You might have noticed “Shawn Green”:http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5179 is in the line-up again tonight. He was hitless in four at-bats last night, including two strikeouts, one with runners on second and third and one out.
“It’s early in the season and guys have to get into a groove,’’ Randolph said. “I have confidence in Greenie. In my mind, I’m not going to over react. He needs to get a chance to get in a groove.’’
I’m sure some of you have different ideas on this.
9 Comments
Green should bat tonight of all nights, seeing as left-handers hit very well against Braden Looper.
I have faith in Randolph. Remember when Delgado went through his miserable slump last year? He wasn’t benched. Green is a good, veteran player and he should be treated as such. With a lineup like the Mets, it’s not important that he hit every game—someone will pick up the slack.
It’s too early in the season to bench anybody. It was one 0-for-4. I can see sitting Green against lefties to give Milledge some playing time, but you’ve got to give Green a chance to show you if he’s got anything left.
Green and Delgado’s situations are far from comparable. Delgado’s performance has been excellent (125 OPS+) every year since 1996 while Green has been average or below average for two straight years. Plus, Green has a young, promising prospect breathing down his neck while Delgado had 96-year-old Julio Franco backing him up. It’s not like Randolph had an option even if he were so foolish as to bench Delgado last year.
Personally, I’d sit Green against all lefties and see how Milledge plays. If he does well, and if Green continues to struggle after a month, I’d pull the plug. But it’s only been two games.
It’s never too early. I’d like to see Yogi fired in April again.
...I’ve seen nothing from Green the past 2 years to indicate he’ll reverse his decline in his power metrics. As such, since he’s a below average defender, and no longer hits for average I would imagine he’d be on a very short leash while a prospect like Milledge is on the roster (and not getting AB’s in N.O.)
I think we all have opinions about the players, but Willie has turned out to be a much better manager than I ever thought he would be. I can still see him sitting patiently beside Joe Torre hardly ever saying a word. He sure learned a lot that way.
Also, now that he is The Manager, he has his own style and methods – and it turns out that he is terrific with the players. I’ll never forget one of his first interviews when he said he tries to speak with each player every day.
Let’s let him manage his team.
Here, here, Annie.
April’s a long month, and not just for the Mets. Management’s looking at our guys, yes, but they’ll also be keeping an eye on the Braves and Phils. If the competition is elbowing us out of 1st, Shawn gets a much shorter leash.
God, how I do love baseball.
I agree. I think a lot of Willie Randolph’s demeanor comes from spending all those years alongside Joe Torre. A recent example is Carl Pavano on Monday. Numberswise he wasn’t great but Torre still stood by him in his comments, I think you get a lot of the same from Randolph because of his connection to Torre.