Daily Archives: September 20, 2007
In the latest of his Rumbings & Grumblings series for ESPN.com, Jayson Stark takes a look at eight managers ‘who are on the hot seat,’ including Willie Randolph.
Stark writes…
“If this season ends badly — especially if it ends with the Mets’ becoming the first team since 1938 to blow a seven-game lead in September — there is absolutely going to be talk about whether it’s the manager’s fault. And not just on your car radio.”
Stark gives Randolph 25-1 odds that he won’t be back.
...even if the Mets season spins out of control and they miss the playoffs or even lose in the first round of the playoffs, i don’t believe willie should be fired…
…let’s look at what he has done in the three years that he has been at the helm…he guided the Mets to an overachieving year in 2005, with a 83-79 
record, a 12 game improvement from the previous season…in year two, he help the franchise to their first division title in 18 years, in dominate fashion no less, and was within a game of reaching the World Series…and in his third year, the Mets are on the verge of winning a second straight division title, something that has never been done in Mets history…
…we can second guess randolph’s moves all we want, hell, it’s human nature to do so, but at what point do the players need to the majority of the blame…in my opinion, a manager’s toughest decision come between the sixth and ninth innings of a game, but a manager can only play the cards with which he is dealt…so, if you have a bullpen with Guillermo Mota and Scott Schoenweis in it, they need to pitch…yes, we can all question a players usage in certain situations, but without the everyday knowledge of a player’s availability, who are we to determine if a manager’s decision is wrong…
…don’t get me wrong, i’m not trying to be a randolph apologist, but i think it’s important, we as fans, don’t get carried away without having all the facts that a manager has…
…and certainly a manager, who has won 55% time, deserves the benefit of the doubt…
Tagged Mike Nichols, Willie Randolph |
A loyal Metsblog reader sent in this video montage of highlights from the 2007 season.
[youtube CyucjYhkAeo nolink]
…great job iceshotkid…
…although last season’s coast into the postseason was fun, sometimes a playoff race is better when it is exciting…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
This afternoon on The MetsBlog Podcast, I talked with former-Mets OF Darryl Strawberry about the role of passion in baseball, as well as his recent work on behalf of autistic children at The Darryl Strawberry Foundation.
By the way, on September 22, Darryl will be performing in The Boy of Steel, along with Bernie Williams and others, which you can learn more about here.
To listen to this interview, use the audio player in MetsBlog’s left column, or go to BlogTalkRadio.com.
To subscribe to The MetsBlog Podcast, and receive new and old editions directly to your iPod, use this url, or simply search MetsBlog on iTunes and click subscribe.
Since September 1, Shawn Green is batting .419 with 2 HR, 7 RBI with 9 runs scored, while stealing 2 bases in 43 at-bats.
…greeny, with his calm, cool demeanor, is one of my favorites on this team and it’s been great seeing him battle, just waiting for his pitch, during his most recent at-bats…and it’s interesting that he is doing this while playing in a part-time role, which doesn’t seem to affect him…
…honestly, i was worried green would have a hard time adjusting, but no matter the role, greeny is prepared, which is great to see…
…he’s also played a stellar first base since Carlos Delgado has been out…
Tagged Mike Nichols, Shawn Green, Stats |
Willie Randolph, to his team’s fans, durinig his interview with WFAN yesterday evening…
“Just keep the faith, and make sure you don’t jump ship on these guys, because they’re gonna go out and play hard for you until the end. Regardless if we get down to one game, whether we get down to half a game, we’re gonna bounce back and win this thing.”
…full speed ahead, gentlemen…ya gotta believe…
…speaking of willie, this is a great photo by the Associated Press…nice work, with a blurred ‘first’ in the background, as though it’s still there, just a bit foggy these days…
Tagged Willie Randolph |In the Daily News, Wayne Coffey talks with Willie Randolph about how he has been handling the team’s recently concluded losing streak.
According to Randolph, last night’s win was “a double dose of penicillin.”
…be sure to read wayne’s column, as willie offers up a few interesting quotes…awesome work, wayne…
David Wright, on Randolph, as quoted by Coffey…
“Willie has been there before in playoff pushes that have come down to last couple of games. You see it in his eyes. You see it in Tom Glavine’s eyes, and you see it in Pedro’s eyes. The guys who have been there have a confidence and it rubs off on you as a younger player…
“It’s easy to push the panic button. It’s easy to feel the pressure from the media and the fans. You can’t focus on how we lost the lead. You focus on how you got it. If we play the baseball we’re capable of playing from here on out, we win the division. If we don’t, we lose the division.”
Paul Lo Duca left last night’s game after being hit on the hand by a pitch.
Following the game, Willie Randolph told reporters that he believes Lo Duca will be fine, ‘he took a shot on the back of the knuckles, we’ll get some ice on it and he should be okay.’
Tagged Paul Lo Duca |
…in case you missed it…
According to MLB.com, the Marlins postponed Dontrelle Willis’s start last night against the Braves, so he can pitch against the Mets tonight in Miami.
Willis, who is 11-3 with a 2.39 ERA lifetime against the Mets, was actually sent back to Miami early so he can be ready for the game.
In what was probably the biggest start of his young career, last night, Mike Pelfrey allowed three runs and nine hits, while walking three and striking out four, through five innings in a win for the Mets.
Since losing his first seven 
of his first 10 starts this season, Pelfrey is 3–0 with a 3.48 ERA in his last four.
Pelfrey, on pitching is such a pressure-packed game, while talking to reporters after the win…
“I block it out. I just wanted to go out there and pitch well and give this team a chance to win. It was a big game for every body, and they came out and every body played well…I look at every game as being big…So, I was always try to go out there and pitch well.”
Willie Randolph, regarding Pelfrey, after the game…
“He’s maturing. He’s still trying to find his way, but he threw the ball well. He had really good stuff. He may have given up a few hits here and there, but he broke a lot of bats and his stuff was really moving. So, it’s a good outing for him and it’s nice to see him continue to progress.”
…he was throwing the ball really well last night…in terms of zip and movement, he looked great…his only flaw, as with every one from time to time, is that he left a few pitches up out over the plater, and at the major-league level that isn’t gonna fly, as they’ll turn on it and hit it and they did…he’ll get better at that, though…and when he does, coupled with his ‘stuff,’ he’s gonna be just fine…
Tagged Mike Pelfrey |Last night, in the sixth inning, Willie Randolph chose Jorge Sosa to pitch with a runner on third and first and none out. Sosa struck out a batter looking on three pitches, followed by an inning-ending double play.
He retired three of four batters in the following inning, as well, after which Aaron Heilman pitched a perfect eighth inning.
Randolph, talking to reporters after the game, regarding Sosa and Heilman, and the bullpen…
“Well, that’s the nature of relief pitching…You don’t give up on guys because they have tough outings, or go through a tough stretch. Our bullpen is what it is – and those are the guys who have been there most of the year…
“So, whether it’s Mota or Sosa or Aaron or Feliciano, those are the guys who are gonna get us there. Any time they pitch well it’s good for their confidence. They’ve been doing a good job all year. Every one runs in to a rough patch once in a while, hopefully they’ll get through it and start to get more confidence.”
…it really was a huge spot for sosa, and for the team…also, it’s the exact spot that had burned the club so many times in the previous five games, so to get through it, pile on more runs after that, and never look back, well, it was huge to say the least…probably a very big moment in the overall season, when we look back…
Tagged Pedro Feliciano | ← Older postsNewer posts →
