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A32 sports
Diamars 5 OctOber 2021

Mets let go manager Luis Rojas out after 2 losing seasons

leased by the team. sion for 90 straight days de- ants, baseball’s top two teams,
spite a wave of injuries. Ro- dropped the Mets from five “I enjoyed my time here the
“We live in a results-oriented jas drew praise for his steady games over .500 and tied for last two years being the man-
business, and am deeply dis- hand and communication first place to 62-66 and 6 1/2 ager,” Rojas said last week,
appointed for our staff and skills — even garnering men- games out on Aug. 26. In a the writing already on the
fans that we didn’t reach our tion as a potential Manager of middling division, they lost wall. “It’s been fun every day
goals this season,” he said. the Year candidate. the lead for good on Aug. 14 just working with the guys
and never really recovered. and connecting with them
The Mets said Rojas has been But then everything fell apart and preparing. We haven’t
offered the opportunity to over the final two months of A missed opportunity. achieved what we wanted to
remain in the organization in the season. achieve.”
(AP) — Luis Rojas was let a role still to be determined. Rojas made a series of ques-
go as manager of the New The club said decisions about With ace pitcher Jacob de- tionable in-game decisions Rojas was swiftly elevated
York Mets on Monday af- the coaching staff will be Grom sidelined since the down the stretch, and the col- to skipper in January 2020
ter two losing seasons. made in the next several days. All-Star break by a sprained lapse was complete when the by former general manager
elbow, New York went into Mets were eliminated from Brodie Van Wagenen as the
The team declined its option “The entire Mets organiza- a nosedive once August ar- postseason contention Sept. replacement for Carlos Bel-
on Rojas’ contract for 2022, tion is grateful for the dedi- rived. The lineup languished 25 with more than a week re- trán. The promotion came
making the announcement cation and devotion that Luis even when healthy, and an maining. They limped to the just days after Beltrán was let
a day after finishing third in has exhibited over the last overtaxed pitching staff start- finish line of their fourth los- go without managing a single
the NL East at 77-85 in Steve two seasons as manager,” ed to crack. ing season in five years, and game as part of fallout from
Cohen’s first year of own- team President Sandy Alder- 10th in the last 13. New York the Houston Astros’ 2017
ership. The move was no son said in a statement. “He Lindor missed more than five has made the playoffs twice sign-stealing scandal.
surprise, the first of several has shown a great commit- weeks in the second half with in the past 15 seasons, ad-
significant changes coming ment to the Mets over many an oblique injury and didn’t vancing only in 2015 on the With only one big league sea-
again this offseason for a club years in multiple capacities. emerge from his season-long way to a World Series appear- son under his belt as New
in constant turmoil. These decisions are never slump until too late. Mi- ance. York’s quality control coach,
easy, but we feel a change is chael Conforto, Jeff McNeil, Rojas became the team’s
“I want to share such heart- needed at this time.” Dominic Smith and James As losses piled up, Rojas’ fate fourth manager in 2 1/2 years
felt gratitude to so many in McCann also flopped at the seemed sealed before the sea- — and third in four months.
the Mets organization for not Expected to challenge for the plate, leaving Pete Alonso to son was over. New York went The move was applauded
only the last two seasons as playoffs or even a pennant carry the load. 26-34 during his first year at by veterans and young Mets
manager, but for the last 16 with $341 million newcomer the helm, finishing tied for players alike, including those
years in a variety of roles,” Francisco Lindor at short- An untimely 2-11 stretch last place in the pandemic- such as Alonso who played
Rojas said in a statement re- stop, New York led the divi- against the Dodgers and Gi- shortened 2020 campaign. for Rojas in the minors.