Distracted with the NLCS, there was no hope of David Stearns reuniting with any of his former Milwaukee Brewers employees still present on their staff until today. The Brewers were brushed aside by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 4 straight. Their problem wasn’t pitching. The Brewers scored 1 run in each of the games they played. Dodgers pitching had a much better showing against them this year than they did against the New York Mets in 2024 when our boys stole a pair of victories.
The Mets have already hired one of their hitting coaches, Jeff Albert, and have named a new bench coach, Kai Correa. There are still more voids to fill in with the Jeremy Hefner replacement being one of the more notable ones. The coaching staff is undergoing major changes with one of the most notable absences being the presence of anyone with MLB playing experience.
Well, the Brewers have two coaches with at least a little bit. Pitching coach Chris Hook and assistant pitching and strategy coach Jim Henderson played in the majors. Hook, just parts of two seasons in the mid-1990s and Henderson parts of 4 seasons including the 2016 campaign with the Mets, are more in the same flavor of Hefner. Cy Young winners don’t tend to become pitching coaches after their careers are over. Instead, it’s these journeymen types. Could Stearns make one of them a job offer?
The Brewers have been eliminated and maybe the Mets are eyeing one of their pitching coaches
Hook has been with the Brewers since 2019. Henderson worked his way up through the minors, finally joining the MLB staff in Stearns’ final year in Milwaukee during the 2022 campaign. Both have a connection to Stearns. Henderson in more ways than one. His best years as a player came with the Brewers. Stearns would even sign him to a minor league deal for the 2018 season before he retired.
Brewers pitching had the second best ERA this year at 3.58. It was fifth at 3.65 the year prior. In 2023, it was the best at 3.71. You get the point. The ball club has been executing what Stearns wants most: run prevention.
Hook was just signed to a multi-year contract at the end of last year. There’s little reason to believe the Brewers would fire him. Public information on Henderson’s contract isn’t available.
It’s just dot connecting to believe this is what has stopped the Mets from naming a new pitching coach. They were quick to promote Albert. With the Cleveland Guardians eliminated earlier in the postseason, they were able to hire Correa.
The Brewers were only one of four teams playing until this past Friday. Because of Stearns’ connection, they’re the ones we can conclude have the staff he might have interest in.
