ST. LOUIS -- ESPN baseball analyst Bobby Valentine addressed growing speculation that he could be a candidate to succeed Jerry Manuel as Mets manager during an appearance Friday with Chris Russo on SIRIUS XM's Mad Dog Radio Channel.
"You know, the Mets are 3-6. It's nine games," Valentine said. "I mean, let's not get crazy here. I think Jerry, I talked to him a few times during spring training, Jerry Manuel is up for the task. I think that he has a tough road to hoe, there's no doubt about it, and he's got to keep his head above water until his center fielder comes back, and obviously has to get that pitching staff in shape.
"But I don't see that as being part of my future as we're speaking here. ... I'm a member of ESPN Baseball Tonight. I'm happy to be there and I'm gonna enjoy talking about that situation, not being talked about within that situation."
Still, Valentine acknowledged he may want to manage again.
"Well, I think I have it in my blood," he said. " I've done it for over 3,000 games and 20-something years so, you know, it's there. But I'm trying to get into this new life of mine and, you know, it's a tough situation being pulled out of it every time someone has an 0-3 stint."
Adam Rubin covers the Mets for ESPNNewYork.com. You can follow him on Twitter.