Baseball is a sport of passionate rivalries and heightened emotions. There is only so much space for understanding, but at times, as the situation demands, one has to make adjustments and bring in people who might have been on the opposite side in the recent past. Such has been the case with the New York Mets, as they hired Carlos Mandoza as their new manager, and now they are being asked about it.

It is an overhaul season at the Big Apple with recent coaching upgrades, as both the Mets and the Yankees are looking for a better 2024. Recently, the New York Mets announced that Carlos Mendoza will replace Buck Showalter as the new manager. While it was the first managerial stint for the 43-year-old Venezuelan, the expectations are going to be as high as the New York skyline.

From the Yankees to the Mets

Recently, when a reporter asked about Carlos Mendoza’s Yankee past, Mets’ president of baseball operations David Stearns chuckled and responded, “It was probably a minor hurdle I had to get over, but Carlos has proven that he deserves this opportunity, and I’m thrilled that we’re here today.” But is the new Mets manager really a Yankee guy?

His entry into the Mets fold must have been a hard pill to swallow for several Mets fans. As for at least 15 years, Mendoza served in various capacities in the Bronx, most recently being their bench coach for the past four seasons. His long experience and familiarity with the Mets’ intra-city rivals are the reasons behind Stearns’s statement. While there are a lot of challenges and opportunities waiting ahead, his selection has a whole other significance as well.

The significance attached to the new role of Mendoza

Just as soon as he signed his three-year deal, Mendoza also made history. Now, apart from Ozzie Guillen, who managed the Chicago White Sox and the Miami Marlins, Mendoza is the only Venezuelan-born full-time manager in the history of Major League Baseball.

During his inaugural day as the Mets manager, a positive, Mendoza said, “We expect to compete in 2024. I am excited about our roster. We have some work to do, and I trust David and his team to continue to make improvement(s).”

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While this marks a significant shift for Venezuelan baseball managers as well as for the Mets, it is yet to be seen how much of a positive impact Mendoza can bring to the Queens. How much time would it take for the Yankees man to turn into the Mets man?

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