Buck Showalter on Mets fans’ passion: ‘You’re a caretaker of what they hold so precious’
Buck Showalter has only been the Mets manager for about a month and a half, but he’s already clearly gotten a grasp on just how passionate Mets fans are about their team.
In an interview on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM, Showalter spoke to the fanbase’s knowledge of the game and dedication to the team, and why all of that matters to how he operates as a manager.
“We’re looking for something that stands the test of time,” Showalter explained. “Everything you do is designed to obviously get better today. There’s an old expression ‘Let’s win something today.’ It may not be sexy and out there in front of you in your face, but it’s something that you try to finish each job and don’t leave a lot of things — I know that we’re holding the hopes and dreams of a lot diehard Mets fans. You’re a caretaker of what they hold so precious.
“I tell players all the time you’re out on the west coast and it’s midnight on the east coast, somebody’s sitting there living and dying with everything you’re doing. They’re late to work the next day or have a sleepless night, and it’s important. I’ve always said that if it’s important to the players, important to the fans, you better make it a way to be important to you.”
Showalter, of course, comes to the Mets with an ample amount of big league managerial experience, having led the Yankees, Diamondbacks, Rangers and Orioles. And while he’s been named Manager of the Year three times, he’s still chasing that first championship as manager.
If that happens with the Mets, he’ll take pride in being able to share it with the fans.
“I share [those] hopes and dreams that this can be something that we’re all very proud of, because it’s people, their families, their grandparents, I mean people have lived and died with the exploits of the Mets,” Showalter said. “We’ve put them through some tough times here and there, obviously, and they deserve good things.
“I hope to be under the radar. My wish is to be there when the last out is made in the World Series and go up in my office and close the door and listen to people celebrate outside.”
Source: Yahoo Sports