|
|
|
Yesterday, on WFAN, while at the Yogi Berra Museum, Mets manager Willie Randolph talked with hosts Chris Carlin and Kim Jones, and had the following to say regarding…
…how best to deal with criticism and fan-pressure while playing in New York City, such as Eli Manning had to do, who, by the way, 
he gave a pep talk to in a jewelry store in New York during December…
“Well, you obviously have to have thick skin and not listen to a lot of what you hear or read. But, you just have to believe in yourself, that’s the ultimate thing you can say to a guy. You’re gonna get those arrows thrown at you, people are always going to have things to say about you, but just believe in your ability and don’t react to that stuff. Because, that’s really all you have, that and your teammates and your family. I mean, obviously, a lot of fans love you, but you can’t really let your psyche get swayed by a lot of what you hear in the media, because here in New York every one’s got an opinion.”
…looking forward to 2008…
“Going in to the new year now, I feel real good about this year because I think we learned a big lesson. I think we did it as a group. I’ve been talking to a lot of my guys on the phone, and every one that I’ve talked to cant wait to get back at it. They know that we wasted a golden opportunity and they can’t wait to redeem themselves.”
…Jose Reyes, and whether he may have been a bit ‘full of himself,’ which led to several bad habits towards the end of last season…
“Well, as far as being full of yourself, when you get 50,000 people serenading you with, “Jose, Jose, Jose,” it’s easy for a young kid to get caught up in that…But, I think what really happened to Jose last year was just the timing of when he went in to the funk…I mean, he went in to a slump, and I think sometimes when young players who never really went through that mentally, you have to learn how to deal with that. I don’t think he understood how to get going the other way. There was a lot of pressure on him at the time to get us going…So, it’s a good lesson for him, but a tough lesson to learn at the wrong time…
…what he’ll do if the team becomes to slide next season, like it did last season…
“Well, I’m gonna whip them all (laughing), you know, get the whip out early (laughing). Nah, you know what, you can’t prepare for something like that, because you don’t really even see it coming. I mean, down the stretch, up until the last day, I believed t hat we were gonna pull it out, that we were gonna play well, my guys were confident in the clubhouse. But, baseball is such a strange game, and sometimes you can’t get out of your own way…I feel very strongly that what we experienced last year will not happen again.”
…Tom Glavine’s first appearance at Shea this coming season…
“(Laughing) Oh, boy. I don’t know, ask the Mets fans (laughing). Look, I’m sure with the way things ended he’ll get some adverse reaction…But, I think you have to respect the fact that the kid’s a Hall of Famer, he’s gonna be there, he handled himself great as a Met, and, you know, you can boo him a little bit, but not too much (laughing).”
…Jimmy Rollins, and while he must hate to compete against him, does he respect him…
“He can play for me any day. I’d have to move him to second base, though, because Jose is at short, you know (laughing). I respect Jimmy Rollins because he had the guts to come out in spring training – and those are the kind of players I like, the ones that come out and say, ‘You know what, you guys may be the division champs, but we’re the team to beat.’ Now, you gotta back that up, but he did…We need to make him eat those words next year.”
…who he’ll be rooting for in the Super Bowl…
“I’m kind of in the middle, I’m more of a Jets fan than a Giants fan, I must admit that. But, I still love the Giants, I really do…because this is great. I’m a New Yorker…To have this excitement in the city, and watch the Giants and the way they bounced back, stayed together and fought on the road, that’s unbelievable. I’m really happy for them…Go, Big Blue.”
Randolph also took questions from the live audience, and talked about Luis Castillo’s performance last season and his influence on Reyes; the idea of team chemistry; trading prospects for an ace; the struggles of Carlos Delgado; the importance of John Maine and Oliver Perez; and learning from last year.
To listen to the entire 30–minute interview, go to WFAN.com.
 |
 |
 |
RSS 2.0 Both comments and pings are currently closed.
listened to this interview this morning.. definitely a must listen to anyone who loves the behind the scenes view and the drama of the clubhouse. Willie’s comments regarding louis castillo were especially eye opening for me.
I heard it last night … it was a good interview. I liked his “I’m gonna whip em” answer to the kids question. It was a big change in how we are used to listening to him answer question and I was pleasantly surprised with the whole thing. Hopefully the team learned a good lesson … as well as Willie.
You’re not going soft on me, are you Mikey? After all, you did coin the phrase “Willie Protection Patrol”…lol
Hey that’s pretty good that you remember that! haha
No I’m not going soft … I was never a Willie basher I’m just the type of person to call it like it is. If he does something that deserves criticizing … I criticize him. The whole “Willie Protection Patrol” thing came from people who saw no wrong with him. I’m just objective, not just with him but with everyone.
I think his biggest problem is his inexperience. He should have paid his dues and became a manager in the minors like everyone else. But he didn’t and he is learning on the job. I’m willing to give him a chance if I see improvement … just as I would be with any player who is young and learning. But when anyone does bonehead things there is nothing wrong with pointing it out.
So … basically … I usually get really annoyed and frustrated listening to him when he talks. Yesterday’s interview was a big change and I actually liked hearing it. Maybe he realized he needs to fine tune, which I hope was the case, and not just that he’s in his “offseason” and is more open right now. We’ll see.
glavines going down
Why do you say Glavine is going down? I don’t understand how some Mets fan have so much hatered with Glavine? I myself am sad that Glavine is not going to play for Mets next year? Would you care to explain why Glavine is going down?
Sure, always happy to help a new fan. Most likely the poster says he is going “down” he means that Toothless will be showered with boos from when he quit on the team in the last game he pitched for the Mets. Others will remember that he was a mediocre pitcher for the entirety of his Mets, post-questec career which he punctuated by making eyes at his first love the Br*ves, every chance he got. The Br*ves, metsgirl23 are the team that used to be the mets’ mortal enemy for 13-4 years. But that was all the way back, even past Jose Reyes’ tenure. Sure we wished Tomahawk would be a number one pitcher when he signed with the Mets for more money than his beloved br*ves were offering. But it turned out that more often than not, we got to watch him pitch batting practice instead, providing the contribution of a servicable #5 starter instead with smoke and mirrors. You should be happy, not sad, to get to watch the Metsies pound this bozo into the ground next year. In any event, enjoy cheering on your new team, the New York Mets and welcome!
You make a good point! But to start off not to be mean I’m not a new fan at all! I completely disagree when you make the comment that Glavine quit the team on the last game when we blew our chances.I know the Braves are his first love but we all know that Glavine will pitch for two teams the Braves and the Mets. I am glad that a great pitcher like Glavine choose the Mets as one of his teams! Many are glad to see Glavine sign with the Braves and I know from the very begining that the Braves are our enemys but a baseball player is going to do what is best for him and his family! I am one of those fans who totally respect him for that no matter if it was the Yankees and we all know any Mets fan can’t the scum bag Yankees. I can never think of Glavine as a bozo because looking from a baseballs point of veiw do you actually think any of the Mets players now think Glavine is a BOZO and want to crush him this year? But thank you for answering my question! Hope we have a better season this year! Go Mets !
go big blue.
yes. go g men.
I had hoped he would announce his resignation…
You and me both….
Would it freaking kill Willie to talk just a little trash about Rollins? Jesus effingham Christ, he’s harder on Reyes than he is on J-Roll…
ummm
he should be
Rollins isn’t his player….and..had a very good year… Reyes had a sub par year and is HIS player
what trash is there to talk? Rollins had a great year and help up his end of the bargain in that “team to beat” thing. As for Reyes, I’d hate to see Willie pampering him at this point, he deserves to get some flack and be brought back to earth, hopefully that motivates him. And either way, that’s what coaches do, they are hard on their best players (especially young ones) because they want them to keep improving, not get comfortable. Who cares what he said about Rollins either way, Wilie is a class act and wouldn’t go dissing someone on another team for no reason.
not sure i would want willie bashing rollins. i mean as much as we dont like rollins he killed us last year, he absolutely owned us, that hit over beltrans head in the sunday game at shea in sept was the dagger. you could argue that if beltran makes the play we win the division or at least tie. willie would look incredibly ignorant talking trash on a guy that won the mvp, silver slugger, and gold glove (deserving or not).
Chris and Kim, my favs! I’m sad they’re on so early. Sometimes I hear them when they’re in for Mike/MD
Speaking of Mike/MD, this trivia thing is absolutely killing me. I don’t know what happened in Week 3 of the 1971 Giants/Redskins game.
What is it Mike and the Marquee? It is so boring listening to callers call in and answer Mad Dog’s ridiculous questions. It’s not fun and it does not make for good radio. They are unbearable as it is, but I would rather listen to them talk about the Giants, Horse Racing or even hear the Dog’s perspective on the Australian Open. Mike and the Marquee is bruuuuutal!
Yeah, that’s what it’s called! It really is awful. One guy was 2 questions away and they had to cut him off because he already called earlier in the day. “THAT’S THE RULZ!” At least Pierce will be on later.
i was listening to the trivia yesterday and it was pretty pathetic, a few of the questions were absolute lay ups that people were just bombing. (who was the only super bowl MVP from BYU? (steve young) who was the only SB MVP from notre dame? (joe montana) who was mvp of super bowl 42 (peyton manning). if you cant answer questions like that you deserve to be mocked by those two knuckleheads.
Hmm., another post lost?
Just asked for the highlights of what he said about Castillo?
“Metsblog, where posts go to die…”
something about how he was preoccupied with being a free agent, trying very hard to impress, and tried to be a leader for Jose, but was more in his own thing. He also indicated that now that he’s got a contract, some of that will fall away and he expects him to step up and be some of the glue we had from Valentin in 06 (my words, paraphrasing, but something like that..)
I’ll believe it when I see it, as far as Randolph is concerned. If that team doesn’t treat every game of their first series against the Phils like it’s a game 7, we’re in for a long year, because they were publicly emasculated during those last two series. We don’t have to win every game, but we do want to see fire and indignation. You know, the things that those of us who could see the collapse brewing didn’t see in the team last year.
I’m with you. I want to see major emphasis put on trying to win every game and that comes from the manager down. He’s got to have the control and the respect of the team. If he doesn’t, it’s going to be a continuation of 2007. And yeah … some of us saw it coming from a mile away and some were in denial. Hopefully there is less denial in 08 … from the manager … from the players … and from the fans.
I have said it all last season…
Shea plays the jose jose jose thing WAY to often…
it should be reserved for when he actually does something great, not played 3 times during each of his at bats. In fact, I would go so far as to say they should never play it over the PA system… just let us handle it!
I second that and move to get rid of the PA system all together.
How many times do we need to hear ” Everybody clap your hands” ?
It’s a lemming mentality to think that the fans don’t know when to get excited. Almost insulting. What’s worse is the people that clap after that.
Maybe there should be PA clips for the Players “Hit the Ball!”, “Throw a frikkin strike!”
Too much DJ not enough Mets.
oh man I couldn’t agree more. But it’s not just the Mets, it’s pretty much every sporting event everywhere now. It’s actually pretty insulting. I would love to see them host like a “throwback day” where the players wear old school uniforms, they turn the PA system off, and the starters don’t puss out in the 6th inning and actually throw a complete game….maybe that last part is asking too much, but at least give us the other two.
I was thinking the same thing during every met game I went to last year. Its a great cheer when he gets a tripple, not when the count is o-2. I think met fans can handle when to cheer.
I can also never talk to anyone i go with during the game because of the Pm system. Unless the mets put me in charge of the PA system I feel they should send it up in flames (like the divisional race last year)
I just want too call out supposed “Mets fans” who booed jose last september. While he slumped he is 23 and will be a all-star for years to come with the mets. This is Carlos Beltran all over again
Jimmy Rollins = leader where it counts (on the field).
yeah, but let’s not start anointing the guy yet. the phillies won just as many playoff games as we did in 2007.
plus, we won 1 more Spring Training game than they did. So, basically, in 2007, the Mets won exactly the same amount of games as the Phillies did!
Man I’m reaching for straws here. Can we please bury the Phillies this year, I’m starting to lose my sanity that we lost to a team from Philadelphia.
By the way: GO GIANTS
I’m totally with you. I want the Phillies to have just an awful season this year. Do awful as usual in April/May, heat up by July, and then falter in September. Bring on the Eagles chants already in Philly =)
Yes!! Go Giants!! I am so excited for the Superbowl, you have no idea.