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.

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.

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….

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.

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.

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.

As for Jose, I don't know but I wish someone would figure that one out.

In fact Braves should have the best record in NL right now but they are 1-11 in 1-run games.

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.

I think that Schuerholz is more responsible for the success of the recent Braves dynasty than Cox.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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!

• 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.

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.

• 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 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.