Recap: Omar Minaya on WFAN
Mets GM Omar Minaya recently appeared on WFAN’s Mike and the Maddog, and had the following to say regarding…
…the idea that he let Willie Randolph twist in the wind, by not making an announcement about his future sooner…
“It really started more after the Sunday game…I went to Willie’s office, and he was very emotional about losing. And, I feel, being the GM, I have to be there to answer the questions, because you’re the head guy. And the first question that came to me was, ‘Hey, is Willie gonna be back,’ and, for me, at the time, I have to sort of sit back and think about this. I’ll be honest with you, when you have the kind of season we had with the type of team we had…I felt I had to at least pause and at least review these things. It’s only fair…
“I told Willie, too, ‘These things happen,’ and Willie understood. I also feel, in looking at that, I had look at Willie’s body of work that he’s done here…It was my decision. I didn’t have to go to ownership, and ask if it was okay that I do this. I run the Baseball Operations department, so those managers are my decision. That being said, I did tell Willie, and he understood.”
…the relationship between Randolph and Minaya’s Assistant GM Tony Bernazard…
“There is not a problem between them…He has a great relationship with the players because he used to be with the Player’s Union…and that actually helps the manager, because the person has a great relationship with the player and is able to convey things to the manager that help out.”
…whether he feels it is important to have unity among the coaches, i.e., let Randolph choose his coaching staff, as opposed to Minaya making the selections as has been done the last two seasons…
“I’m half way on this, in that I think a manager should have the freedom to pick his coaches. So, lets look at our coaches: Rick Peterson came on board, and when we came on board, we decided to keep him…Jerry Manuel is Willie’s guy…Sandy Alomar was picked by Willie…Tommy Nieto, I had never met Tommy Nieto, he’s done a great job, and that’s Willie’s guy…Rick Down was Willie’s pick, and that one we disagreed on this year…and we went back and forth. He wanted to pick Howard Johnson, I said that’s no problem…
“My philosophy is such that the manager should be able to pick his guys, but I also believe that as a GM I have the ‘veto power’ to say no to a guy…If Willie doesn’t want a guy, he will not be back…and I think it’s fair to say we are going to sit down and evaluate all our coaches.”
…the relationship between Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes, and whether it had a negative impact on Reyes…
“That’s news to me, as far as being out late with Reyes…As far as Reyes’s decline…I think there’s a combination of things, I think he got tired and part because Jose had never been through a pennant race and I do believe he got in to a rut and could not get out of it mentally and physically – and I’m pretty sure he started to press.”
…the idea that the Mets were too confident, and got complacent…
“I think you guys are right, a lot of times I think there was a sense of over-confidence. There was that because we’re good on paper we’re gonna win this. I hope we learn from this that you don’t win on paper.”
…the idea of immaturity, the hi-five celebrations, lack of discipline, and dancing on the top step of the dugout, etc…
“I don’t know that the word is immaturity, but there is definitely inexperience and yes they do need to mature…That’s why I say, you know, understanding that you’re on the big stage, you’re in the pennant race for the first time…I do think there is a way to play this game correct, but I also am understanding of young kid’s emotions and how they express themselves…and that’s why the model is one of veteran players and younger players.”
…whether he feels he must make wholesale changes…
“I have always believed that you make change if it makes sense, not just changes for the sake of making changes…To me, we have the nucleous…We’re going to sit down and evaluate those things and if it means we need to make major changes we will make them.”
To listen to Minaya’s entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
