And a Kid Shall Lead Them

Thursday, 21 May 2009 18:06

By Joe Pietaro

A former Met icon leading the Long Island Ducks as the field boss is not exactly something new around here. A decade ago, Bud Harrelson managed the team in their inaugural season and is still “the man” at Citibank Park, albeit as a part owner and coach since that first year.

So when the team announced last November that Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter was taking over the reigns in this milestone season for the franchise, it wasn’t viewed as a PR move to bring in a face and name for the Flushing Faithful, but rather because they felt that he could do the job.

Since becoming a minor league manager, Carter has won two championships (2006 Florida State League, St. Lucie Mets and 2008 Golden Baseball League, Orange County Flyers) and has been named Manager of the Year three times. He has made it no secret that he hopes to one day manage in the major leagues, but will not let those aspirations get in the way this summer.

“I didn’t come here for any attention,” the man known as “The Kid” said. “I wanted to manage on the East Coast. All I’m concentrating on is this team.”

A veteran manager works well with a veteran team, and this Ducks squad is no exception. Former Met farmhand Preston Wilson, himself trying to find his way back to ‘The Show,’ has become sort of a pseudo-hitting coach.

Lew Ford, another former major leaguer, was off to a slow start and Wilson worked with him and catcher John Pachot. Carter remarked how Wilson told him that he’s now known as The Professor. “Preston said, ‘Whenever they need a little bit of help, just send them to me.’ I said to him, ‘Okay. If it’s working, let’s (not) change it.’”

This is something of a homecoming in more ways than one for Carter, who resided in Oyster Bay Cove the five years he a part of the Mets. He became one of the major building blocks in what was to become a dominant team that won 108 regular season games and the World Series in 1986. “I’m very excited to be back in New York and to have the opportunity to manage a first class organization like this one,” said Carter.

By bringing in a fan favorite such as Carter to lead the team was a brilliant move by owner Frank Boulton and general manager Mike Pfaff, who have made a habit of making the right decisions. The Ducks’ front office has made sure to fill the dugout with the right type of managers, coaches and players that punctuate what they aim to represent. Carter’s signing will do nothing to change that.

The former Montreal Expo has always been known as a sparkplug for a team and, at times, a bit outspoken. Call it confidence, because someone with the skills of Carter certainly has earned that right.

A 19-year playing career filled with accolades such as 11 All-Star Game appearances (including 10 straight and the game MVP in 1981 and 1984), three Gold Gloves and five Silver Sluggers Awards made his induction into Cooperstown in 2003 a mere formality.

With credentials like that, having Carter a part of the organization is a major plus in an independent league. The fact that Carter’s tenure at Shea Stadium was the Mets’ most successful five-year period accentuates the local aspect of him being on board.

He takes over for former Yankee Dave LaPoint, the ex-skipper who will be a part of the staff as pitching coach. ‘Pointer’ is an extremely popular figure on Long Island and has served every year as either pitching coach or manager of the Ducks since 2002 with the exception of 2006 when he led the Bridgeport Bluefish to a berth in the league championship series.

Not just anyone could have come in and take over for a former big league hurler who earned a World Series ring with the 1982 St. Louis Cardinals. It took a special man to not only do that, but convince LaPoint to stay with the club for the good of the team.

That apparently has worked so far as the Ducks, at the time of this writing, are tied for the second-most wins in the entire Atlantic League with 11. They were also second in team batting with a .271 average, which was obviously helped by three Ducks tied for the league lead with six doubles each (Ford, Ron Davenport and Raul Gonzalez). Bill Simas, who was such an integral part of the 2004 championship team on Long Island, hasn’t missed a beat in his return and is atop the list with seven saves in the early going.

At this pace, the Ducks appear to be headed for their sixth straight playoff appearance. That shouldn’t come as a surprise with Carter running the show. Success has seemed to follow him everywhere he has been and this summer should be no exception.