About Yesterday …
-
- May
- 16
Sleeping on it hasn’t changed anything. The Mets still lost three of four from Washington, a team they should smoke. They are playing with the same malaise they did last year during their collapse. This is a team that’s playing uninspired baseball.
Actually, so are the Yankees.
Maybe that’s why the buzz for this weekend has been minimal. Both teams are trying to dig out of holes instead or worrying about the other.
This entry was posted
on Friday, May 16th, 2008 at 8:04 am by John Delcos.
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At least the Yankees have an excuse, they have been playing without A-Rod and Posada. The Mets problem is allot deeper. It
Is starting to look like there is dissention in the Mets club house. It appears that the chemistry of this team is bad. Like I posted yesterday. The Mets need a change, whether it’s players, coaching, manager, gm, something needs to be done here because it isn't working. This has been going on for a year now and is only going to get worse if it isn't addressed.
Mets lose all 3 games, 100% chance Willie is out.
Mets lose 2/3, 50% chance
In some ways I feel for Randolph. Randolph has been placed in a tough situation. Omar Minya was the guy who brought in these players. It's obvious that these players do not have any chemistry. This is a team assemble of good players but not players that have chemistry together. It's easier to change managers but Omar should not get a pass either.
excerpt from “I Trust My Guys: The Willie Randolph Managerial Experience” by NY Cuban
The Collapse
…so we all lived through what factually can be considered the worst collapse in baseball history. Some may say that argue that the Yankees losing a 3 game lead to the Red Sox was worse, but I beg to differ. This team lost a 7 game lead with 17 games to play. These games were not versus tough opponents, 13 of those games were versus the Marlins and Nationals. We stood by this team, game after game. And every post-game was the same. We heard how Willie trusts his guys. How this team needed to find a rhythm. How it was just one game. And game by game, the time dwindled. But it was all ok, because we heard about champagne and how great it would taste when they won the division. Well, Sept 30th came and went and we all know how that turned out. And then came October 1st and 2nd, and we waited and waited. We waited for the inevitable. Someone had to pay, and it obviously had to be Willie. Well, we were wrong. Omar came on and said that Willie was a winner and he would continue being manager of the Mets in 2008. And just like that, the organization that was on the right path took major steps back. It was like quick sand.
The Mets Go As Reyes Goes
…it is often said that the “Mets go how Jose Reyes goes”. Well, then, Willie deserves much of the blame for ruining young Reyes. Sure Reyes is a bit of a primadona; he deserves criticism. However, on July 7, 2007, the respect young Reyes had for Willie was erased. Reyes check swung at a pitch and grounded it down the third base line. Thinking it would roll foul, Reyes watched the ball stay fair and was easily thrown out at first. Willie was irate and subsequently benched Reyes. Reyes looked at Willie in disbelief, mostly because Beltran and Delgado were notorious for not running things out hard. This was a typical Willie doublestandard where he treated veterans and young players differently. Reyes never looked at Willie the same. He adopted a “who-cares” attitude and struggled for the remainder of Willie’s tenure. The “Mets go as Reyes goes”, which meant the Mets also subsequently struggled for the remainder of Willie’s tenure.
I Know My Team Better Than Anyone
…loss after loss, Willie was questioned about his managerial decisions. Interview after interview, Willie stood his ground that he knew his team better than anyone. For Met fans in the Willie era, there are names that sound like nails on a chalkboard. Think back to 2007. Now say the name Guillermo Mota. How about Scott Schoeneweis? Julio Franco? Night after night, Willie would go to them with some rationale about his gut guiding his decision making. Even after the Collapse, fast forward to 2008. Say the names Aaron Heilman or Jorge Sosa. How does that make a Met fan feel? Time after time, we saw these players fail. The fans knew way before the manager the outcome of the managerial move. Yet, Willie Randolph was steadfast. He was out to prove that he was smarter than the average Joe(…or was he.) …
Willie is not Lou Pinella
…over the course of his tenure, Willie Randolph was always hesitant to stand up for his players and risk ejection. Apparently he felt that his strategic superiority would be drastically missed and his absence would consequently hurt his team. It would be a fine assumption, but it was at the expense of the respect of his players. Willie’s players never got the sense that he was there to defend them. They could clearly have a case with the umpires and Willie would just blandly discuss the situation, nod his head and walk back to the dugout. Well, in a way, Willie did get through to his players; he instilled the same passive malaise that he portrayed in the dugout. By the end of his tenure, the team was a shell of itself, going through the motions game after game…
I Treat These Guys Like Men
…perhaps the biggest flaw in Willie Randolph’s managerial tactics was his refusal to deviate from his personality. During a 2 year span, the NY Mets went 74-75. In this time, Willie continued to affirm his notion that there was no reason to yell or call out his team. “I treat these guys like men” was repeated on multiple occasions. Well, that would actually be commendable if that approach worked for the players on his team. However, perhaps, there were players on the team who needed to be treated differently. Perhaps, Willie should have tried different approaches to find a fit that worked for his team’s personality. Instead, like many tragic figures, Willie was a victim of his own hubris. He expected all players to conform to HIS style and personality. Unfortunately, that conformity was never adopted and Willie continued to be steadfast in his ways…
The End of the Willie Experiment
…in 2005, after 14 interviews, Willie Randolph finally fulfilled his dream. He would be the manager of a New York baseball team; he would be the manager of the NY Mets. After just over 3 years, Willie Randolph was relieved from a nightmare. After being spared his job in 2007, the NY Mets floundered during the first quarter of a season in 2008. The Wilpons became increasingly anxious to see the Mets turn the ship around. After 2007, Willie lost the team’s confidence. Shortly after, the fans turned on him. Even the most ardent supporters could no longer find rationale to keep Willie. In May, after a horrid homestand, the Willie experiment was over…
Upon hiring a new manager, the Mets promptly went on a 5 game winning streak and found a new energy that had been missing since 2006. On the shoulders of Johan Santana, and a re-energized Jose Reyes, the NY Mets won the NL East and returned the NL pennant to Flushing…
Too much "chemisty" nonsense. The problems this year have to do with lack of performance. Do you really think they would be doing better if everyone had a bonding session in spring training and became best buds?
Would that help Delgado not be washed up? Heilmann or Sosa not blow up games? Pedro's hammy? ALou's hernia? Reyes' whatever he got?
If the team is lackadasical, or some guys just aren't trying hard enough, that first goes back to the manager. Or does chemistry mean some veteran that the rest of the players are afraid of so they do what he tells them?
I don't really buy the idea that guys are trying or don't care. IIMO, there are more guys that are trying to hard or pressing.
"Fire" and chemistry seem to come and go in correlation to a few timely hits. chicken and egg, which comes first?
2006 might have been the worst thing that could have happened to this team. I think it gave some of these players the idea that winning every year wold be a foregone conclusion. It seems the growth of this team ended right there.
As I recall most observers thought the 2006 team was still a year or two away from being a serious contender. In 2006 the Mets exceeded all expectations. But since losing to the Cardinals in the NL Championship, they have been under-achievers. And the great team chemistry is one of the things we heard about all the time, when they were winning.
I put most of the blame on the players, but they need a manager who can find a way to get them over the top. I believe the talent is there to be a far better team than what we have seen these past two seasons. Regardless of how I view this ballclub, I believe the manager is the biggest problem.
NY Cuban, your delusional if you think firing Willie make this team play better. Reyes isn't going to suddenly not suck, just because Willie's gone… Of course, why am I writing this to you? It's evident no one can ever reason with your strange and thickheaded bias against Willie without being called a Willie "lover" or "apologist"....
Firing Willie won't change anything, and I hope that becomes evident soon…
"They are playing with the same malaise they did last year during their collapse. "
Why do you and Met fans continue to say this? This has been the level of play for 150 games. Since 1 June, not since September. An entire season of 500 ball means that is your level. After an entire season of 500 ball people need to stop calling them a champion caliber team and start calling them what they are: MEDIOCRE.
And the team is going downhill. In the beginning of the year many made fun because the offensive weapon was a slow grounder to 2nd for an RBI. Now we can't even do that anymore.
And why should the Mets have smoked Washington. Washington has far less talent but Washington plays hard. Washington makes lots of mistakes but Washington hustles. Washington's pitchers are bad but Washington's closer will come in before the 9th inning. Washington isn't going anywhere, but the Washington players don't have blank looks on their faces all game long. Washington does bush league stuff in their dugout but Washington acts like they have a little life in them.
Hey JD and fellow Mets fans…
Vote on this poll and lets see where Mets fans stand on Willie today…
http://www.polldaddy.com/p/615851/
Baseball is a game and all involved with the team get paid handsomely to be in the spot light and provide entertainment to their fans. It is supposed to be entertaining to watch. Willie seems to be intentionally not showing any emotion, concern, etc… with his team's performance to the fans and may even be that way with his players (who knows). The only thing that Willie seems to do well is exhibit his stubborness from time to time. He does not make the fans who are spending their hard earned money feel that they are seeing the full potential of what can be appreciated from the current roster. If a show is bad, people are going to complain. The show right now is bad, and, the director (Manager) seems to the average person to be contented with just watching it take its course and hoping that it will get better on its own. Their current record and that perception are going to be what ends Willie's time with the Mets if that does not drastically change and soon. The Wilpons are not going to go in a huge financial promotion and push of entering the "Citifield Era" with a manager that has for almost the last year been synonymous with mediocrity.
Stick: You may think chemistry is a bunch of crap but you are wrong. You are mixing injuries and bad performance. Chemistry doesn't heal Alou or keep Delgado young, but if you think a smiling Reyes was not more productive than than this new Reyes, or that David Wright doesn't play better when he's not as tense as he is today, or that Carlos Beltran deson't play better when he's not being booed every night, you just aren't looking. I know there will be two or three examples popping out where bad chemistry still worked but it isn't working in Shea…..This team doesn't have the overwhelming talent of the Reggie Jackson Yankees.
I'm not qualified to be a professional baseball manager and therefore I won't take part in any Willie bashing.
Disagree. It will finally shut up many of the biggest anti-Willie fans who won't have a scapegoat anymore to pin the blame on. And we'll have peace and quiet on that front.
But I agree. A new manager isn't going to make Heilman pitch better as a reliever, or turn Delgado back into a decent fielder and feared hitter, or turn the clock back on Castillo's knees, or make Pedro come back any sooner, or keep Alou from going on the DL again, or make Ollie focus better, or add more MPH to Sanchez' fastball.
A managerial move might be necessary for many reasons, many of which have nothing to do with Willie's actual job performance, but it will be a cosmetic thing. The basic underlying weaknesses on this team will still be there.
Well, the Mets are playing without a first baseman or a second baseman, too… they just don't know it yet.
ALSO: whether you want Willie fired or not, the idea that you have to have been a manager to know whether a manager should be fired or not is… its just patently ridiculous.
Do you need to have been president to vote for president?
C'mon now.
The internet is the opinion machine. Buy that ticket, take that ride.
JK: Don't be too sure if it would only be a cosmetic change. You don't know if whoever was new can manage bullpens, can instill some discipline, could support his players when they need supporting. No, a new manager isn't going to change the Delgado slide, but you never know about what he could do with Heilman, or if they could make Ollie focus better until you get a new manager in place. Look, i've been a Willie supporter ever since he was hired. But this team is lethargic, lackluster, undisciplined, and who knows what is really going on behind closed doors. A change in manager certainly can help changing that around.
Steve—I never thought discipline is a problem with this team. Nor do I think lack of emotional support from the manager is an issue (what, are these children?). And while I think Willie's bullpen management hasn't been ideal, he's been left with few choices this year and last. I never thought both Heilman and Sosa would both be worse this year, for example.
Heilman needs a new role—as a starter—not a new manager. No one is going to sweet talk him into loving a role he never ever embraced. That's the problem there. And Ollie needs a sports psychologist—and perhaps an ADD drug like Ritalin—not a new manager.
This team is lethargic because it's got too many old, laid back players who set the tone. A new manager can't change their personalities. Even Alou. He seems to be intense at times, but he's a laid back personality who looks like he's moving at -50 mph.
How is Leyland working out these days in Detroit? Yeah, he did a great job instilling fire in that club.
Mike C –
Actually I am qualified to BE President as well as vote for someone else to be President, but I am still not qualified to assess Willie's position with the Mets organization.
Steve—Just curious as to what you meant by "discipline?" Do you mean taking candy away from them, lol? That worked real well for Girardi, no?
You can't treat these grown millionaires like babies. They'll just resent you and likely revolt.
I do not agree that the team is mediocre b/c of lack of talent. It is mediocre b/c some players are tense and some might be lacking focus and some might be not caring.
I say might for the latter two b/c those are not as easy to measure. Tense is easy to see when a player (for ex Reyes) swings at everything he sees when guys are on base and he wants to do something and tries too hard.
Focus is somewhat easy to see when a guy (for ex OP) blows up when an error is made and ends up giving up 5 unearned runs.
Not caring is the most difficult to determine and I still find it hard to believe that players don't care and want to lose. Losing is not fun. It is hard to imagine someone, no matter their walk in life, wants to lose and be miserable.
Everyone wants to look at a manager's moves during a game. Those are not as important as making sure players are loose and focused. It appears Willie has not been able to make players loose (Heilman, reyes ex) or focused (OP).
But who knows for sure. None of us, that is for sure.
But I would not bet on Willie being around on Monday if the Mets lose 3 to the Yanks w/Santana, OP and Maine going.
JK: Discipline as in actually fining guys like Castillo, Delgado, even D. Wright for not hustling instead of making up stupid excuses like…"he probably wouldn't have scored anyway." Nonsense. Telling his players that they have to make themselves available to reporters after the game. As far as Heilman goes…nonsense. He was a stud in 2005 and 2006. You mean all of a sudden not starting got to him? No, what got to him was a Yadier Molina homerun in game 7. And as far as comparing Leyland to Willie, will maybe if Willie had actually made the World Series in 2006, and didn't navigate the biggest collapse in regular season history in 2007, maybe he would be getting some slack from me. And let me get this straight..you are comparing a manager who has actually won a World Series, and won 3 division championships to Willie…ok, if you want to.
scoop—I don't think it's a matter of them not caring exactly. It's that younger players are likely to play with more energy, desire and hunger. And it shows. And to some extent it's just the laid back personalities on the team. That's why the Mets look lethargic sometimes—even when they win.
Also, I disagree. If the Mets were to get swept this weekend, I predict Willie still is manager. They might consider a change, but they will give it at least till the end of June or at least till the Mets are far below first place (like around 8 games) before they act.
Oh Metsies…. fighting about everything Metsie is so exciting.
Hi Ms Annie the political person…. I'm voting for you for President and for metsie manager.
Mr Original: I didn't get to tell you you were very funny the other night. I like the junior routine. Maybe when you need help here I'll be Ms original to help you ou in your fight for truth justice and the American way…..
JK: you still planning on banning the hard working men and women who fight for you and keep you safe from terrorists from your new citi dump? How is the world of corporate greed and corruption? I bet you sleep good at night knowing you are so superior to regular folk…
Mr Cuban: That is a very nice book except you got the ending so wrong. It really went like this. A few months after dismissing Willie, the Wilpon family realized that their true mistake was in the hiring of Omar Minaya, the worst GM in the world and they fired him shortly after New Year 2009. The Wilpons then became very unsure about spending on free agency, declared the Metsies a small market team and hired the GM from Pittsburgh to help them play with a minor league budget. After 7 long years wandering in the NL East cellar, the Mets returned to mediocrity under the leadership of new manager Ray Knight who finally convinced some of them to play baseball the right way….... Minaya was forced into exile as a sidekick to Steve Phillips on ESPN and had to suffer the bufoonery of his fellow show hosts every time they brought up MVPS Jesus Flores and Carlos Gomez, as well as AL 2 time Cy Young winner Phillip Humber. Randolph returned to his beloved Yankees, replaced beleaguered manager Joe Girardi in 2010 and led the Yankees back to the glory years, winning the World Series 5 years in a row starting in 2012.
Steve—There is no team in baseball where all the players hustle all the time. That's just a big misconception. Even the Yankees don't do it all the time. And I don't think any manager goes around fining players these days for what he perceives as lack of hustle. When was the last time a manger fined a player for not running out a ground ball?
As for being available to the media after games, I don't think Willie has much control over that. To some extent that's something Omar and Jay Horwitz need to address. But to some extent, there just nothing you can do about it. Some players don't like to talk to the media. Do you think any manager has been able to the Big Unit to be more charming to reporters?
As for Heilman, yes, I believe this year not being a starter has gotten to him more than it has in the past. In the beginning ('05-'06), I think he was open to the bullpen role because it was new and it kept him from getting sent back to the minors. But now that he's seen so many crappy starters get opportunities for the Mets instead of him, I think his dissatisfaction with his role has just bubbled up. And he knows he can make 2-3 times as much even if he were a crappy starter.
Even if you believe Molina's HR has ruined him, something I don't believe, how can a new manager solve that?
As for Leyland, I wasn't comparing him to Willie. I was using him as an example of the flawed reasoning of many of the Willie bashers that a fiery personality is a panacea. Here you have what many think is a great fiery manager presiding over a team that many thought had MORE talent than the Mets, and his team's record is much worse.
But since you brought it up, Willie has a better winning percentage as a manager than Leyland does. And Leyland has been a manager for, what, 15 or 17 years? And he's just got 1 ring? I'm not that impressed.
JK, I did not say players don't care. I said the opposite. I agree that just like a fresh face out of school, all bright eyed and bushy tailed coming to work for the first time probably has more enthusiasm than somebody around for 25 yrs, a young BB player is gonna be more energetic.
However, I think given Jeffy Wilpon's temper and the reported poor relationship b/w Willie and Jeff (actually shouting at each other a couple of times) and that Jeff wanted Willie out at the end of last yr and that Jeff is in command of the Franchise now as Fred fades away like George S, it adds up to a 3 losses and you are out.
A manager does a lot more than fill out a lineup card. A manager's job is to get the players to produce, whether the individual situation calls for a back-slapping big brother or a bastard boss. When you see players making mental and focus-related errors, day in and day out, that's most typically a reflection of a lack of respect for and commitment in their manager.
Suffice to say, there is a mental/focus problem on this team, and Willie's approach just ain't cutting through it.
How would a manager solve the Yadier Molina syndrome? Have you ever heard Ron Darling talk about the time Davey Johnson came out to the mound and told him how he would not be lifting him, that it would be his game to win or lose? I remember this particular game from 24 years ago, because Darling miraculously got it together after the visit on the mound from his manager. Darling remembers it, too, because the combination kick-in-the-ass-pat-on-the-shoulder was exactly what his then-fragile psyche needed to push him over the top and make him believe that he belonged in the bigs.
Ask Seaver about Gil Hodges, and you'll hear about how he wanted to live up to the quiet ex-Marine's expectations. Ask Hernandez about how Ken Boyer saved his career. Ask Hubie Brooks how George Bamberger nearly ruined him.
In none of these examples will you find a manager making a physical change or suddenly granting a player a new talent; instead, it's all about the mental side of it. And that's where Willie ain't cutting it right now.
But there's just so much you can do with a player like Delgado. There's no manager in the world who can reverse his eroded hitting and fielding skills. It's trite but it's true—you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
And, I guess Girardi and Leyland aren't doing their jobs either? They certainly have failed to "get their players to produce." Fire both immediately!
Disagree. First off, I don't see the Mets making these types of errors "day in and day out" or any more than most teams. Second, in terms of focus, no manager can help Ollie focus more. It's his mental makeup. Maybe Ritalin can help. But not a new manager.
I don't see how Willie saying that to Heilman or anything close to that will help him get over supposed Yadier Molina trauma. And, wasn't Willie leaving in Heilman for most of that inning where he got hit hard his last appearance the same thing as telling him he was going to do it? And how do you know what Willie has said privately to Heilman? He's actually said publicly he has a lot of faith in Heilman. What more can he do?
As for a manager like Gil Hodges, I doubt he'd work out well with today's free agents and millionaires. Players today are a different breed, not chained to organizations like they once were.
You're right, JK. All the manager can do is a fill out a lineup card.
scoop—sorry, I misinterpreted your comment about caring.
When did Jeff and Willie shout at each others? Why? Over what?
What I read is that the Wilpons gave Omar a choice last year. Did he want to fire Willie? Or did he still believe in him and want to keep him, in which case their fates would be entwined this year? Since Omar chose to keep him, I feel his position is just as shaky now as Willie's may be. And I also don't think the Wilpons will be so impatient. If the Mets are swept but still within 5 games out after the weekend, I don't think they'll do anything drastic.
Tiffany—that's a gross over-simplification .. but that's about it, IMO.
Realistically, he can also make bullpen moves and call for plays like bunts, hit-and-runs etc. But his impact on a team is overrated. Especially when it comes to the motivational and pop psychology stuff.
Tell that to Bobby Cox.
JK, Jon Heyman of SI has stated on several occasions that Willie and Jeff have gotten into verbal altercations. I don't remember the reasons. But w/Jeff more firmly in command as Fred sails into the sunset, it is not good for Willie to be in a bad way w/jeff w.
Omar and the Wilpons are very close. It would take a big collapse (like an under .500 record for the yr) for him to get the boot.
Besides, don't you think Omar kept Willie around so that if the team performed poorly, it would be Willie not him that would be in trouble?
Tiffany, are you saying Cox is a great pop psychologist? Did his message just go wrong the last two years? Did they just tune him out?
I think that Schuerholz is more responsible for the success of the recent Braves dynasty than Cox.
Tiffany, you are right on. willie has not solved Reyes tight play or Heilman's. He has not figured out how to keep the clubhouse together. Those are the things a manager has to do. Those are the things that Joe Torre has done. I guess Willie did not learn that stuff from him.
When I hear someone say I know my guys. Or I talk to my guys over and over, I get the feeling that the opposite is true and it has been reported that willie is aloof and does not interact w/the players.
whatever happened b/w 2006 when the players were focused and prepared and energetic and 2007 is where the issue lies. The team had purpose in 06. It seems to have been lost. Maybe it is Floyd and Pedro not being there? I don't know. those are the only 2 significant players missing from 06.
scoop—I think your idea that Omar kept Willie as a fall guy makes a lot of sense. I don't know if it's true, but it's very possible.
I know Omar has been close to the Wilpons. But wasn't Steve Phillips at one point? I don't think they will let their friendships get in the way of building a successful team. I actually have more faith that Jeff will be harder on Omar than Freddie is likely to be.
As for Willie interacting with players, he frequently talks to Reyes one on one. Perhaps it's the message he's delivering that's wrong.
JK, there is no dispute that the Braves play hard for Bobby C. It has been their BP talent that has let them down not just the last 2 yrs but in the playoffs during their 14 yr run.
In fact Braves should have the best record in NL right now but they are 1-11 in 1-run games.
Hey scoop—You know what happened between 2006 and today? Delgado and El Duque got old read quick. Pedro got injured real quick. Valentin got hurt and retired. Bradford left. Sanchez got hurt.
As for Jose, I don't know but I wish someone would figure that one out.
JK, it is true that Phillips was close to wilpons and was able to stave off his firing by blaming Valentine. But in the end, his poor moves caught up to him.
Omar has not made any where near the bone head moves of a Mo Vaughn or R Cedeno. So I think it is fair to say he is ok unless the team goes down to a sub .500 level for a whole season.
scoop—Last year the Braves' bullpen had a better ERA than the Mets bullpen. So, is it fair to say then the problem with the Mets last year is that their bullpen let them down? This is what I believe is the case.
In the '99 WS, the problem with the Braves wasn't their bullpen. It was more their starting pitching. The Yankees starters simply outpitched them (thanks to Rocket fuel!).
As for their record in 1-run games, perhaps that is more a reflection of their lack of situational hitting more than anything. Their bullpen ERA is currently better than the Mets, but their batting average with RISP is worse, believe it or not.
As for Omar, I really believe that if the Mets fail to make the playoffs, his job is in jeopardy.
Jk, the Braves have had for several yr the best BA w/runners in scoring position and 2 outs. It might be poor this yr, but it has not been in the past. So it is not b/c of hitting.
Their ERA might have been better, but the Braves BP has blown more saves thanmost teams the last couple yrs and their BP blew a number of games in the playoffs over the past 15 yrs.
Name the Braves closer for all those yrs. No great name comes to mind.
It was announced today that Willie will be one of the NL coach's for the All-Star Game.
I wonder if this complicates things if they decide to fire Willie.
Name the Braves closer ? Smoltz was their closer for 2001-2004. He was pretty good.
Oh Tiffany do you wear a suit? If not, you are not even worthy of going to Citi dump much less have a debate with the corporate criminal JK. He sees the ball players wearing uniforms, just like our brave men and women fighting overseas to keep him safe from terrorists and they are useless to him because in JKs world if you don't wear a suit you are not good enough to sit in a ballpark and watch his metsies play a game. For Jk all people who don't wear suits to work are useless morons pawn of him and his rich corporate criminals, here for our entertainment and nothing else. That includes the manager of a baserball team, except Connie Mack of course who did indeed meet JKs standards. Anyway since my brother, recently wounded in Afghanistan, is not good enough to go to a Metsie game in JKs mind, how could you be good enough to debate him. He is from a superior class of being caled corporate criminal…..
But Tiffany, have no fear, because the rest of us mere mortals that we are, love and respect you and your wisdon in this very important matter of manager roles. And without doubt you are right as is MR Original…....and so are you Mr Scoopy….
scoop – Last year and again this year, the Mets have more blown saves than the Braves. Yet they are ahead of the Braves this year, if only by a hair, and were ahead by 4 games last year. So is the Braves achilles heel last year still the bullpen, even thought it was better than the Mets?
And if you use the bullpen excuse for the Braves last year, why can't we use it for the Mets in '07?
And as Scott said, Smoltz as a closer was pretty good. Better than what the Mets had before Wagner came on board.
NY CUBAN,
Great post!! Willies la de dah approach is not working. Not arguing with umpires is his worst transgression. I agree shouting at todays players isnt the answer. Leading by example is. This manager does not earn his teams respect. Great article by Klapisch on this. Metsblog has a link.
Lastly, I am surprised at how many supporters this manager still has on this board.