I don’t like comparing any team I like to a Philadelphia team, but there’s got to be a lesson there.

but look were arguing over stupid nonsense now

I think we can all agree the Mets are underperforming, the question is why:

My answers:

1. Reyes
2. Injuries
3. Pedro being hurt
4. Alou & Castillo playing part time – with only 13 position players on the roster to begin with
5. Beltran
6. Wright’s May
7. Delgado – he’s this low because did you really expect more
8. Marlon Anderson is not getting it done in the pinch as much
9. Aaron Heilman
10*. Jorge Sosa* – He Gone

But the problem is…you cant fire Beltran, so if a change needs to be made it has to be Willie to go…(id rather see them replace Hojo with Jose Valentin)…but look, when you own a team and they dissappoint you feel the need to do something, however its May and they wont fire Willie during the year, and he doesnt deserve to be…if on September 30th he’s still not gotten this team to the playoffs then say goodbye and start over next year, but the firing in the middle of the year thing only helps teams like Houston in 05 where they werent supposed to be contenders but then a swift kick shot them through a Rockies-like streak, but if Leyland or Willie or even John McLaren were to get the boot those teams arent built as underdogs and wouldnt respond that way.

However, hypothetically, Omar can tell the Wilpons that they need an interim manager. They get the interim manager and if the team doesn’t do well, he tells Jeff a permanent manager who he has in mind will make the difference. In addition, the firing of Willie may also serve to cover up a lack of player moves that do need to be made — some soon, and some after the season ends.

And I’m not advocating Heilman to the rotation now. He couldn’t do it anyway now as he’s not stretched out. Just get him out of the bullpen. Bring up Muniz. Tell Heilman to go down to NO as a starter. If he fails, he goes back into the bullpen at NO or back up to the Mets bullpen … or they trade him. And if he succeeds? Then he stays in the NO rotation till there is a vacancy in the ML rotation due to injury OR they trade him. There is no downside here. But just do something. He’s clearly unhappy and not producing now. His continued presence is hurting the team. Muniz can do better right now.

“You are what your record says you are”

Otherwise, Delgado, yeah — cut him. Heilman to the rotation is absolutely not going to happen on this team. I used to like the idea, but I just can’t see it happening, nor do I think that it has anything to do with whether Willie stays or goes. Sad to say, right now, the guy needs a change of scene.

Wilie was set for life before the job. You think he wants to get fired? Please. No amount of money would mitigate the damage that comes from getting fired mid-season from a ML managerial job.

No, I’m not suggesting they have a fire sale. But there are problems on the team that need to be addressed soon — Heilman, Wise, Delgado, the continued struggles of Sanchez and Feliciano, and one other decent starter. I don’t think Vargas is going to cut it.

If Delgado doesn’t turn around soon, consider eating his contract. It’s a sunk cost. And use Carp, Evans or Murphy there. Right now, they can trade and send Heilman to the minors as a starter and call up Muniz. If Heilman succeeds, they might have a more viable option than Vargas. (And don’t count on Pedro coming back soon or being back for long.) If Heilman doesn’t succeed, then no problem. Put him back in the pen or trade him.

And after the season’s over, there are other issues that need to be addressed. And that means they may have to consider firing Omar if they want to get them right. But Willie may be used as a smokescreen to hide the real issues and delay fixing them.

Say what you will about Francona, but he is a tough guy, and would not stand for complacency.

How did that work for the Red Sox in 2006? Or the Philly teams he managed? I guess when the talent level on the teams he manages drops, so does his toughness.

How I wish baseball season were over already