So, Willie Randolph is the Mets’ manager for another day, huh?
Big deal. They lose two of three here, and the rumblings start again.
Of course, they are started on the call-in shows, by personalities who couldn’t find Shea with a GPS. And, they are started by writers/columnists looking for a splash.
The fact is the Mets have a winning record under Randolph. Omar and the Wilpons are doing him and the organization a disservice by letting him twist.
Either make the move now or say nothing will be evaluated until the off season. Then drop it.
Management and ownership are feeding into the distractions. They are making it difficult for Willie and his team to do their jobs.
88 Comments
I’m not a big fan of Willie Randolph and never even wanted him hired BUT the Mets are mishandeling this thing in an embarassing manner.
The Mets in 2005 and 2006 seemed to turn things around on how they run thier organization. I guess old habits die hard, the Mets are being run like a job of a franchise.
Tiffany,
How many innings is John Maine giving you? How many 2nd level starters did they bring in when old man Pedro and Dukie went down. How are they doing? How has Billy been the last few games? You think this staff is better then last year? They are older.
Meat Head: I knew I would lighten the mood with that Fatso & Puppy reference.
John Maine is a good pitcher, sure, he gives up a ton of foul balls, but I’m with Tiffany this roster is better than last years. We didn’t lose anyone, upgraded RF and catcher (Brian isn’t great offensively, but considering Lo Duca’s second half, his awful percentage of CS and the fact that he’s been injured the entire 2008 year) AND brought in the best pitcher in baseball.
I also agree with Tiffany that if Omar is so bad, how did he wiggle Santana away from the Twins with Carlos Gomez and mid prospects when names such as Hughes, Kennedy, Ellsbury, Lester were floating around? Omar may be mishandling this situation in not firing Willie after the collapse and after the first meetings, but he’s not as bad of a GM as he’s getting torched for. Sure, you can bring up the surplus of over the hill players who he has brought in, but for each one there is a surprise success story as well.
And no, I don’t work in finance, I work in IT.
Bob-
I wish I could have been here sooner to back up almost every point you have made. Many of us sit back and try to be optimistic about the team. I have not enjoyed watching Willie twisting in the wind recently. It is not right.
I had many doubts about Willie when he was hired. The double-switch incident is one I will never forget. It said a lot about Willie being in way over his head.
The 2006 Mets won as many games as they did in spite of Randolph’s managerial moves. There’s a good reason why so many teams passed on him following so many job interviews. His many blunders with this team has further exposed our weaknesses. I remain convinced, a more talented manager would find a way to get more wins out of this club.
Keeping him here this long has been a huge mistake. They should have fired him long ago. The total lack of support shown him by the Wilpon’s should not be too surprising. From what I recall, Fred Wilpon bailed out on Bobby Valentine the same way. (And they were supposedly friends!)
Also, regardless of a few of his last starts only lasting 5-6 innings, Maine is on pace for 200 innings this year, barring injury. I’d take that from any pitcher, any year, wouldn’t you?
This garbage has more episodes than the Godfather. Plenty of teams have overcome being a few games under .500 at this point in the season. Let’s relax and just watch them play and see what happens.
Bob,
I would take the innings if I had a decent bullpen to pick up the slack of only going 5 or 6 innings. The pen has been a work in progess for the past couple of years.
Paulunde: Thanks. You’re right about Wilpon and Valentine, he bailed on Bobby V, just as the fans did. The NY fans HATED valentine when he was the manager, now? These same fans want him back. NY Mets fans, oh so fickle…
Maine has been a disappointment, but I still think he’ll turn it around. Coin-Flip will probably never change. But with the addition of Pedro and now Pelfrey starting to look better, we might be ready to go on a run. I know it sounds nuts after everything we’ve been going through, but I feel like the worst is behind us. I do think this is potentially the best staff we’ve had in a long time.
Does anyone else think that right now Smith looks a little more than overwhelemed when he goes out there? If the jacket is not going to work with him, then they should option him to NO where he can get some work in and build his confidence back up. Also, how long is this team going to wait on “pinch hitter specialist”, Marlon Anderson, to get his average over 200? And, congratulations to Cancel on his first hit and RBIs in nine years, but, is there no one else in the farm system that they can bring up that can hit a little more and does not run like he is carrying a safe? Having three catchers is wonderful if one of them is Mike Piazza. Otherwise, what is the point? Can someone please tell me?
I’d take Bobby V back in a heartbeat. I never wanted him to leave. But he’d need his head examined to come back here – especially with the way he’s adored by the fans in Japan. Do you remember his weekly radio segments with Mike & the Mad Dog? The guy never ducked an issue and answered all questions. I know he rubbed some people the wrong way, but he has such a great mind for baseball. (And he really showed what kind of person he was with the countless hours he donated in relief of the 9-11 victims.)
Don’t get me wrong, I’d take him back in a heartbeat as well. Let me clarify my line there… I meant, the fans that ran him out of NY are the same fans that want him back now, the majority want whatever the popular notion is at the time. That isn’t to say he wouldn’t be a good option right now, I believe he would be a good manager too, but you’re right, he’ll never leave Japan.
Ugh… this is getting difficult to clearify my stance while following this ‘monster’ in Tiger Woods.
The same fans that ran out Bobby V are the same ones that want Bobby V back, that isn’t to say that there aren’t fans that DID NOT run Bobby V out, that would like to see him back. I for one, am in that category.
Met Head: There was no Pedro last year when the Mets were running up a record 21 games over .500. There was Jorge Sosa, Brian Lawrence, Jason Vargas, Dave Williams and Chan Ho Park, though, combining for 24 starts. 24 starts from that dreck—and no Pedro—and they were 21 games over .500.
As for the staff being older, Santana sure looks younger than Glavine, and Pedro looks younger than El Duque. The younger guys—Perez and Maine—should be improving as they approach their prime years; if they aren’t, something is wrong.
paulunde: Will Perez ever change? I don’t know. He was 9th in the NL in ERA in 2007. Looks like he changed…for the worse. At age 27. Gotta blame that on Omar, right?
Bob Yelenak (southington, CT),
“I also agree with Tiffany that if Omar is so bad, how did he wiggle Santana away from the Twins with Carlos Gomez and mid prospects when names such as Hughes, Kennedy, Ellsbury, Lester were floating around?”
The Yankees and Red sox were never really interested in Santana. Cashmen went on record stating that he approached the twins at the baseball winter meetings and asked what it would take to get santana and when the twins asked for hughes, kennedy and cabrera cashmen said no. The red sox were only in in it to keep santana away from the Yankees but when they realized the yankees wouldn’t give up what the twins wanted the red sox backed off also. In reality the mets were the only team seriously in the stakes for santana. Omar over paid because there were no other teams in it at this point and Omar didn’t have to give away almost there entire farm system.
Coin-Flip’s preformance is one we cannot hold anyone accountable for. I will even give our esteemed pitching coach a pass on that one. Ollie is certifiable. If we were up by 10 games his antics would be amusing. But when you count on the guy you are in big trouble.
His “stuff” is incredible. But what good is it, when it cannot be relied on?
The problem with perez is two fold. Perez’s mechanics are not good and has problems focusing (mental), which was well documented in Pittsburgh but Omar thought the great peterson could work his magic. I guess it’s Willie’s fault.
Tiffany: So Willie shouldn’t be blamed for Perez either. Peterson should be.
From David Lennon’s Newsday blog:
“Just saw Willie Randolph, Jerry Manuel and Sandy Alomar leave for the stadium from the team hotel. No sign yet of Rick Peterson or Tom Nieto. Stay tuned …”
So Willie made a double switch mistake. Once. Three years ago.
And he is getting beat up for it still?
That’s a tad silly.
Bob: Willie brings in Mota/Heilmann so he’s a bad manager?. Willie brings in any relief pitcher he’s a bad manager in your book because they all suck. But you are obviously blind to the fact that it dooesn’t matter who comes in. Heilmann didn’t blow 3 saves in a row. That was Willie’s fault that his closer is so pathetic he can’t close in the 8 th and he can’t start pitching with a guy on base. He’;s Omar’s gift, a pathetic, arrogant, obnoxious, over rated gift, but he’s Omar’s gift. Maybe if Willie would have been given a long man last year who wasn’t worse than Mota or a lefty who wasn’t as bad as Mota you would have a claim, but that bullpen had Few reliable arms but you don’t want to admit it because it would disprove the fun you are having on somebody’s death watch.
Secondly Bob, the NL is improving but the Met talent level is not even staying even. Ignore that fact. Beleive this team is very talented, but expalin this. All the talented lovers don’t back it up, because this team has no depth, a little detail that Omar forgot about, but that’s not his fault. He didn;t know that guys get huret and guys get old in the new drug testing era. He thought his guys were excluded. And what manager is miraculously improving????? None of them. Was Clint Hurdle a bum for years, then he was great and now I guess he’s a bum again. And Melvin, he ain’t so great is he since his awesopme D-Backs are sinking ever so slowly to the 500 mark. So what manager is suddenly imrpoving? Manuel in Philly who all the same crap was being spewed about last year like Willie this year, until suddenly they got hot last year. did he get better? No Bob he didn’t/ His players got hot. So who is getting better as a manager? Dusty??? Right on…
If Omar is so good Omar lovers, how come the lineup yesterday was loaded with stars such as Easley batting 5th and Tatis leaving Beltran in CF as the only outfielder, and Nixon’s the one in the outfield a guy who couldn’t make a team out of camp, theoretically worse than Brady clark even, and in the 2nd game the only righty bench guy Cancel, and an offense so pathetically bereft of big league talent that Delgado and Castillo had to play both games, and a bullpen so bad that there are prayer sessions held before each change ( well maybe not tht one, but the pen truly is horrible)
And if Santana was such a great move why was Omar bidding against himself on the deal? And why is there not one prospect even close to being ready to fill in not even temporarily. Yes, Omar is outstanding and if only anybody but Willie would be managing this Omar led dynasty the Mets would be playing .750 ball and be the talk of thown like in 86, but even moreso. Fire Willie, if it makes you all happy, but don’t act like he’s the only one who needs to go. The GM needs to go at least as badly.
Here is an article that basically states the same thing I said on this blog not to long ago and that is the mets should sell
when the right time here because they do have players they could trade for prospects to rebuild there barren farm system. if the Mets organization was smart this would be the right way to go, but this is the mets organization we are talking about here.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/06152008/sports/mets/the_gates_of_sell_115564.htm?page=2
That’s right Ed: Willie can’t make a miostake. Where are all the guys who know how bad he is apologizing for his move yesterday? The Mets won because Willie put up Cancel.. The fans were booing and I’m sure all of you were cursing him for it. But they won on that move. I guess Omar gets the credit for bringng Cancel to NY. Willie only does wrong, and Omnar only does right.
Did anybody notice that in yesterdays game one, the mets had runners at first and second nobody out in the ninth inning with the tying run on first base. Instead of bunting them over to scoring position, he let delgado hit into a double play? Kind of reminds me of something I saw in 2006.
Ray: Well he’s not going to bunt Delgado or pinch hit for him in that position because believe it or not, he’s been the least of the Mets problems defensively. In 2006, possible last game of the season, down by two, no turning back, Willie made the incredibly stupid move of not bunting. Different situations, different timing though.
oops…least of the problems OFFENSIVELY lately. lol
Changing the staff might make a difference, but a lot of the players seem to be unable to remain focussed and motivate themselves. So maybe they feel pressure from the 2007 Collapse. OK, so then play hard and do something to erase the memory of last season.
Whatever happens with Willie and the coaches I am certain of one thing: I am SICK of how Omar has handled the situation. All these leaks to the press (firing the 1B coach is supposed to let the fan base know you mean business? Oh, puh-leeze) are ridiculous. Omar has shown no leadership.
For those who say that metsblog is a tool of mets ownership, take a look over there and see what Cerrone has to say about the current situation. Omar has to be feeling some intense pressure. The fact that he is on this trip indicates that he ready to finally pull the trigger.
Thank you Original. I’d like to see Sadecki call for a Delgado bunt. And the only guys left on the bench were catchers. And that was obviously Willie’s fault because he used his bench to get back in the game. Obviously he was an idiot to do that. He should have quit just like the fans did when they fell way behind.
Blame goes to Omar for the sorry shape of the bench. 3 catchers and no backup first baseman, But even if there was one willie wouldnt have bunted there and you know it.
Sadecki: You are so bitter…. did Willie cut you or something. Did you lose your last game because of a Willie bunt? You don’t have a clue what anyone would have done in a situation that never existed. Unless of course you are GOD herself. Are you ? Did you curse Willie in the 6th last evening Sadecki for winning the game? Do you get madder when his moves work or when they don’t? I suspect some of you Willie haters actually get mad when Willie does something and it works. You’d rather the Mets lose.
Guv,
I am not bitter, I dont hate Willie, I dont like when the mets lose, and I am definitely not God. In my opinion Willie Randolph is a bad manager. I can see a pattern after 31/2 years to know how he runs a game. He is an american leaguer and it shows in his management style. He is stubborn and resistant to change. Change is what is needed here. This team is going nowhere without major changes.
Hey, let’s not give Omar too much credit on Santana. The Yankees and Red Sox played chicken with each other and the Twins blew it by not taking the earlier deals. Fact is, at the time of the trade, the Yankees and Red Sox were out of it and those names couldn’t be gotten by the Twins. Hell, at the end, the Mets were bidding against themselves and I think they might have OVERPAID because nothing else was out there. To say the Twins could’ve gone back to the Red Sox is false. If it were true, why didn’t they-JD
I love you Ray. Anybody who pitched for the Mets is A-OK. I think you have /willie all wrong. No AL tram rns or has run as much as the Mets since Billy Martin in Oakland. At least not year after year. The Mets runners are on the move regularly when they have the unusual chance to be on base. That is not AL ball at all. We all know what Willie is going to do most of the time but when you root for a team not managed by Bobby Valentine that’s always the case after a little while. I think he managed the bullpen very well when he had pitchers a la 06. A good set up man, and then a good follow up set up man when Sanchez went down. A solid 7th inning lefty/righty combo and a strong long man. And even a good 6th inning guy in the stretch. When the pen falters no manager looks good. When the bullpen was obviously crap last year, he got no help from his GM, and they died. They lasted longer then they should have.
He’s stubborn. Then why did he use a million guys in the 2 hole until he got Castillo. Castillo is a 2 hole guy. He’s stubborn because he keeps Beltran in the 4 hole. If Omar gave him a 5 hole guy Beltran would improve his power. You gotta have the tools to do your job. The Mets on the field are flawed and I don’t understand so many in denial.
Guv, The Polish Prince loves you too. When I say Hes an AL style manager its not about the running game. Any team with Reyes is going to have alot of SBs. What I am referring to is always playing for the big inning. I dont see many hit and runs, squeeze plays, and moving runners over with bunts. Willie does not employ a wheel play ever, and there are times when it is very useful. Its just a very plain and predictable style. Yes I miss Bobby V. Who had a nice bag of tricks. He was never out managed by anyone and he had a lot less talent to work with.
I guess the whole league misses Bobby V. to since they havn’t given him a sniff for a mgr job. LOL
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