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The Mets blew a four-run, third-inning lead yesterday, losing to the Brewers while leaving 10 men on base, hitting in to five double plays and making one error in the field, among others on the base paths.
Willie Randolph, while looking and 
sounding very annoyed, had the following to say after the game:
“Well, that put a damper on a nice off day, huh? Jeez. Too many opportunities wasted, you get a nice little lead and…(long pause)…just a sloppy game. The kind of games we can’t have…How many opportunities did we have today? Man on first and second, man on third and first with one out, what did we hit in to five double plays? That’s what happens when you don’t execute and take care of your business, that’s what happens. This is a whole give away game to me and we’ve got to be better than that…Today, we just made too many mistakes and missed opportunities and if we’re gonna be a solid ball club you can’t play like that. You can’t play like that.”
Asked if he addressed the team, or intends to address the team, Randolph explained:
“It’s 10 games in to the season, there’s no reason for that…Guys, it’s not all about that. Again, I’m very disappointed in the way we played today, but we have a long way to go and it’s not like I’m ready to flip out on any body like that. We have a lot of baseball to play, I want my team to play crisper, play better and that’s what I’m expressing. But, no, we’re not getting to the point where I need to start thinking about blasting anybody like that. We’re playing hard for the most part, but we’ve got to be better in execution.”
David Wright agreed, when asked a similar question by reporters, stating that he and his teammates are adults and are capable of policing themselves.
…i do not believe in yelling and screaming and flipping over buffet tables, when it comes to baseball…it has no impact…ask Larry Bowa and Lou Pinella…or, ask Joe Torre, who was always calm, yet won four rings…
…i believe reporters and fans advocate for such behavior because it is obvious and easy to wrap our heads around…in reality, though, while it may help, it may also hurt just as much…there is no correlation between anger and success in baseball…
…in my view, this group of players lack accountability…and they lack shame…this, not anger, is what is missing…
…instead, if a player is not focused, making mistakes and costing the team an opportunity, willie should sit him down – like he did to Jose Reyes last summer…this is not a long-term solution, of course…the Mets need their best players in the lineup if they intend to win a pennant…however, it’s not enough to just have people in the lineup physically, these players must play hard and perform while on the field…if, instead, they would rather waltz around and cash a pay check, that is not going to hack it…so, from what i understand, having talked with former players, if they are shamed by getting benched, if they are pulled from a game, called out a bit in the media, etc, this will have an impact…yelling at them like children will only make them more disengaged, but embarrassing them in front of their peers could help…
…i think willie took his first shot with this sort of method last night, with his public comments and frustration after last night’s game…phase two will be making an example out of some one, assuming it gets to that point…i trust that it will not…
…i realize people get on willie, and rightfully so…i have a hard time with this, because, while i do not think he is passive, as most like to write, i do think he suffers from a bad case of tunnel vision and he is very, very trusting in his players…maybe to a fault…however, i like his style of baseball, i.e., aggressive base running, having a killer mentality and playing strong defense…my fear, though, is that, while the team may have some serious, high-priced talent, it may not be the type of talent best suited for willie’s style…and so, what we may be witnessing is a conflict of style playing out on the field, in the locker room and in the press…
…in other words, these guys need to get on the same page, i.e., the real meaning of team chemistry…until that happens, this team will continue to feel like a Rolls Royce stuck in second gear…
For more, read Kevin Kernan in the New York Post, who believes the Mets may be slipping down the same path as 2007.
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the Mets are 2 – 6 when Luis Castillo is in the lineup. And, their only 3 game streak came while he was hurt. I was a fan of his resigning, but now it’s looking like a desperate move.
His lack of power and continual attempt at bunting cause opposing fielders to “cheat” against him. True, he had two hits on Sunday, but I get the sense that we’re one hustling play away from another injury. To have tied him up for four years without a Gotay type backup is scary. I say put Pagan in the 2 hole and drop Castillo down to the 8 hole. At least there, he might be able to get a walk before the pitcher bunts him over.
I’ve gotta say I agree with you, although I’d wait till Reyes gets back before dropping him down. Unfortunately, I don’t see Willie doing that. I’m not a Willie hater by any means, but he does seem to stick with the veterans for way too long sometimes.
I believe that sloppy play reflects directly back to the coaching staff. It’s one thing to talk about it and another thing to do something about it. And this is a problem that dates back to last year with seemingly (at least from a fan stand point) no improvement of any sort by Willie and his staff.
I was talking with a friend of mine that is a fan of another team and he thought it was ridiculous that I was griping about Willie so early in the season, but with him I feel it really is 3 years of terrible bullpen management and lackadaisical play from the men he is supposed to be motivating that have proven he is not the right manager for this team.
i think there’s some credence that the chemistry on this team isn’t what it should be or was in ‘06. i was reading rumblings that that a had a big hand last sept.
there’s not much that can be done about that at this point. the key guys are not tradeable. i agree with matt that the best move might be to sit guys for a game or 2. but if it’s kind of a divided clubhouse, who sits? and would that divide the clubhouse more because people feel some are being blamed unfairly?
I agree with Willie that it’s not really the time to start calling people out.
For example, Beltran hit into the first DP – and it was an absolute shot that might’ve plated two if it had been a couple of feet up, down or to the left. Schneider hit into the last DP, after driving in three earlier in the game, two of them with two outs.
Letting Mota off the hook was painful though. And Clark does have to realize that he’s just keeping the bench warm for Pagan until Alou gets back. He’s been a bust so far, and getting erased the only time he’s gotten on so far is really not helping himself.
Im glad he finally recognizes what we fans have been booing about for the last couple of games. Its not because we are still on last year or anything like that but rather its because we know this team can play better than that. Alot of fielding erros and sloppy play is the reason for the boos not to mention the situational hitting and pitching. Im not one for lou pinella type acting infront of the media but willie i think has to shed that torre like posture of his and really let his team know to step it up. I would not mind half as much losing a game with proper defense and clean play than losing the way we have. The main problem is that everyone has this mentality “its too early” and they would rather wait till september to wake up. I by no means am saying we have to win EVERY single game but at least play clean baseball and look like you care instead of telling the media you care. I mean these guys collect there checks whether they have 3 hits on the day or do nothing at the plate(delgado). This team is missing spark and just looks dead on the field and in the box. I dont know what happened or how to fix it but this team needs a spark somehow someway before its too late and since its not going to come from any of the players, i hope its gonna come from willie. Im not going to hold my breath though.
You don’t have to win every game but you do have to practically win every series. Right now this team looks like they did during the July and August – a .500 team. They are way too sloppy. The team in 2006 was so loose, they just went out and played, yet Willie was more of a disciplinarian then. Unfortunately we had Valentin then. A guy who had both pop and was clutch. Do you see any clutch hitting now? Maybe we need Alou to get a hit every day. But what do you do with Pagan? Sit him when he is the only one hitting? Maybe I am nervous too early but when you see a team flounder right away I think you have a right to be nervous.
I love Kernan, but I have a problem with his article today. Just because Carlos Delgado doesn’t express anger, frustration, disappointment, etc. to the media doesn’t mean he’s not feeling those emotions. I think beat writers too often feel that what the players say is the absolute truth, or that it is somehow more important than what they actually do. Maybe it’s because they’re so close to the team all the time. But I trust that Carlos Delgado is unhappy with the way his team performed the last two days, and he’s going to do whatever it takes to correct it. Even if it doesn’t involve pouring his guts out to the press.
“in my view, this group of players lack accountability…and they lack shame”
Matt,
If willie’s not calling them out, they you should. Really.
“they would rather waltz around and cash a pay check”
Who are these players? I want to know. If you’re seeing something, point it out. If Willie won’t do it, I think YOU should.
Maybe you should establish “Matt’s Virtual Dog House” or something and send players there who aren’t performing to the high standards we expect of New York Mets. If a player in the Dog House starts busting his butt, or moves a runner over like he should, etc. he can earn his way out of the Dog House.
What do you think?