and make a decision.”

He made the right decisions on Friday, and his players showered him with protein shakes and various gels and whatever they could find after the game, celebrating his first win. Diaz even gave him the game ball that he normally would have taken home with him after the save.

“I had to give it to him,” Diaz said with a smile.

In the end, it was quite a feel-good day for the Mets and their rookie manager, and perhaps a debut that said a lot about Rojas’ future as well.