Do it … or not
-
- June
- 16
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.
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on Monday, June 16th, 2008 at 10:46 am by John Delcos.
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JD: You’re dissing Jon Heyman? After all, he apparently is the one that started the latest rumor mill.
Even though JD’s post was in negative nature towards mets management, it still seems like he has calmed down a bit in comparison to his recent posts. JD agrees with the general consensus around the team right now, that this has gone too far. Do it, or not. The mets management should make like Tiger and just do it.
I don’t get the reason why the Mets should either fire him now or tell him the end of the season. Why should today’s or tomorrow’s or the day after that be the time line? Why can’t Omar have it in his own mind that it’s going to be the ASB as the time, and maybe he has already even told Willie that. To say it’s either fire him now, or they have to wait after the season is riddiculous. The soap opera is not the reason why Billy Wagner blew 3 saves this past week.
It is crazy for any team, especially one in New York to come out and say he has not chance of being fired this year, any number of things could happen that might necessitate the move, regardless of whether the Mets say anything in public or not, the speculation and bickering would not end until the Mets win ball games. Period.
Steve: I completely agree with you, however what I don’t understand is why they haven’t fired him, ALREADY. What are they waiting for? Willie has managed them through the world collapse in MLB history and no one was made accountable. What kind of message does that send? A simple and clear one, failure is ok. Willie’s blunders over the years from in game management to his no intensity approach to running out the B/C lineup when this team needs to put their foot on the throats is more than enough reason to can him like leftover meatloaf.
Bob: Good question that I don’t have the answer for. Maybe Omar feels badly about the team he has given to Willie and maybe he feels badly about the injuries. Who knows? The Mets were ready to turn it around after the Dodgers and Giants series and then they blew 4 in a row against the Pads. Did Willie do anything tactically wrong in that series? I don’t think so. The bats were like ghots and if Wagner doesn’t cough up those 3 games in a row, I think this thing would have died down already. Maybe that is why Omar hasn’t pulled the trigger
I totally agree sh*t or get off the pot…...
This willie watch is a complete distraction and for a struggling team it’s unnecessary….
Make a move and stick with it for the rest of the season, one way or the other. Firing Nieto as a sacrificial lamb is insulting to anyone who follows the team closely and peterson should go (IMO) look at the pen but along with the rest of them. This is an insult to Willie, I’m not a fan of his as a coach but as a man I am and he deserves better then this…....
Steve – Missed your comments; because he’s under contract,if business was as usual there isnt a question about his status they brought it up and now wont put it to bed. They didn’t hire a day to day mgr they hired him to a two year extention now they want to discuss reneging on it, which is fine he’ll still get paid but in all fairness dont dangle the carrot these are grown men, do it or don’t. if they were this unsure about him then he shouldnt have given the extention…..
Ed: The only people who have brought it up with regularity are the media. They didn’t bring up Willie’s status. Omar has already said he’s the manager. What else is he supposed to say? All GM’s have the right to make up their mind WHEN they are ready to. Omar is in a no win situation…if he says that he is giving Willie to the ASB that’s no good…if he says that Willie is the manager for the rest of the year…that’s no good. I don’t think Omar has much of a choice but to publicly say that Willie is the manager for now.
Either fire him, or say he is teh manager the rest of the season. enough already. it is a distraction to the players and to the fans
Just one other thing…if I was the Mets ownership, I would fire Omar.
OOPS…mistake from my other post. It should read, “The only people who have brought it up with regularity are the media. OMAR din’t bring up Willie’s status.”
Omar has handled this whole situation terribly, and it’s really making him look like what he is, a moron…
Bob: Accountability??? I’m sick of hearing about this accountability crap; Everyone on that team should have been held accountable for what happened last September, and all the blame should not be transfered unto one person who can’t even play the field..
At this point, I could care less who our manager is, as long as we win with that guy….
Franco: I think YOU AND THOSE RIDDICULOUS COMMERCIALS, are the bigger distraction. :-)
The current circus cannot be totally ignored by the players and is effecting them. To continue with this wavering back and forth by the Met’s Owners and Minaya is demonstrating the same indecisiveness that Willie himself has been blamed for by many from time to time over the past year. This team is carrying three catchers without reason, has a paper thin bench that in fairness to them has been overutilized and exposed because of the parade of injuries since the beginning of the season, and has a bullpen that could all star in the lead role of Jekyl and Hyde! If changes are going to be made, make them now, and, make them because you want the team to win. Any other reason to wait is not with the best interest of the team in mind.
What a soap opera. The Mets are always so concerned about their image and try to dispel the notion that they are a second class organization, yet how can you believe otherwise when they always act like a second class organization? Why can’t they ever do anything right? Every major decision is always bungled. Every injury is always downplayed or misrepresented. They can never seem to get out of their own way. The more they try to be like the Yankees, the more they succeed in being those lovable losers. That endearing tag doesn’t even apply to this ship of fools anymore. In all actuality they aren’t even remotely lovable to their own fan base.
LOOKK FOLKS, I’M CONGUSED, WHATR IS IT THAT OMAR’S FAILED AT? SPEWCIDFICALLY. WHERE IS THE “AGE” PROBLEM ON THIS TEAM? THE WAY I SEE IT THEY HAVE A LOT OF MID 30s GUYS ON THE BENCH WHICH IS DRIVEN BY THE TOTAL LACK OF DEPTH IN YOUNG FARM TALENT. THE WAY I ANALYZE THIS SEASON THE BRAVES HAD A MUCH WORSE AGE PROBLEM THAN THE METS CONSIDERING THEY PROJECTED A ROTATION THAT AVG. 35.6 YRS COMPARED TO 32.6, NYM; 29.4, NYY; 30.8, PHL. PLUS CRIPPLED CHIPPER’S AGE. MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO ME ARE THE AGES OF THE STARTING 8 POS [PLAYERS + 5 ROTATIONAL SP. CERTAINLY NOT THE BENCH. OMAR INHERITED A TEAM STRUGGLING TO AVOID 5th WITH LITTLE FARM TALENT. NOW WE HAVE A TEAM CONSIDERED A CONTENDER WITH A BARREN FARM SYSTEM. WITH THE OWNERS CONSTRAINING HIM FROM GETTING BEST AVAILABLE TALENT IN THE DRAFT DUE TO SELIG SLOTTING SYSTEM ADHERENCE. YO9U WANT TO BLAME SOMEONE FOR OWNERSHIPS’S CASBILATION? BLAME YOURSELCVES, JEFF WILPON USES WFAN TALK SHOWS AS A GUIDE. THAT’S RIGHT “THE IDIOT SON” IS IN CHARGE. WHAT DO U EXPECT? SORRY FOR CAPSLOCK; BUT DISABILITY REQUIRES USE.
“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.”
So true JD> Last year the same incessant rubbish was directed at the Bronx. Torre is gone this weekend, that weekend, blah blah blah. It ended when the Yankees got hot. Then over the Fall it went to NJ and Giants Stadium but lo and behold the Giants won it all, so the crap and the same exact lines have to move again. This year Girardi is too new for this crap so the rubbish goes to Queens.
Maybe Willie gets axed and maybe not, but if the Wilpons are really changing their mind with every move by Willie then it is them that should go. I think they know exactly what they want to decide his fate either way, but morons on talk radio and trash rumor mongering B grade writers and TV bozos like John Kruk and company think they will make a name for themselves if one of their guesses turns out right.
I think the All-Star game selection presents a big public relations problem for the front office. While the team desperately needs a change in the manager’s office, it would be a real kick in the teeth to Willie to get canned before his upcoming All-Star appearance at, of all places, Yankee Stadium.
If Willie were a shmuck, you’d fire at him at a time of your own choosing; but he’s a decent guy and, as such, firing him before the All-Star game would be something akin to dirty pool.
Oh…and John Delcos, thank god you’re still alive. Whenever you disappear for a few days, I always envision the worst…”Neighbors described him as a quiet man who kept to himself…”
I am amazed that Fred, Jeff and Omar are even considering firing Willie. When they hired him, they made a statement about race, respectibility, his history of playing and coaching baseball, and a man who was not only well known in the baseball community, but well loved.
Willie has not changed.
So, why are the Wilpons considering his removal? It’s the players who have not done their jobs – so many of them who simply do not do their part for the team either on the field or off. They are responsible for the teams record.
Put the blame – and the punishment – where it belongs.
If the Wilpons fire Willie, they will regret it.
Joe D has it right. The Mets are always funbling around when it comes to decision making. Whether it be Church’s head or Willie’s as the latest examples.
If they wanted to fire Willie they had 2 opportunities: at the end of last yr or a couple of weeks ago when the fan base had not come to their senses and realized that the issue w/the team is the player personnel and not so much the manager. Even the media is now ready to pounce on Omar if he decides to do this; he’ll be under fire b/c Willie won’t be around to flap in the wind.
If they do it now, the problems (perceived-lack of hustle, lack of focus, etc) won’t go away and the problems (real-no corner OF, inconsistent RP) won’t go away and Omar will be under fire. I can see the media circus now and the media asking Omar what responsibility does he take in this. It will be interesting to hear the response.
And for those that say it is not a distraction, how can it not be? The media asks the players everyday what they think, what they feel, etc…
And if you knew that your boss was dangling in the wind, might you behave differently? Perhaps not putting forth your best effort or at the very least hanging around the water cooler talking about the situation instead of being productive? It’s human nature.
Josh – Yes, accountability. Someone needed to be held accountable after the collapse and still, someone needs to be held accountable to the fact that this team has played sub .500 baseball since June 2007. Since firing the entire team isn’t an option, the blame falls on the manager. Rightfully so, as mentioned in my prior posts, how many games must we watch where Willie mismanages the bullpen? How many games must me watch that Willie doesn’t pinch hit Castro, even though the team is carrying 3 catchers? How many games must we watch where the players play lackadasial, uninspired, lazy defense? To tell me that that isn’t a reflection of the manager, to tell me that Willie shouldn’t be held accountable for these blunders is ridiculous! FIRE WILLIE!
I’m with you, Bob Y. The assembled talent was good enough to go 83-62 over the first 145 games last year. The collapse and all that has followed has pointed to a leadership void, not a talent issue.
You want to argue that the competition has gotten better and the Mets themselves have gotten a bit worse, fine; but, as Mike Lupica pointed out, the Phils have now been 14 games better than the Mets over the last half-season. That’s astounding.
“The fact is, the Mets have a winning record under Randolph!” This is a badge of merit? I don’t know about Willie one way or another, but what a wacky comment in his defense.
So what you are saying is that the manager who led the team to the NLCS in 2006 and 83-62 over the first 145 games last year, all of a sudden became a lousy manager and someone who can’t lead a team. Somehow I have trouble believing that.
Steve – he did manage them to the NLCS in 2006, but, the NL had one of its worst years based on standings in recent memory. Look at the world series champions cardinals, they finished the season 5 games over .500 and made the playoffs. That didn’t happen last year and it certainly won’t happen this year. Willie made plenty of blunders in 2005 and 2006, it’s not like he JUST SUDDENLY became a bad NL in-game manager. Everyone remember when the umpire had to inform Willie how to properly perform a double-switch in 2005? That was BEYOND EMBARASSING! So yes, Willie had a bit of luck in 2006 with the competition being leagues below the NY Mets, that luck has certainly run out and he never has been a good in-game decision maker and is showing no signs of improvement. FIRE WILLIE!
such none sense the Mets win on accident in 2006, and now suddenly the NL is so good Willie can’t handle it.
ridiculous
Bob: There isn’t a manager in baseball that doesn’t make a mistake. Secondly I hate when teams win the manager has no responsibility towards it, but when they lose it’s all his fault. Name me one manager who doesn’t make any tactical mistakes. There are none.
The problem is that Omar didn’t say Willie was the manager. Omar said the coaching staff is the coaching staff RIGHT NOW and that he would blah blah be making adjustments blah blah blah as needed blah blah blah.
I lost all respect I had for Omar Minaya in last night’s press conference.
Willie has made some questionable decisions that one could point to as being a direct loss to a game. Remember a game last July against the Nationals (forget the date, but there was a day/night DHer, mets won first game, lost second game). Basically, Paul LoDuca came up lame and went out with a hamstring pull after he was on-base. He sends Duque to pinch run which was admittedly the right move, you don’t put Ramon Castro there. but the SMART thing and right thing to do was PH Castro in the spot after him – instead he brings up Marlon Anderson who promptly killed a rally. I’m not saying that Castro doesn’t do that…however, this was not the pitcher’s spot, a PH was needed for the pitcher later on. Of course this was one of Beltran-has-a-hangnail-and-won’t-play-even-though-hes-not-on-DL games, so Wills was shorthanded. He famously said after the game was lost by one freaking run (when asked why he used Anderson instead of Castro when he knew he was shorthanded and had to use TOM GLAVINE as a PH in the bottom of the 9th), that he went with his “gut.” That is inexcusable. However, he is not the problem here. the time to fire willie has come and gone – it should have happened last year. If not, he finished out this year, we cut our losses and open with Backman as manager :D (I can dream, right?).
The Coop: EVERY Manager has made mistakes that cost teams games. It’s not just Willie. And as far as the “gut” comment goes, people also complain when managers go strictly by the book instead of using their instincts. Anyway, i’m done defending Willie. I want the entire front office fired, Willie included. My biggest beef with Willie will always be not bunting in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7. For THAT mistake, he should have been fired.
I don’t think Willie is the right manager for the team, as decent and honorable a guy as he looks to be. that said, the real big problem with this team is Wilpon ownership. The Wilpons are terrible owners. Once Doubleday was out of the picture, the Wilpons have presided over one disaster over another. They micromanage (“full autonomy”?), they act like Steinbrenner in the bad old days only do it anonymously, rather than out in the open like he did in the 70s and 80s. What this team really needs (besides a new manager and younger players) is new ownership. And until that happens, it will be soap opera central at Shea/Citi Field as far as the eye can see.
John,
I read that Omar was going to be at the games against the Angeles. Is this true? I agree with you whole heartedly. Fire Willie or don’t, this is a mess. willie made the right call there pinch hitting for pedro too, it sucks he had to use CANCEL, but great he came through. His only choice was Cancel because of our sorry GM.
The way I see this mess is the Mets organization is a total mess. This has jeff Wilpon’s name written all over it. It was bad enough he was the jack ass that wanted to trade Kazmir for zambrano and now he has willie standing on hot coals. This is a joke, either fire him or tell the press his job is secure for the rest of the year. This whole thing can’t help the met players focus any better it can only make things worse. My opinion on this willie watch is let him finish the season and see what happens. In the off season if the organization feels they need to bring in a new manager and coaching staff than so be it. The way there are handling this is a joke just like they handled the church situation.
Seaver,
right on man, I mentioned the same thing on this blog not to long ago. This organization is now a joke and it all started when Doubleday left. Unfortunately with the wilpons building the new stadium they are the met owners for good, sucks for met fans like myself.
caryn,
I agree, if anybody should be fired it’s Omar Minaya, not randolph. Minaya is the one who built this team to win now (2006) and has left the farm barren and the big club stuck with renegade players with no backup plan.
“The collapse and all that has followed has pointed to a leadership void, not a talent issue.”
I think one can more easily make a case that Randolph did a great job last year stalling off the collapse despite a horrid pen and a crippled starting rotation, and time just ran out on the few reliable pitchers he had. I ss a GM that refused to open his eyes and admit he made major screw ups with the 07 pen and let it stay in tact while it was self destructing.
I see a GM that came into 08 deluded that the lack of ampohetamines would be irrelevant to his key elderly players in the lineup Alou and Delgado, and who was deluded enough to beleive that the pen would magiucally be all better with a return of unknown form to Sanchez. so I guess I agree that there is a leadership void but the void is the GM not the manager.
A line up with such currently outstandf=ding players batting 5th this season is a tribute to the terrible leadership of Omar Minaya. A bullpen that has not one relialbe pitcher is a tribute to the terrible leadership of Omar Minaya. A coaching staff that has done nothing to improve players, pitchers, run bases etc that the manager was not allowed to pick is a tribute to the terrible leadship of Omar Minaya.
And to coop: How do you know that the umpire hadn’t already recognized Anderson as the PH therefore making it impossible to do what you so egotistically call the SMART thing. Anderson was already in the on deck circle and it was 28 July, and since you can’t remember the date how can you be so sure of the umpire’s timing especially since nobody ever pays attention to it? And Anderson didn’t kill the rally. He flied out leaving another chance to Reyes who killed the rally.
I agree that this has Jeffy Wilpon’s fingers all over it.
Steve: When they win, the manager does get credit, unfortunately the winning needs to be sustained, not a game here and a game there. As we all know the stat, the mets are 80-84 since June 1, 2007. This isn’t sustained winning. Go back another year when the Mets ran away and hid with the division, Willie received a ton of credit and per metsblog this morning by way of Mets Mesmerized, “18 months ago Willie was a beloved figure in New York.” He received so much credit that he finished 2nd to only Joe Giradi after the Marlins surprising season, Willie was only 30 POINTS SHY of manager of the year. Although I don’t believe he managed well enough to be considered for MOY, the club was winning and yes they were winning in part because the NL was so terrible. After over a season (last 162 games) worth of sub .500 baseball, Willie has no luck from other teams and no luck of working his way out of this storm that he has caused. Goodbye Willie.
Steve: What about in that same 9th inning when Willie chose to pinch hit Cliff Floyd who was on one leg, hadn’t had an at bat in two weeks and in the off-season told reporters, “Willie knew I wasn’t able to go in that spot.” Looks like our beloved manager made two decisions that should have given him the axe in one inning.
“Willie has no luck from other teams and no luck of working his way out of this storm that he has caused. ”
Another fantasy. willie caused the storm. Willie caused the disgraceful bullpen. Willie developed the disgraceful bench. Willie casued the minor league system that produces no help. Willie causes no backup to Delgado, Alou or anyone else. Yes, all these things things Willie has caused. Omar has done none of it. Omar didn’t re-up Alou, Omar didin’t have a clue Delgado was slowing down last year, Omsar didn’t fid a catcher who can;t get an extra base hit. Omar didn’t re up the old and finished Anderson, and Easley. Omar didn’t really pick these coaches. Our GM doesn’t do anything I guess.
Bob: That is the situation I was talking about.
TheGuv: Sorry I didn’t say Omar was at fault too. He is at fault too, you’re correct. Do we really need to discuss what Willie contributed to “causing” the storm. Lets start with last year. Sure, Omar brought in Mota, but it was WILLIE who brought him in, inning after inning in tight spots. Mota would fail, Willie would bring him back in a tight spot only to see him fail again. Sound familiar? Yes it does, becasue this year Willie is doing the same thing with Heilman. Please don’t get me started on Willie and his mismanagement of the bullpen or we’ll be he forever. Another fantasy? How do you figure? Willie has no more luck with the NL being such a crappy league as it was in 2006. It is not that crappy of a league anymore, in 06 the Cardinals make the playoffs 5 games over .500, last year the Rockies make the playoffs at 10 games over .500, this year I wouldn’t be surprised if the wild card team is 12-15 games over. The NL is improving every year in relation to 2006 and Willie’s managerial skills are not. It’s kind of hard to improve when he remains stuck in his ways, with his no NL-knowledge approach to running a baseball team. Just ask the ump who had to inform him how to properly execute a double-switch.
For those who are curious about the “double-switch debacle,” those who don’t remember it, or those who want to get a good laugh and realize that this man is not built for a national league ball club, please check out the following NY Times article. I hope you can post links here, JD…
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/07/sports/baseball/07mets.html
Hey Bob,
Please tell me where you work so everyday I can blog about the lousy job you are doing and nit pick your day. Hey, Bob took 5 minutes extra for lunch, Bob left work early, Bob just blew a big deal. Fire him. How about,, Bob works for Bear Stearns, its his fault the company no longer exsists. Don’t get me started on Bob.
Listen, this whole media firestorm is created by Jeff Wilpon. John D. correct me if I’m wrong. Is it not Jeff leaking all this to you guys? Give me Hank Stienbrenner any day. At least he has the stones to stand up and say what is on his mind and not hide behind the media hounds. Jeff should have half the class of his father and half the stones of Hank.
Meat Head: The difference with my job and Willie’s is he HAS to answer to the NY media, I do not. I don’t even live in NY. Please, please, please do not call the Willie Randolph talk over the past year “nitpicking” about somebody’s day job. That was an awful analogy, you don’t even get points for effort. If people didn’t “nitpick” over Willie’s job or any manager’s job, or sports for that matter, we wouldn’t have any need for talk radio? Goodbye Mike and the Mad Dog! Hey… that idea doesn’t seem bad after all.
And Omar added Santana to the “crippled” rotation that went 83-62 over the first 145 games last year—and the rotation has become worse. Explain to me how there’s less talent in this year’s rotation than last year’s.
Tiffany: Rick Peterson is the most overrated pitching coach in all of baseball.
Bob,
The Mike and Mad dog line was the first thing I agree with you all day. LOL You don’t work for Bear Stearns do you.
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