Jim Riggleman, Bob Geren considered for bench job
Manager Bob Geren of the Oakland Athletics looks on from the dugout in the game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. (May 26, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
ST. LOUIS -- The Mets interviewed Jim Riggleman for the vacant bench coach position Wednesday and will do the same with Bob Geren later this week, according to two people familiar with the situation.
As of now, these are the only two candidates, and the same sources also said that Larry Bowa is not presently being considered. The Mets prefer a bench coach with managerial experience at the major-league level, and in the case of Riggleman and Geren, both held that job title for the first few months of this season.
The manner in which they left those positions, however, was quite different. Riggleman resigned from the Nationals in June over a contract dispute -- he wanted an immediate extension -- and Geren was fired by the Athletics.
Unlike Riggleman, who had lowly Washington off to a good start this year, Geren struggled in Oakland, where he was unpopular among the players. Geren was replaced by Bob Melvin on June 9 in the middle of a road trip and the A's on a nine-game losing streak.
In the days leading up his firing, Geren's hold on the club appeared to be slipping badly. Brian Fuentes, the A's closer, ripped Geren to the San Francisco Chronicle for his "unorthodox managing" and "zero communication." Oakland's former closer, Huston Street, took it a step further, saying that Geren was "the least favorite person I have ever encountered in sports."
As the Mets look to fill out their own vacancies, they have not yet been contacted by any clubs seeking permission to interview potential GM candidates. J.P. Ricciardi, a special assistant to Sandy Alderson, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for the GM job in Baltimore and could be considered for a position in Boston after Theo Epstein's exit.
