Breaking: Mets Fire Buck Showalter

The Mets announced Sunday that they are firing manager Buck Showalter after perhaps the most disappointing season in franchise history. Here is the full news release:

“We are heading in a new direction, with a new President of Baseball Operations, and we let Buck know we’ll be parting ways. We will begin the search for a new manager immediately,” Mets owner Steve Cohen said in a statement. “Buck is a generational manager, and we value what he has done for our team, including leading us to a 101-win season and postseason berth last year. The commitment and heart that Buck brings to the game will be felt by our organization for years to come. We wish Buck all the best in the next chapter of his career.”

“As we look toward the next chapter for the New York Mets, we felt that making a managerial change was the right course of action,” Mets general manager Billy Eppler said. “We are grateful for Buck’s dedication, professionalism, and leadership, and for his work in guiding the 2022 Mets to a 101-win season, the second-highest total in franchise history. We wish Buck the very best in what comes next for him and his family.”

Yes, the Mets were terrible this season, but was it really Showalter’s fault? There were some puzzling moves in the dugout, but still, blame has top be laid at the feet of the front office, which built a flawed roster. A shakeup there is coming with David Stearns, but by all accounts, Billy Eppler will keep his job. It doesn’t seem fair that he gets to stay and Showalter is the scapegoat.

In any case, the Mets will soon be hiring their fifth manager since Terry Collins retired following the 2017 season (that includes Carlos Beltran and his nonsense), and their third since Steven Cohen took over. Not exactly the picture of stability he promised.