Comments on: Opinion: State of the Team http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/ Latest Mets News, Links, Rumors and Opinion Fri, 04 Feb 2011 21:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: originalini http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130112 originalini Wed, 09 Apr 2008 22:29:24 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130112 I was pissed yesterday, not just because we lost but because Willie makes it seem that its okay because its only April. To me the most important game of the season is the game you play today. Every pitch and every play is as important as the next. There is no urgency from him to win now. He needs to show it to the fans and the players that he needs to win now. I see Bobby Cox and Ozzie Guillen get thrown out of the game in the 3rd inning because they know that a bad call early in the game is just as important as a bad call late in the game. Everything is important, and we need to fight to win every game not just "big games." Tomorrow is not promised!! I was always a supporter of Willie, but he needs an attitude adjustment. His lame confidence and no panic act is getting real tiresome. If he doesn't start managing with some fire and putting some fire in his players, there needs to be a change. I was pissed yesterday, not just because we lost but because Willie makes it seem that its okay because its only April. To me the most important game of the season is the game you play today. Every pitch and every play is as important as the next. There is no urgency from him to win now. He needs to show it to the fans and the players that he needs to win now.

I see Bobby Cox and Ozzie Guillen get thrown out of the game in the 3rd inning because they know that a bad call early in the game is just as important as a bad call late in the game. Everything is important, and we need to fight to win every game not just “big games.” Tomorrow is not promised!!

I was always a supporter of Willie, but he needs an attitude adjustment. His lame confidence and no panic act is getting real tiresome. If he doesn’t start managing with some fire and putting some fire in his players, there needs to be a change.

]]> By: irish_eagle http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130054 irish_eagle Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:45:27 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130054 Yes. More good stuff. People need to look more at Omar and less at Willie. Yes. More good stuff.

People need to look more at Omar and less at Willie.

]]> By: irish_eagle http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130053 irish_eagle Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:44:13 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130053 I blame Omar too. I would add to your list - not restocking the farm system and building a team of characterless players. You can live with a few of these, but the Mets seem to have way too many. And, he hired the wrong manager for this team. I don't think Willie's all that bad, but he needs to manage a different team. I blame Omar too. I would add to your list – not restocking the farm system and building a team of characterless players. You can live with a few of these, but the Mets seem to have way too many. And, he hired the wrong manager for this team.

I don’t think Willie’s all that bad, but he needs to manage a different team.

]]> By: metsftw http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130049 metsftw Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:42:35 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130049 they hit the ball better and pitch better? that's playing with a sense of urgency? interesting. they hit the ball better and pitch better? that’s playing with a sense of urgency? interesting.

]]> By: MudvilleNine http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130044 MudvilleNine Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:39:44 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130044 BINGO! BINGO!

]]> By: hyperion4 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130040 hyperion4 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:35:30 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130040 I agree about the softness, but I don't feel so sure that it's a managerial problem. When Omar put together this team, he didn't give much attention to the need to have some grinders, guys who will drive pitchers crazy at the plate with good ABs and pitchers (Pedro and Wagner aside) who will claim the inside of the plate as their own. To speak only of the Braves and Phillies, Rollins, Utley, and Kelly Johnson exemplify that style and we don't have too many guys in the lineup who can do that. Charlie Manuel isn't the reason that the Phillies grind. It's the guys he has who bring it to the park every day. Nothing Willie can do is going to make Delgado, Beltran, or Castillo that kind of player. I think that we need to *get* that kind of player -- or a lot of these Mets need to get tough in a hurry. I agree about the softness, but I don’t feel so sure that it’s a managerial problem. When Omar put together this team, he didn’t give much attention to the need to have some grinders, guys who will drive pitchers crazy at the plate with good ABs and pitchers (Pedro and Wagner aside) who will claim the inside of the plate as their own. To speak only of the Braves and Phillies, Rollins, Utley, and Kelly Johnson exemplify that style and we don’t have too many guys in the lineup who can do that.

Charlie Manuel isn’t the reason that the Phillies grind. It’s the guys he has who bring it to the park every day. Nothing Willie can do is going to make Delgado, Beltran, or Castillo that kind of player. I think that we need to *get* that kind of player — or a lot of these Mets need to get tough in a hurry.

]]> By: hyperion4 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130038 hyperion4 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:28:57 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130038 I've always been one to pooh-pooh the "sky is falling" comments about the Mets but one thing is becoming painfully clear. The Mets simply don't play with the intensity of the Phillies and Braves. It's hard to define what constitutes that intensity, but the clearest example I can think of is giving a tough AB, especially late in games. I just think that the Phils and Braves have more guys who do that than we do. So far, the Met who has given the toughest ABs that I've seen this season is Brady Clark, and he's batted maybe three times. I don't want a lineup full of Brady Clarks, but I'd like to see some more serious grinding. I think there was a reason that Omar was interested in signing Eckstein. I don't have anything against Pagan, Church, etc., but they're just not that kind of player. I think they all want to win, I don't think they're lazy or complacent, God knows Pagan is motivated to play hard, but the Mets just don't have a lot of grinders. They really need a couple. Wright is capable of it, but I don't see much else. Remember Tony Phillips? The Mets could really use a guy like that right now. I’ve always been one to pooh-pooh the “sky is falling” comments about the Mets but one thing is becoming painfully clear. The Mets simply don’t play with the intensity of the Phillies and Braves. It’s hard to define what constitutes that intensity, but the clearest example I can think of is giving a tough AB, especially late in games. I just think that the Phils and Braves have more guys who do that than we do.

So far, the Met who has given the toughest ABs that I’ve seen this season is Brady Clark, and he’s batted maybe three times. I don’t want a lineup full of Brady Clarks, but I’d like to see some more serious grinding.

I think there was a reason that Omar was interested in signing Eckstein. I don’t have anything against Pagan, Church, etc., but they’re just not that kind of player. I think they all want to win, I don’t think they’re lazy or complacent, God knows Pagan is motivated to play hard, but the Mets just don’t have a lot of grinders. They really need a couple. Wright is capable of it, but I don’t see much else.

Remember Tony Phillips? The Mets could really use a guy like that right now.

]]> By: MudvilleNine http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130037 MudvilleNine Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:27:30 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130037 You are totally 100% correct metties1. Saying David Wright isnt playing hard because he didnt come up with the big hit, or Sosa wasn't trying hard enough when he threw that one bad pitch for a grand slam isnt being realistic. Saying its just a feeling is no proof, and doesnt mean that there is something there. It's their constant failures so far this season thats making you think this. You're saying to yourself the players are too good to not be coming through in those spots. It must be that they are not trying, that they are indifferent, that they are uncaring. I think they're trying to hard and are just in a team funk. We can only hope they break out of it soon. You are totally 100% correct metties1. Saying David Wright isnt playing hard because he didnt come up with the big hit, or Sosa wasn’t trying hard enough when he threw that one bad pitch for a grand slam isnt being realistic. Saying its just a feeling is no proof, and doesnt mean that there is something there. It’s their constant failures so far this season thats making you think this. You’re saying to yourself the players are too good to not be coming through in those spots. It must be that they are not trying, that they are indifferent, that they are uncaring. I think they’re trying to hard and are just in a team funk. We can only hope they break out of it soon.

]]> By: hyperion4 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130020 hyperion4 Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:18:02 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-130020 I for one thought that it was a great move for Willie to remove Perez. It was just the type of decisive move that Willie rarely makes. Perez was showing every sign of going to pieces. He does that quite often, you know. And the move worked out as it was supposed to -- Smith got out of the inning with no one scoring. It is a little easier to criticize the move retrospectively because we now know that Feliciano wasn't available and the BP was a little short. But I was still glad that Willie made the move because it indicated that at least *he* was feeling the urgency that we're all accusing the the team as a whole of lacking. I for one thought that it was a great move for Willie to remove Perez. It was just the type of decisive move that Willie rarely makes. Perez was showing every sign of going to pieces. He does that quite often, you know. And the move worked out as it was supposed to — Smith got out of the inning with no one scoring.

It is a little easier to criticize the move retrospectively because we now know that Feliciano wasn’t available and the BP was a little short. But I was still glad that Willie made the move because it indicated that at least *he* was feeling the urgency that we’re all accusing the the team as a whole of lacking.

]]> By: NYMBosco http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-129998 NYMBosco Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:05:10 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2008/04/09/opinion-state-of-the-team/#comment-129998 Willie must go.....he is without question the main reason for the dead malaise laid back attitude on this team. Let's not forget that rather than him running a kick ass spring training camp after the disasterous collapse of last year, willie once again ran "country club" port st. lucie with everyone getting hurt and the regular starters not playing together all spring. This team is not ready to play and that is willie's fault. He had the same ho-hum approach when he should have been in kick-ass mode from february onward. Instead the team went through the motions this spring and brought their lackadaisical attitudes up north to start the season. He must go before they dig a hole that they will not be able to come back from.... Willie must go…..he is without question the main reason for the dead malaise laid back attitude on this team. Let’s not forget that rather than him running a kick ass spring training camp after the disasterous collapse of last year, willie once again ran “country club” port st. lucie with everyone getting hurt and the regular starters not playing together all spring. This team is not ready to play and that is willie’s fault. He had the same ho-hum approach when he should have been in kick-ass mode from february onward. Instead the team went through the motions this spring and brought their lackadaisical attitudes up north to start the season. He must go before they dig a hole that they will not be able to come back from….

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