When AAA manager Wally Backman leaving the Mets organization about a week ago, one of the issues that had been leaked to the press was Backman’s handling of Mets prospects. Apparently, the Mets do not have the same issues with AAA pitching coach Frank Viola.
According to ESPN’s Adam Rubin, the Mets are going to offer Viola a contract to remain as the AAA pitching coach. Viola was first brought to the Mets organization in 2011 to serve as the Brooklyn Cyclones pitching coach. He has worked his way through the Mets farm system, and he has been the Las Vegas 51s pitching coach since 2014.
Part of the reason the Mets want to bring him back for a fourth season is the pitchers who pass through AAA rave about him. It also helps his case that the Mets young pitching have helped save the Mets season.
Seth Lugo and Robert Gsellman were unexpectedly thrown into the Mets rotation with the Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, and Steven Matz injuries. Lugo and Gsellman have done more than hold their own. They have thrived. Additionally, Josh Smoker has pitched well out of the Mets bullpen striking out 15.3 batters per nine innings. Just this past week, Gabriel Ynoa did an admirable job making a spot start. Credit for much of this goes to the work Viola has done with these pitchers in AAA.
Considering that Viola retweeted Adam Rubin’s tweet about the contract offer, there is hope Viola will be able to return to the Mets organization.
I’ve told this story a bunch … but I got to meet my childhood idol (Frank Viola) in Salt Lake City. I happen to be there for work, and it happened to be Matz’a last AAA start (we didn’t know it yet) … There was Frank … hanging out by the pen. I approached with a ball and pen in hand. 35, married, 2 kids, / mortgage, a career, i.e., / grown a$$ man. But, i was nervous as a 9 y/o. I was armed wth a few questions.
Hey Frank … the star struck panic sets in. I remember when we got you for Tapani, Aguilera and blank. He stands there looking at me. Oh dear god, I’m blanking on the others
Frank goes, and West, Savage and Drummond. You guys traded the house for me
Me: you were my favorite; I’m a little star struck, can you sign my ball?
Frank grabs the ball with his massive hands. I was surprised that he wasn’t that much taller than me; but his habds, feet, wrists and shoulders … all massive. Makes sense the genetics.
I spit out a few questions. He answers. Nothing special. Then I asked him to rank all the pitchers hay have come through on his watch
He wouldn’t stop talking. The whole time I’m thinking … holy sh!7 … in talking pitching with frank viola.
“Harvey is something special … the key is if he can stay healthy … his mechanics have to stay right or he’s going to break down. You can’t throw that hard for long without being ….[me in a fog]
“I’d put Matz #2 on my list in terms of stuff. Behind Harvey and ahead of Noah. [me in a fog … shaking my head]
“Degrom is he bulldog in the group”
“Familia was …” [im having a out. Kid experience at this point]
He hands me back the ball. I tell him it’s a real honor and I walk away trembling.
I realized at the moment how baseball is like a time machine. Somehow I felt 9 again. I was me and I was the 9 y/o when we traded for him. What an amazing game.
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Yo Frank, unless the contract comes with MLB type money you should turn it down. It is a dead end job with the Mets. A guy with a Cy can name his price.
Viola is a stand up man. There is a middle aged man in Vegas that is mentally challenged and his folks have season tickets. Well, foul ball Paul saw a way to earn some income by selling Viola signed baseball cards and the big man signed each and every one. Kudo’s
Love that story. Loved it the last time you posted it. Please make it an annual ritual – it simply does not get old.