Read: Ron Darling on MetsBlog Podcast
Tonight, at 6:30 pm, and again at 11 pm, SNY will air The Mets Hot Stove Report hosted by Kevin Burkhardt and featuring Ron Darling, as well as guests David Wright and Jeff Wilpon.
Meanwhile, today, at 3 pm EDT, Darling will be a guest 
on The MetsBlog Podcast, during which we’ll discuss his off-season vision for the Mets, his thoughts on Willie Randolph and Jose Reyes, and how today’s Hot Stove compares to when he played.
During the 13–minute interview on The MetsBlog Podcast, which will air later today, Darling had the following to say, among other things, regarding…
…whether or not free agency, and players swapping from team to team, has altered the level of competition in baseball…
I will say this, the players are as tough, if not tougher, than when we played, but because of this changing around they’ve made the game less tough.
I think the players are bigger and stronger and they’re tough as nails, but what happens is, when you have, before the game, every one is giving that uncomfortable man hug – and I’m trying to rid the world of man hugs, by the way, one hug at a time – that hug that they all share, you know, it’s symbolic of this, it’s symbolic that every one knows each other and that’s great, it’s a nice fraternity, and they’re all making a lot of money, and that’s a great thing, but I think the toughness…that toughness is gone forever – and we can argue all day whether that’s a good thing, but is gone.
…the potential disconnect between an old-school guy like Willie Randolph, and young players from this modern ‘man-hug era.’…
Yeah, that’s a really good question. I’ll say this, never have I met anyone classier than Willie Randolph…It’s not an old-school guy talking, it’s just that, the most important thing, I think, a baseball player, manager, coach, whatever, is you don’t assume anything…make sure you explain it, and I think that’s maybe where Willie came up a little short. Willie was one of the classiest and one of the toughest guys to play the guy, and I think he assumes that sometimes these guys know how to play the game right, and sometimes that doesn’t always happen.
This winter, I’m sure he’s giving a lot of thought about that first conversation he’ll have in spring training…that is going to be one of the great rallying cries, because he’s not ever going to assume anything again, and I’m sure he’ll make sure all of his players know that baseball is a weird game and there’s only way to play it, and that’s the right way. What is that? Well, that’s on each manager and each manager defines that and I’m sure Willie will define that.
…the late-season struggles of Jose Reyes…
This is totally my opinion, and has nothing to do with fact, but the one thing I would look at is that Rick Down was let go at the break…he and Reyes seemed to hit it off…He and Jose had, whatever that is, they were able to connect and work.
Another thing is, I think at one point the manager got angry at him and rightfully so and he’s a young man. A lot of times, what happens to young people is, when they’re called on the carpet, is that there is a moping point of time…
Lastly, I think, and I’ll probably have this argument with the powers that be in Spring Training, but, I don’t ever envision him stealing more than 50 or 60 bases, I think that’s a max for him. I say that, because I played with Rickey Henderson, who could steal more than that, but Rickey had a different body – he was built like a full back and he could take the pounding…Just piling up stolen bases, for Jose, I would not want to see that. He is only gonna get stronger, and I’d like to see him ease that burden of stealing, not increase it…Those 10 to15 extra bases are gonna wear on a guy who’s not built like Henderson is, like a full back.
Don’t forget, tonight, at 6:30 pm, and again at 11 pm, SNY will air The Mets Hot Stove Report hosted by Kevin Burkhardt, featuring Darling, as well as David Wright and Jeff Wilpon.
