Mets to interview Kirk Gibson for manager???

[Dannomyte]

October 11, 2004






FREE PRESS NEWS SERVICES



According to the Bergen County (N.J.) Record, the New York Mets completed a routine interview with Carlos Tosca last Friday, then took more significant steps toward finding another manager in a secret organizational meeting.


The two-step process consisted of preparing to name Lenny Dykstra as the club's special assistant -- then accepting the ex-Met's suggestion that Tigers bench coach Kirk Gibson be interviewed as a candidate to replace Art Howe.


Without any other strong leads in their search, the Mets likely will ask the Tigers for permission to speak with Gibson, who, according to the report, told friends he's eager to begin a managerial career.


"This guy will not accept losing," said Dykstra, who played for the Mets in 1985-89. "He's the kind of manager the Mets need, someone who could change the whole culture there. He's no-nonsense."


Gibson, who played against Dykstra in the National League as a player for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates, has been bench coach the past two seasons for manager and good friend Alan Trammell with the Tigers.


Gibson, 47, hit two home runs in the Tigers' Game 5 clincher in the 1984 World Series against San Diego. He was MVP of the American League championship series that year against Kansas City.


In 1988, Gibson was NL MVP with the Dodgers, then hit a two-run, pinch-hit homer off Oakland's Dennis Eckersley in the ninth inning that won Game 1 of the World Series. Los Angeles won the Series in five games.


Although Tosca was the first candidate interviewed since Omar Minaya was hired as general manager, the Blue Jays' former manager has little shot of getting the job, according to a team source.


Former major league managers Bobby Valentine -- who managed the Mets in 1996-2002 -- and Jim Fregosi have been mentioned as possible replacements for Howe, who was fired after the Mets finished 71-91, fourth in the NL East.


http://www.freep.com/sports/tigers/horn11e_20041011.htm

[islesmetsgiantsfan]

Kirk Gibson? No fu--ing way. If the Mets are going to bring in a fiery manager, it should be someone like Wally Backman, Lenny Dykstra or Howard Johnson, someone that has ties to the organization.

[MotownMonster]

I hope Gibby doesnt go there. He needs to stay in the dugout with Tram. He doesnt need to get sucked into the black hole that is being the Mets manager.