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NY Mets Rumors: 3 familiar faces to replace Buck Showalter, 1 to avoid at all cost

By Mark Powell

Manager Buck Showalter #11 of the New York Mets watches batting practice before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 19, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Mets defeated the Phillies 7-2 (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Manager Buck Showalter #11 of the New York Mets watches batting practice before a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on August 19, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Mets defeated the Phillies 7-2 (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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TAICHUNG, TAIWAN – MARCH 10: Manager Mike Piazza #31 of Team Italy looks on prior to the World Baseball Classic Pool A game between Italy and Chinese Taipei at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium on March 10, 2023 in Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images)
TAICHUNG, TAIWAN – MARCH 10: Manager Mike Piazza #31 of Team Italy looks on prior to the World Baseball Classic Pool A game between Italy and Chinese Taipei at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium on March 10, 2023 in Taichung, Taiwan. (Photo by Gene Wang/Getty Images) /

NY Mets Rumors: Can Mike Piazza replace Buck Showalter?

Fresh off managing Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic, Mike Piazza’s next move would be to manage at the MLB level. As a former catcher, Piazza is used to managing pitching staffs, and being a leader in the clubhouse. He provided both of those attributes to an Italian team which over-performed at the World Baseball Classic.

Piazza has already been a regular at Mets spring training over the past few seasons, where he has worked with top prospect Francisco Alvarez, helping him make the necessary improvements in his game, especially defensively. Now, Alvarez is a regular in New York’s lineup, and one of the best young players in the National League. Coincidence? I think not.

“I think from what I’ve seen [of Alvarez, he is] a very exciting hitter and hope he continues his hot pace,” Piazza said. “He is coming up with clutch HRs, and that is a great sign.”

Piazza went on to say the test for Alvarez will be adjusting to opposing pitchers after they’ve faced him multiple times.

“The big test,” said Piazza, “will be when he goes around the league a few times and pitchers start adjusting.”

Piazza, born in Pennsylvania, had little reason to be so damn committed to Italy in the World Baseball Classic. Unlike the players he managed, Piazza was involved every step of the way, even managing the team in the European championships. That’s the kind of leader Piazza is, and with the Mets, he’d be involved from the top-down.

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