Buck Showalter is out as Mets manager, and while the longtime skipper was praised by the front office upon his exit, there reportedly was some friction between manager and general manager during the season, specifically to one subject.
According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Showalter and GM Billy Eppler clashed over Daniel Vogelbach’s playing time this season, as Puma notes the struggling DH’s presence in the lineup became a “polarizing issue.”
Showalter reportedly “met resistance” from Eppler as he tried to utilize alternatives to the struggling Vogelbach, who was given a “mental break” earlier in the season due to his prolonged slump at the plate.
The manager, who wanted to use the DH spot as a means to get everyday players the occasional half day off, was reportedly told that he had to play Vogelbach.
Vogelbach picked things up in the final six weeks of the season, posting an OPS north of 1.000 in 79 plate appearances, but overall, hit .233 with a .742 OPS on the year.