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Mets Chat Room: A manager under the gun.

May
23

Welcome back to Mets Chat Room.

The story swirling around the Mets is about Willie Randolph. I just filed this based on our briefing with Randolph a little over an hour ago. This will be the backdrop Mets Chat Room.

DENVER _ It wasn’t supposed to be this way.

Two months into the season, the Mets, wounded from last September’s collapse, vowed they would be a focused, inspired team this year.

Carlos Beltran called them the team to beat, and he’s been right, they are the team everybody is beating.

“The worst is only over if we start playing better baseball,’’ manager Willie Randolph said of being swept by the Braves. “Losing three games is bad enough. Losing four games in a row is a hind-kicking.’’

Randolph wouldn’t comment on his meeting next week with owner Fred Wilpon and his son, chief operating officer, Jeff, nor would he say he was disappointed his apology hasn’t been publicly acknowledged.

“I’m still here,’’ Randolph said, then added, the only penicillin needed for the Mets to get well is winning.

So, with general manager Omar Minaya en route from New York and his players defending him in the clubhouse, Randolph speaks of perseverance.

“This is one of those tough spots of the year where you’ve got to fight through it and not overreact and keep fighting to get back,’’ Randolph said.“We’ve just been really inconsistent, so we’ve got to turn that around in Colorado.’’

Not once did Randolph speak of winning to save his job, which has been a hot-button topic since he trampled the sensitivities of ownership this week when he suggested criticism of him was racially motivated, and then said the club’s cable network, SNY, delighted in showing him in a negative light.

The Mets are more in front on the issue of race than most professional sports entities _ they will have a Jackie Robinson Rotunda to highlight their $800 million ballpark _ and that had to sting the Wilpons.

Minaya has not spoken out for Randolph this week, and a phone call from him to the manager “on behalf of the Wilpons,’’ as said by a club spokesman, doesn’t carry much support weight.

Minaya, who missed the carnage of the Atlanta series, will be in Denver, perhaps to prep Randolph on his meeting with the Wilpons next week.

“Omar is the GM,’’ Randolph said about whether he reads anything into the visit. “He comes and goes as he pleases. … I don’t read anything in that.’’

It’s easy to tell when a manager loses his team. You hear it in the whispers, but that hasn’t been the case with Randolph.

“The problem isn’t in there,’’ said David Wright, nodding toward Randolph’s office.
“We’re professionals. We’re getting paid a lot of money. We shouldn’t need a manager to motivate us. As players, we need to take that responsibility.’’

Wright noticed anguish Thursday he didn’t see in the first three games of the series. He sensed hurt and embarrassment among his teammates.

“I refuse to believe that,’’ was Wright’s response when asked if he considered .500 might be as good as gets for the Mets this year. “I think we have too much talent. We are too good a team to be average and mediocre.

“We don’t want Willie to be fired. But, we want to win to win. We’re not thinking of winning to save Willie’s job.

“Guys were hurt. Guys were upset. We got embarrassed in Atlanta.’’

And, fair or not, if the Mets are embarrassed here, then Randolph gets the blame. It doesn’t matter that he hasn’t thrown a pitch; hasn’t swung a bat; he didn’t assemble the roster.

“I’m the manager,’’ Randolph said. “Fair or not, that’s the way it is.’’

Reach me at jdelcos@lohud.com or here on the blog.

This entry was posted on Friday, May 23rd, 2008 at 8:32 pm by John Delcos.
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268 Responses to “Mets Chat Room: A manager under the gun.”

  1. Tiffany

    That turn of phrase regarding Beltran’s prediction is going to make Mike Lupica jealous. Kudos.

  2. Gil in Savannah, GA

    OK, my wife made me a BIG pina colada, knowing I’d need it to get through another night of Mets baseball…

  3. John Delcos

    Gil: A little less pina and a little more rum might be in order.-JD

  4. RMKMets

    JD: What’s up with Church? Why isn’t he in the lineup?

    Another thing against Omar, but I think it speaks volumes that we go down an OF and the person that gets called up is a catcher who can’t play OF at all. What the hell sense did that make?? it just means that there is crap for OF talent down at AAA…can’t blame Willie for that one either.

  5. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Start pouring the rum…I’ll lift my glass to Garrett Atkins…

  6. Josh

    Nice pitch Ollie…

  7. Annie Savoy

    John – Is David the only player speaking out on behalf of Willie and the team?

  8. Gil in Savannah, GA

    RMK: Did you not see the end of the second game of the doubleheader in Atlanta the other day?

  9. John Delcos

    To RMKMets: He said he’s a little dizzy and nauseous. He hopes tomorrow but won’t make any predictions.-JD

  10. John Delcos

    Dare I say it? We have the ``Bad Ollie’’ tonight.-JD

  11. Gil in Savannah, GA

    This is &%$#%^* comedy!
    Making another unheralded pitcher look like Cy Young.
    Who the hell is this Greg Reynolds guy, anyway?
    Now he’s fanned four Mets in two innings?

  12. Scott from Pelham

    Jets remember last years choke, whats to celebrate, more losers on this site and immigrant lovers.

  13. Josh

    There has to be something wrong with Perez, none of those pitches to Reynolds were even close…

  14. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Scott, are you tipsy like me?
    What the *&%$ are you talking about?!

  15. John Delcos

    Here comes The Jacket. What could he be saying that he hasn’t said before?-JD

  16. John Delcos

    The issue isn’t the number of Latino players are on the Mets’ roster. The issue is the number of good players are on the Mets’ roster.-JD

  17. Gil in Savannah, GA

    JD: Maybe the jacket is asking Ollie if he’d put ketchup on ice cream, the way he asked John Maine a couple of years ago.

  18. Kevin

    “Ollie, I don’t really giving a flying $*#^ what you do, I get a free pass… I’m Rick Peterson. I have a mullet and a Jacket with a long sleeve under armor suit in 90 degree heat.”

  19. edfever

    JD-

    Radio host here said that he asked Keith H. if he’d take the job if asked and keith said he would. This team sleep walks through this series and I dont know how they can keep him. DW is the only one saying Willie hasnt lost them and actions speak louder then words….

  20. TheGuvlovestheMets

    Gil; Yesterday you said you were blacked out. Not so lucky today my firend? The other day this site had a great conversation on race in America led by you. Today we have trash. Maybe Delcos was right and it is hopeless.

  21. Gil in Savannah, GA

    This whole “too many Latin players on the Mets” thing is beyond me.
    A Latino GM can’t acquire “too many” Latinos, but since MLB began, white GMs (read, every other Mets GM before Minaya) have stockpiled white players and no one bats an eye.

  22. Josh

    I have to ask… what correlation is there between “Willie losing the team” and “awful hitting”??? Becuase I don’t see one…

  23. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Guv: Comments like someone complaining about “immigrant lovers” on this board sure doesn’t give me much hope of eradicating racism. But as I said the other night, we’ve got to keep the faith and live out our values.
    Sadly, xenophobia is also alive and well in South Africa where violent groups of Zulus are murdering immigrants from other African countries.

  24. edfever

    Josh –
    its not just hitting its an attitude, demeanor, lack of execution offensively and defensively. Failure to consitently play fundamentally sound baseball. This is a team that most experts predicted to win the NL with the roster it has, it’s the mgr. job to get the most from his players and Willie isn’t.

    Look at the roster Bobby V. took to the NLCS and WS, by position not one of them is better then this team. I dont think Bobby V. will be coming back but thats an example of managing a team.

  25. Tiffany

    Yeah, absolutely. I’d take Schneider over Piazza seven days a week and twice on Sundays. Alfonzo over Castillo? Nah. Olerud over Delgado? I’d have to be a racist.

  26. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: I’ve always thought the 2000 Mets were a lot better than people gave them credit for being. Their pitching was very good and even without John Olerud and Rickey Henderson (for three-quarters of the year) and a down year from Robin Ventura, they held their own.

  27. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Will someone tell me why the double steal wasn’t called with one out and a right-handed hitter up?

  28. John Delcos

    BULLETIN: Omar Minaya is here. He said: ``Willie Randolph is our manager. He has my support and he has the support of ownership.’’

    Minaya said the meeting next week, maybe Monday or Tuesday, will not be for Randolph to lobby for his job.

    Minaya downplayed the Wilpons not returning Randolph’s call and said his visit, in part, is to express management’s support.-JD

  29. Tiffany

    In explaining how it was too early to make such a decision, Willie noted that RFK had been assassinated in June…

  30. Kevin

    Delgado has a book that he puts in a note about every at bat, every pitcher, every miniscule detail. Does he forget to write there are no defenders between the shortstop position and third base? He got a lot of credit for being an analytical hitter in 06, but he can not adjust to poke the ball the other way. He should not be in the major leagues.

  31. RG

    Good one, Tiff.

  32. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Oh No! Just what we need—another injury. Is this team snake-bitten or what?

  33. TheGuvlovestheMets

    Oh my gosh Scott the White guy failed in the clutch. Too many Whites on the team scott?

  34. Josh

    Great, another OF injured…

    We need to make a trade for an OF, and quick…

  35. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Guv: Scott had to go—he was late to his Klan cross-burning.

  36. John Delcos

    Fernando Tatis in left for the Mets.-JD

  37. TheGuvlovestheMets

    The next call up is???? Marlon is out for a long time.

  38. John Delcos

    In case you guys haven’t heard, Fernando Martinez is on the minor league DL with a hamstring injury.-JD

  39. John Delcos

    What’s the matter with Perez, he had the guy easy at second. I know, I know, asking what’s wrong with Perez is a loaded question.-JD

  40. Tiffany

    Paging Ricky Ledee…Ricky Ledee…pick up the phone, Ricky. All is forgiven…

  41. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Tiffany: Ricky Ledee? Please tell me you didn’t just go THERE. :)

  42. TheGuvlovestheMets

    Benny Abgayani is still playing for Bobby V in Japan. He ain’t good but he tries real hard.

  43. Tiffany

    ...collect call from Tony Bernazard…do you accept the charges?

  44. Gil in Savannah, GA

    I loved Benny. He gets some face time on that excellent ESPN documentary on Bobby Valentine, “The Zen of Bobby V.”

  45. Scott

    It is a known fact that white and colored players are leaders, namea team with this much Latina influence from the top down that had succeeded. Lets bea Queens and Osland team again.

  46. John Delcos

    Tiffany: To quote Gomer Pyle on your last suggestion: ``Shame, shame, shame.’’

    By the way, I got a lovely email at 5:30 this morning. I read it while I was checking in at the Atlanta airport. It read simply: ``Your life is crap.’’

    I beg to differ. They have animal crackers and milk in the press box here. All is good.-JD

  47. Mike C.

    God help me, I’d take Bobby Valentine back at this point.

  48. edfever

    And were doing the sleep walk…..

  49. John Delcos

    Scott: Roberto Clemente wasn’t a leader? David Ortiz isn’t a leader on the Red Sox? Pedro Martinez isn’t a leader? Pudge Rodriguez wasn’t a leader in Florida or Detroit?

    Sorry, I’m not buying that.-JD

  50. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Mike C: Bobby V is quite happy in Japan managing the Chiba Lotte Marines. If you haven’t seen the ESPN documentary, “The Zen of Bobby V,” check it out. Bobby has assimilated very well into the Japanese culture and is revered and appreciated there by the people.

  51. Kevin

    JD, I got that email at work too, must have been a braves fan.

  52. John Delcos

    C’mon Mike C., you can’t mean it.-JD

  53. edfever

    JD-

    do you get the sense these guys would go through walls for willie because from watching on the tv aside from wright they act like they could careless about him.

    Omar is in town with speculation that he could lose his job and these guys have two hits on a rookie in colorado

  54. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Scott: Have you amassed all the ignorance as you’re displaying as you’ve aged, or were you born with it?
    Your comments are beyond racist. They’re flat out stupid. They make Archie Bunker and Jimmy the Greek sound like rocket scientists.

  55. clm

    JD – While it is still the case that I come here for your incite and insider incite – I have to say that if Tiffany starts a blog I’m going there too.

    What a sense of humor, sarcasm and wit. She makes points I want to in such a way that I am shamed into not bothering. Gotta love it.

  56. edfever

    Sorry Tiff just saw your comment I agree with Mike I forgot about him senior moment the others i still disagree with

  57. John Delcos

    edfever: I don’t think these guys will go through a wall for Willie or for anyone else for that matter. Wright plays with passion. I sense that in Church and Schneider, too. The others? They either make too much money (Beltran), are too old and on the way out (Delgado and Alou), see their future elsewhere (Perez) or are taking up space (Castillo), to care.

    Let’s face it, there is a listless feeling around here, but it’s not all Randolph. This is a poorly assembled team. They’ve never been the same since Molina took Heilman deep.-JD

  58. Josh

    2 outs, nobody on, and he walks the bases loaded… god I hate Perez..

  59. edfever

    Continued Carter: “There’s way too much talent there for them to be a game under .500 and to lose four in a row to the Braves. That’s just kind of uncalled for, and I think that they’ve just become complacent in some ways and ever since their demise of last year. And if you look at Willie’s record, it is right around .500 since June of last year. And when you have that much talent, there are a lot more expectations than where they’re at right now.”

  60. Stillsane

    Three walks and the jacket just woke up and ran out to see Perez. Peterson asked him; “How does my mullet look?” and OP said; “What?”. Peterson got his camera time, OP then gets the batter out and once again the jacket is our savior!!!

  61. Gil in Savannah, GA

    A team with too much Latino influence can’t succeed?
    Hmmm…I seem to remember the 2005 White Sox.
    Their manager was Latino, their general manager was African-American, their winning pitcher in a four-game sweep who pitched a complete game shutout was Venezuelan, some other Latino pitcher nicknamed “El Duque” played a big role in the post-season for them, too.
    Oh—and their shortstop was Latino, as were a couple of other pitchers and their second baseman was Japanese.
    So much for a diverse talent pool uniting to achieve great things.

  62. Stillsane

    Anyone have George Theodore’s number for Omar?

  63. John Delcos

    Gil: Thanks for mentioning them. An omission on my part. I thought I did good on the list I had.

    By the way, seven walks tonight for Oliver Perez. Seven times in his career he’s walked that many. Who says there’s no consistency with the Mets?-JD

  64. tomg

    I just got in and turn on the TV and see the mets got one stinking run against another mediocre pitcher. In anybodies right mind how is this Willie’s fault, this team sucks offensively, there is no other way to say it. I don’t care what manager you bring in it’s not going to make this team hit.

  65. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: Did you check out the column on Carter online in today’s Orange County Register? Interesting read. If Willie gets canned, the Kid would be an intriguing option to succeed him. He’d probably hire Mookie Wilson as a coach and Wally Backman as a base coach, if ownership would let him.

  66. John Delcos

    We interrupt this blog to bring you the following news bulletin: ``Carlos Delgado has just hit a meaningful home run for the Mets. This is not a joke.’’-JD

  67. Kevin

    Holy Lazerus batman

  68. Josh

    Delgado and Tatis back to back?

  69. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Scott: First Delgado, then Tatis. Indeed, too much Latino influence is hurting the Rockies.

  70. tomg

    It’s about time, that’s what I’m talking about, back to back baby.

    jd, I saw your comment about how this is a poorly assembled team. I’ve been saying this for days on this blog. If anybody should be fired it’s Omar, not Willie.

  71. Kevin

    Holy Tatis Batman!

  72. John Delcos

    Tatis has gone deep. Would I lie to you?-JD

  73. John Delcos

    Tomg: You’re my muse.-JD

  74. Stillsane

    Signs of offensive life…what a concept. Hope they keep a close eye on OP so he does not give it back.

  75. TheGuvlovestheMets

    Oh my gosh, Scott just did himself in…..
    PS: Despite the horrible pitching Perez did something nobody on the staff did in Atlanta. Somehow he kept the team in the game. And he’s still pitching…. How big an indictment of the Met bullpen is that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  76. RG

    Let Ollie back out or go to the pen?

  77. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Ollie missed tying Mike Hampton’s all-time Mets mark for most walks issued in a game by one.

  78. edfever

    Gil – I rem. carter getting under some of the 86 teams players for being too much but maybe short term it would work

    ken oberkfell should get a shoot at bench coach at least

  79. tomg

    I see another over the hill player on the mets is hurt (marlon anderson), another genius move by Omar. We should call the mets the New York social security retirement fund.

  80. edfever

    How about bring in Milton Bradley he’ll fight everybody and is hitting .300 texas would take Heilman and are sellers

  81. Josh

    Um, Marlon was easily our best pinchitter last year, it would’ve been idiotic not to resign him…

    8 walks by Perez… how did he only give up 2 runs?

  82. edfever

    what is over the hill I always thought prime was 28-34 and productive were 34-38 … but i keep hearing guys say there over the hill castillo is 33, anderson is 34, delgado 36 they are injury prone but over the hill

  83. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: If you bring in Milton Bradley, you better re-hire Dr. Alan Lans, the Mets team psychotherapist from the ‘80s. Bradley’s got issues.

  84. Gil in Savannah, GA

    What about the Mets trading for Coco Crisp to play left?

  85. tomg

    Oh, I’m sorry, not over the hill, injury prone. Than this is the new york health care fund.

  86. Gil in Savannah, GA

    What a surprise. A Mets reliever allows inherited runners to score. Oh, I forgot. Joe Smith led the league last year in allowing inherited runners to score. In Billy Wagner’s famous words: ”*&^%$% shocker!”

  87. Stillsane

    And there goes the lead….knew it was too good to be true.

  88. edfever

    Nah what doesnt kill you makes you stronger bring the pit bull into the flock see who lasts

  89. tomg

    You know your team is a bad team when you get runs to take the lead and than give than right back the next half inning. This team is not going to turn anything around, I just don’t see it unless Omar hires a hypnotis and brain washes all the met players in to thinking they are the best player at there position and than they play like they are the best players at there position.

  90. John Delcos

    Ok … who out there drinks while you watch the ballclub?-JD

  91. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: Who are you now with the pit bull references, Michael Vick? :)

  92. edfever

    Omar might be here to make a trade not fire willie. they needed an outfielder before anderson went down. now endy is a starter and he hasnt hiy since the hammy last year

  93. Stillsane

    At least Tatis did not get hurt catching the ball.

  94. tomg

    Can anybody tell me why peterson doesn’t take any hits. Why isn’t anybody complaining that he should be fired. it’s not like the Mets pitchers are lighting it up. Yes, the pitchers are getting lit up. I think peterson should be fired because the met pitching stinks.

  95. edfever

    Gil: i wouldn’t go there I meant Bradley it would be like bringing back Kent. If they didnt get fired up for a game he’d fight them and if they did he fight everybody else, coaches, fans umps, opposing players…

  96. edfever

    Peterson should go as well bring up warthen from AAA

  97. Gil in Savannah, GA

    One of the Rockies TV announcers said, upon seeing Damion Easley come out to pinch hit, and I quote: “These Mets have got some relics on their team.”

  98. tomg

    There is the exact thing I said about reyes today. I mean common, we got something f-in going and instead of working the count he swings at the first pitch.

  99. tomg

    relics, do I hear over the hill, new york retirement fund, nah, just injury prone.

  100. edfever

    Metsblog – valentin just played a minor league rehab game 2-3 calling stache = playing bench coach

  101. Kevin

    Pitch out with Easley on base? Why?

  102. Stillsane

    Castillo can really bust it to first, can’t he???

  103. edfever

    TOMG i just asked what you considered over the hill, no answer except mocking whats up with that

  104. Gil in Savannah, GA

    For as much as people are carping on Willie Randolph, where is ANY criticism of hitting coach Howard Johnson?
    Before tonight, was HoJo talking to Carlos Delgado about hitting? Does HoJo not talk to Jose Reyes about situational hitting? Does he tell Reyes there’s no rule that requires him to swing at the first pitch a just-installed relief pitcher throws him?

  105. tomg

    over the hill to me is a player who is past there prime potential shows signs of going downhill. I even consider castillo over the hill. Age doesn’t mean anything, it’s the mileage.

  106. tomg

    If people want Randolph fired than the whole coaching staff needs to go.

  107. edfever

    They walk more guys after going up 0-2. this has to be taught, this must be a Peterson thing too many of them do it. get ahead and then nibble, teams know the theory so they lay off.

  108. edfever

    only one id keep is hojo

  109. tomg

    Gil in Savannah, GA,

    that was my point today about reyes, I mean the mets got something going and he swings at the first pitch and does what he usually does, pops up. If Reyes ever learned how to work a count and swing at his pitch he will be a mvp candidate. The problem with reyes is he has s@@t between the ears, not much baseball smarts up there but all the talent in the world.

  110. Gil in Savannah, GA

    tomg: If Willie were to get fired, it would be fair to axe all of his coaches, but it would be damn hard to replace all of them mid-season.

  111. tomg

    Gil in Savannah, GA,

    something is telling me that Omar doesn’t want to fire willie because there isn’t anybody available that Omar would want as a replacement. I have a feeling Randolph is going to be here for a while unless the mets totally tank, like last place tank.

  112. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: Based on what the Mets (lack of) offense has achieved this year, why would you keep HoJo? Does he not bear some responsibility for these guys not hitting and as tomg says, having lousy situational at-bats?

  113. tomg

    Beltran’s up at the plate like he has somewhere to go after the game. Talk about working a counr, lets swing at three pitches, this team looks like they don’t want to be here, there is something totally wrong with this team.

  114. tomg

    now we have delgado swinging at a pitch over his head. There up at the plate like they have dinner reservation at midnight.

  115. edfever

    Armas just threw his second stellar game in a row – seven innings no runs, two hits, two walks and nine SO his ERA is down to 2.34 – BB 12/ 44 SO . batters hitting .220 ( lefties .180)

  116. Gil in Savannah, GA

    tomg: I’m one of the few people who doesn’t believe Willie should be fired for this year’s lackluster start.
    I’d give him until the end of the year.
    Firing him would be a useless, symbolic gesture and you’re right, there’s no adequate replacement who could step in mid-season and right he ship.
    I’ve said the following many times: A tough, no-nonsense manager isn’t going to make any difference. Players have no fear of displeasing managers anymore. Not when they make 100 times more than their supervisors.

  117. edfever

    probably intially said that because it’s Hojo (loyalty) but your probably right

  118. tomg

    so, I see Atlanta got rocked by Arizona tonight 11-1, Gil in Savannah, GA, that was my point when you said you were going to here it from people at work. Like the Philly fans the brave fans think they won the world series when they beat the mets, the problem though is they have a hard time beating the rest of the national league. Philly and Florida also lost so a win here would be a triple whamy.

  119. tomg

    Do I hear “insurance run”.

  120. edfever

    Willie is Torre’s prodigy the only difference is those premadonnas across town would have gone through walls for Torre… We need a guy these players would do the same for, big market teams will always have big market payrolls its who can get the most from them, Willie is Buck the next guy needs to Joe….

    Gil: you keep Willie your throwing away the season, I’m not saying a new mgr. will make everything rosy but I do know one thing: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is insane.

  121. edfever

    ya gotta laugh

  122. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: Would firing Willie prevent Billy Wagner from giving up a game-tying bomb?

  123. Stillsane

    Way to go Wagner…..Who should they talk to now?

  124. tomg

    un-fu@@king believable. I’m sure we should fire willie for wagner giving up a home run. It doesn’t matter who you bring in, this team is just not a good team.

  125. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: There’s hardly any manager anywhere any player would run out a pop-up or grounder for, let alone walk through a wall for.

  126. tomg

    well, we all know what’s coming up next!!!!!

  127. Josh

    Wow, the redneck blows a big game, f-in shocker…

    This is why Billy should NEVER say anything ever, he can’t back himself up…

  128. John Delcos

    As a writer on deadline, you don’t know how much that ticks me off.-JD

  129. edfever

    Gil – if they were playing hard and excuting it wouldn’t be a one run game

  130. Gil in Savannah, GA

    I hope Ollie rips Wagner a new one in the media for not doing his job tonight.

  131. tomg

    Like I said, we all know what’s coming next!!!!
    This is the mets collapsing art the end of last year, nothing has changed and bringing in anybody isn’t going to change crap in to gold. This team is a bad team, they can’t do anything right.

  132. edfever

    Sorry Gil we’ll politely have to agree to disagree on Willie – you can call him the sacrificial lamb for all I care I think the team needs a shake up and i start with the mgr and his staff- if they don’t respond then at the end of the year you clean house…..

  133. edfever

    thats right this was ollies game nice wags blows his game

  134. John Delcos

    Gil: OP would have more cred if he didn’t walk eight and blow the lead in the sixth.-JD

  135. tomg

    How many times have I heard gary cohen say something like “wagner hasn’t given up a earn run all year” and than BANG homerun. This guy jinxes the mets all the time. Sometimes I wish he would shut the f@@ck up.

  136. John Delcos

    That was a sweet play by Reyes. Somebody must have lit a fire under his butt. Maybe he has a date tonight.-JD

  137. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: Yes, we’ll respectfully disagree on Willie’s fate. A shakeup for the sake of a shakeup accomplishes nothing. You want to send a message? Send Heilman to AAA. Bench Reyes when he’s not producing. Platoon Delgado with Tatis at first if you must.
    Bottom line: Players are the ones being paid to get it done. As Morpheus famously said to Neo in “The Matrix,” “I can show you the door, but you have to walk through it.”

  138. John Delcos

    Never mind.-JD

  139. Josh

    Who the f—k teaches baserunning on this team?? Idiots…

  140. edfever

    you have got to be kidding me

  141. tomg

    Like I said, reyes has sh@@t between his ears, what a dumb stupid moron.

  142. Gil in Savannah, GA

    YOU’VE GOT TO BE FREAKING KIDDING ME.
    You’re the winning run, you’re in scoring position and you get picked off?
    BENCH REYES FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND.

  143. Kevin

    I wonder if this is what hell is like?

  144. Gil in Savannah, GA

    JD: Actually, if you check baseballreference.com, Ollie, in his limited opportunities in the post-season has far outperformed Wagner in these games. Wagner has an awful post-season ERA and has never won a post-season game.
    Two words for Billy Wagner: So Taguchi.

  145. John Delcos

    The funny thing is, that during the break, Reyes went over to third base coach Sandy Alomar to talk. Have to find out what was said.-JD

  146. tomg

    There is no way the mets are winning this game. The rockies are a bad team this year. Well, guess what, the mets just got a promotion, there worse than the rockies. This team is going down and it’s accelerating at a fast pace.

  147. Stillsane

    Reyes must have studied bace running with Roger Cedeno. Nothing more stupid…..this is why it is so painful to watch. Wright just completed another great inning for them. Whether it be tonight or some other night, the only way the Mets are going to win is by accident.

  148. Alex L

    I just threw up in my mouth when i saw reyes get picked off. perhaps this team isnt meant to win. seriously when does that happen? and tomg is right on multiple levels, we’re worse than the rockies and we have a 0% chance of winning this game

  149. John Delcos

    Kevin: If so, then I must have sinned in a previous life.-JD

  150. edfever

    I dont think willie showed them the right door using your analodgy – you dont think these guys start to roll their eyes and say what the $%#^ when he marches Heilman or Mota out every other day… or puts the same zeroxed line-up card out during the colapse. leave them out to dry against the umps…..

  151. tomg

    right on que david wright, nice play at third, the mets are a bad team getting worse each day.

  152. Stillsane

    David Wright played that well. Who did he think was running, Reyes? Oh that is right, Reyes would have probably run to third by mistake and got tagged out.

  153. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Stillsane: The only way the Mets would win at this point is by a forfeit by the opposition.

  154. Josh

    If Aaron Cook beats us… god help me

  155. Alex L

    what a perfect day for a loss, everyone else in the nl east lost today, so rather than waste energy trying to win and catch up in the race, let’s just get picked off second or even better- strike out swingin, and just get this whole extra-innings thing overwith

  156. Stillsane

    Gil, I have to agree. A pitcher pinch hitting and Wagner is pitching around him. Just plain dumbfounding.

  157. Alex L

    o and a throwing error might be nice too.

  158. john

    wouldn’t it be perfect if this guy gets a hit

  159. Kevin

    They are lucky they are on the road right now. I can not even imagine the Shea faithful if this were a homegame.

  160. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Neither Willie, nor any manager can get umps to reverse their calls. Bobby Cox is a strong tactician. He doesn’t win because he gets ejected from games.
    Willie certainly showed these guys the door in 2006.
    Now it seemes like it’s only a matter of time till upper management shows the door to Willie.

  161. Alex L

    bad news bears vs. new york mets- who wins?

  162. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Wow. Someone made a worse baserunning mistake than Reyes?

  163. Stillsane

    Thank you Torrealba. Maybe he was watching Reyes!

  164. tomg

    This is the battle of who is the dumbest and worse team in the national league, this is unbelievable, what am I watching here, little league.

  165. Josh

    Hmm, it doesn’t seem like the Rockies are interested in winning this game either…

  166. john

    interesting… it looks like neither team wants to win this game

  167. Kevin

    Well that was dumber than Reyes…

  168. edfever

    Cox came out and saved his kid by arguing with the umps – while willie let ollie flounder Braves win…. Its not about the call its about the message. By the way I thought the team out played Willie’s tatical mistakes in 2006 and when they came back down to earth all his warts showed

  169. John Delcos

    Gil: Yeah, go figure. By the way, you still throwing down those pina coladas?-JD

  170. tomg

    I can’t even imagine what it will be like when the mets go back to shea. The mets better where ear plugs because there not going to like what they hear.

  171. Kevin

    I think Torrealba may have 5 g’s on the Mets in this game, that’s the only possible explanation.

  172. tomg

    Geez, beltran blows big time, where is his head, surely not in this game.

  173. Stillsane

    Wow – Who woke up Pedro Cerrano? Delgado must have dinner reservations.

  174. edfever

    Im smoked

  175. tomg

    I think delgado is on performance enhancing drugs!!!!

  176. Gil in Savannah, GA

    JD: I’ve switched to Xingu—a great beer from Brasil.

  177. Alex L

    hey doesn anyone remember the game last year at florida where marlon anderson hit a bases-clearing triple and gave the mets a two run lead in a game that they had been losing all along up until that point, and then in the bottom of the ninth the first two batters got to second and third with no one out and long story short we lost the game?

    well anyways i always thought that was the worst game i’d seen since 2000, but tonight’s preformance might take the cake.

  178. edfever

    Pinch hit Castro

  179. John Delcos

    Gil: Will give it a try. Next time Mets are in Atlanta, I’ll buy the first round._JD

  180. john

    schneider is in a huge slump

  181. Josh

    Can Schneider get a hit… ever?

  182. edfever

    Duaner looks like he rushed back a little, been making me nervous lately

  183. tomg

    no, schieder is living up to his reputation which is he isn’t a good hitter. Actually the book on scheider was he is a terrible hitter.

  184. john

    the next time the mets are in atlanta is in september… lets all think about where this team may be… i’d be embarrassed to even show up to turner.

  185. tomg

    Duaner sanchez in 2006 had a fastball consistently at 96-97, now it’s 90-91, he will never be the same again, period.

  186. tomg

    That fastball was 89, he use to throw 96-97, sanchez will never be the pitcher he was unfortunately.

  187. Kevin

    I’ve enjoyed watching the Mets so much lately, I’m glad they decided to extend this one for my viewing pleasure.

  188. john

    you know, i really hope this game doesn’t end up relying on heilman trying to save it.

  189. Gil in Savannah, GA

    JD: You’re on, bro. My wife and I are making the four-hour drive to Atlanta in September…I hope those will be “meaningful” games!

  190. john

    or maybe wise can give up another walk off shot

  191. tomg

    John, I doubt it, heilman will come out next inning with a tie game and the rockies will win.

  192. tomg

    Can anybody tell me what the difference is when Ollie pitches 4 innings and kills the bull pen to when wagner blows a save and our entire bull pen has to pitch in to the 15 inning?

  193. Gil in Savannah, GA

    tomg: Excellent question.

  194. john

    is heilman warming up? i figured it would be feliciano with helton and posednick coming up

  195. tomg

    Reyes, please take a pitch!!!

  196. John Delcos

    From the movie Airplane: ``Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit drinking.’’-JD

  197. John Delcos

    Get Reyes out of there before he gets tossed.-JD

  198. edfever

    Nick Evans just recalled AA first baseman

  199. Brian Moritz

    Hey everyone,
    Brian Moritz here from the Press & Sun-Bulletin in Binghamton. I cover the Double-A Binghamton Mets, and tonight Nick Evans (who has played first base, third base and left field for the B-Mets) was called up from Binghamton to New York.

    Evans is leaving Binghamton at 6 a.m. Saturday and will join the Mets today in Colorado.

    Here’s a link to my story: http://cmsedit.gdn.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080523/SPORTS/80524001/1003

  200. Gil in Savannah, GA

    If that pitch to Reyes was a strike then I’m the last king of Scotland.

  201. tomg

    well, your now seeing the frustration building with wright and reyes, don’t seem to see it in beltran though, it appears beltran doesn’t really care.

  202. Josh

    I wonder how many pitches it will take before Helton hits his walkoff against Heilman…

  203. John Delcos

    Tomg: Be careful what you ask for. That’s strike three. And, since you’re hot, here comes Heilman.-JD

  204. edfever

    Gil- yes i think willie should have absolutely lost his mind. show his guys some fire and that he has there back, its not about the strike three its about the message. Giardi played it to perfection last night, coaches are as much psycholigists as they are managers

  205. Kevin

    That was a terrible call…

  206. tomg

    well, here is home run Heilman, this game isn’t far from being over.

  207. Gil in Savannah, GA

    As Peter Griffin on “Family Guy” would say: “Oh, god. Oh, god.” Heilman’s in the game. How long til he gives up a walkoff jack?

  208. edfever

    i’ll take the under on 25 pitches

  209. John Delcos

    Thanks Brian.-JD

  210. tomg

    JD, I didn’t say take a pitch with two strikes and the ball down the middle of the plate.

  211. John Delcos

    Gil: You can never go wrong in my book quoting Family Guy.-JD

  212. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: Sorry. I’m just not buying that Joe Girardi going ballistic somehow influenced Robinson Cano to strike a well-placed game-winning single to left.

  213. tomg

    well, heilman wants to be a starter, here is his chance.

  214. Gil in Savannah, GA

    If it’s not with his pitches, Heilman hurts us with his glove.

  215. edfever

    theres the wheels for heilman – watch them come off

  216. john

    two out hits, ugh

  217. tomg

    I get the feeling that the mets don’t want to win another game this year, weird feeling.

  218. edfever

    Gil- how about cox losing his mind on the ump for squeazing jurjens and then the kid looking great afterwards – is it all a coincidence or is some of it mental

  219. Gil in Savannah, GA

    From my wife: “Castillo looks like a blubbery whale out there.” Ouch!

  220. John Delcos

    edfever: I know what you’re saying about a manager losing it to send a message and I agree. But, with all Willie has gone through this week, it would come across as phony.-JD

  221. john

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNloEIJRAOs&feature=related

  222. john

    a very fitting family guy clip

  223. edfever

    Tomg not sure how old you are but this is nothing compared to late 70s early 80s – it took awhile to lower my expectations but now that their down its not as ugly as then

  224. Kevin

    Dumb luck someone scores a run eventually… right?

  225. edfever

    JD- fair enough I would agree with that but there is something to it in their head guys try harder ‘coaches got my back or oh sh88 i pissed him off’

  226. tomg

    unfortunately I will be reaching the half century mark, that’s how old I am. Watch when Beltran comes up to the plate. He will swing at anything like he doesn’t want to be here, maybe it’s me.

  227. Josh

    Awful at bat by Beltran…

  228. tomg

    There you go, he swings at the first pitch!!!!

  229. john

    good call tomg

  230. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: Lou Piniella ranted and raved all last year at the helm of the Cubs. Where’s it get them? A three-and-out loss to Arizona in the NLCS. Matter of fact in one of those games, Cubs’ pitcher Ted Lilly threw his glove down on the mound after allowing a home run. Earlier in the season, teammates Carlos Zambrano and Michael Barrett fought each other in the dugout after not agreeing on signs.
    If teams are reflective of their managers’ personalities than last year’s Cubs were hot-headed also-rans.

  231. tomg

    Beltran should be sat, he is playing like he doesn’t even want to play, I can’t take him anymore.

  232. edfever

    I think there allergic to the phrase clutch hitting

  233. tomg

    I wish the mets would just lose already instead of wasting the bull pen, we all know what the inevitable outcome is going to be so just get it over with already, geez.

  234. edfever

    I rather have a team that prefered to fight and loss then shake hands and tip their cap. losings a reality its how you lose…..

    give me Ty Cobb over Joe D anyday sorry just my preference

  235. edfever

    heilman’s making me nervous I had the under at 25 pitches

  236. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: Uh, ok. Ty Cobb was a racist Neanderthal who once beat up a man in a wheelchair and woud stab with his switchblade anyone he didn’t like. Real character guy.

  237. John Delcos

    What else can we bitch about? Oh yeah, just once I want to see Castillo dive for a ball and make a play. He has no range.-JD

  238. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Can’t anybody play this here game?

  239. tomg

    wow, 3 1/2 more years of castillo, nice job Omar, this is some team you have assembled here, let me congratulate you on a excellent job.

  240. Gil in Savannah, GA

    How long ‘til Heilman blows it?

  241. john

    I think two scoreless innings out of heilman is just too much to ask.

  242. edfever

    I meant as a baseball player gil not who he was personally.

  243. tomg

    This is some of the worse baseball I’ve seen played in a long time. Unfortunately since I am a met fan I probably will be seeing more of it.

  244. edfever

    I think you get my point its just a matter of us disagreeing, but it is keeping my mind off this game there trying to give away

  245. tomg

    Gil in Savannah, GA May 24th, 2008 at 1:18 am

    How long ‘til Heilman blows it?

    be patient, it’s coming!!!

  246. Gil in Savannah, GA

    ed: I know, but I also could never cheer for or want on my team that scumbag Michael Vick.

  247. Gil in Savannah, GA

    WHY IN HELL IS HEILMAN BEING ALLOWED TO PITCH TO MATT HOLLIDAY?

  248. John Delcos

    I don’t want to pitch to Holliday here.-JD

  249. edfever

    and there it is…..............

  250. tomg

    There you go!!!!!! Lets go Muts, you make me proud!!!!

  251. Josh

    F—k this stupid piece of sh*t team…

  252. edfever

    pathetic

  253. Stillsane

    Thanks Heilman. Can he please be sent away. Any where would be fine. Also, will wait until tomorrow to see what Wagner has to say about this one!

  254. edfever

    Gil – was talking about a fiery player rose, dykstra, knight etc…. not a criminal

  255. tomg

    I’m actually enjoying watching this team lose, this is fun. I wonder how long they can keep this streak going?

  256. Kevin

    Good thing I’m drunk

  257. Gil in Savannah, GA

    With first base open, it is absolutely inexcusable for a struggling pitcher to be pitching to a hitter like Holliday.
    That decision is on Willie and The Jacket. Terrible decision. This season is rapidly circling the drain.
    Send all of them here to Savannah and bring up our Single A Sand Gnats.

  258. tomg

    I actually think wagner blowing this save is allot worse than Oliie not making it out of the third inning against the pirates. Wagner should never say another word because he is known for blowing saves, usually in a big game.

  259. Scott

    Tomg Kevin and Gil are managing our gay mens baseball team this summer, leave emails if interested. Mets are too Spanish.

  260. Gil in Savannah, GA

    Scott: You are just too clever for any of us. Wow. Not only are you a racist, but a homophobe, too. You’re a real asset to our scoiety. You have the intellectual capacity of a dust bunny.

  261. John Delcos

    Thanks for hanging around tonight. It was a lot of fun. Talk with you tomorrow … er, later today.-JD

  262. Mike C.

    Fun?

    This is what fun feels like?

    Good Lord.

    I sure don’t wanna know what “awful” feels like, then.

  263. Gil in Savannah

    Just because I work at the River Street Hee Haw restaurant and have to cater to Colordes and wetbacks does it mean I have to cheer them on when they screw up. Reyes is a mutt head, and I want to participate in the gay tourney, as I catch alot of balls at HABS INSIDE/OUT

  264. mlj

    Firing Willie, by itself will not fix the Mets troubles. Omar built a sub par team. Too old, too injury prone, too little pitching and too many guys who just don’t give a s**t!

    http://www.myteamrivals.typepad.com/mr_mets_daily

  265. Dan Gurney

    “It was terrible. Guys used to come to the clubhouse and say before each game “who is going to blow it for us today?” ” Cleon Jones in 1969 recalling his callup in September 1963.

  266. tomg

    I’m sorry but I still say this is on Omar, he has built a flawed team. It’s time for Omar to wake up and get rid of whatever relics he can on this team and promote some young blood from the farm system. The kids can’t do any worse than these muts.

  267. Mike C.

    Yes, this team is built very badly.

    Delgado and Castillo’s skills have degraded with age and injury to the point where… except for their ridiculous contracts… they really both should have retired last year. Ditto for El Duque.

    Alou can still hit and Pedro can still pitch… but only when they’re healthy, which is basically never. Heilman seems to have given up on trying unless he is magically made the closer or a starter. Schoeneweis WILL be exposed as crap once he starts getting put into high-leverage situations against righties.

    The bench was built as pinch-hitters and spot starters for a healthy club, none of them are competent everyday players when the injuries come down.

    However, all of this said.

    Reyes, Beltran and Wright are All-Stars. The Mets have some potentially outstanding starting pitching. Most of the bullpen are guys that should be very competent.

    That core? Discounting all the old-and-injured crap that Minaya hung onto for their “names” and Willie loves for their “experience”?

    That core alone should not be THIS bad.

    That core has given up on Willie.

    And Willie needs to go.

    ...then if this keeps up, Minaya needs to leave in October.

  268. Donna

    Wise Motors at 180-20 Jamaica Avenue, Queens NY has the best foreign and domestic used cars in town, makes and models. For all you car needs come visit us or call 718 262-0044. Mets, LETS GO.

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