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As I wrote last night, a lot of frustrating moments occurred during last night’s game, but what I felt the worst about was David Wright.
He made a tremendous statement the night before, as quoted by MLB.com, in which he talked honestly about emotion, wanting to win, his teammates, etc., and then played an absolutely horrible game.
In fact, it looked like he was trying to do too much.
He had a rough night at the plate, in the field and on the bases, getting doubled-up on first base in the ninth inning on a line drive by Carlos Beltran to end the game. I’m not picking on Wright. I mean, every one is entitled to a rough game. I’m just saying, it’s crazy how finally this team gets a player to say the right things, and then that very player struggles on the night. It’s like, they just can’t get it together, even when they’re trying their hardest and doing and saying the right things.
Wright also ended the sixth inning by grounding out in to a double play. He ran through first, flipped his batting helmet to the side line, looked up at the sky, exhaled, and – for a brief moment – looked like a man on the verge of tears.
Honestly, the more I re-read them, I’m starting to think Wright’s statement from the previous night, as quoted by MLB.com, were less a call to his teammates and more of a cry for help.
Then, last night, he told the Daily News that his quotes in MLB.com were a bit misrepresented, adding, “I take it hard, and I think other guys take it hard as well.”
Frankly, I bet most fans feel he had it right the first time.
To listen to Wright’s post-game comments from last night’s game, click the play button below:
This team seems to be spiraling around the bowl.
With Willies head firmly under water.
Nothing is going Wright with the Mets.
They all look stressed, tight, confused, and in a state of irreversible shock. It’s like September of 2007 all over again. This is not the way baseball should be played. The best baseball players, are relaxed, confident, and are aggressive on the field, not off it.
Fire Willie, and Tony Bernazard, they have made this clubhouse a mess. Too much dividing, and not enough unity. Maybe David should shave his head again.
Excellent point about Bernazard, he is as much of a problem and a cancer as anyone else on this team.
Yep, been saying it for months- Bernazard should be escorted out by security
How do any of you know the influence of Tony Bernazard? You are all speculating.
From the Daily News last September:
That would be Minaya’s assistant GM, Tony Bernazard who, it would appear, is the real power in the front office. Before being hired by Minaya, Bernazard worked in the Players Association as essentially the union’s liaison with the Latin players. Donald Fehr would hold meetings with the players in spring training, outlining all the elements of the Basic Agreement and then Bernazard would recite it all in Spanish (Carlos Delgado once referred to him as “the highest paid translator on the planet”).
As such, many Latin players throughout baseball hold Bernazard in “second father” regard. I’m also told that all of the Mets’ minor league Latin players have Bernazard’s cell-phone number with the understanding they should call him any time if they encounter problems either off the field or with club officials.
What is unique about Bernazard’s situation with the Mets is that no other assistant GM, let alone GM, spends as much time in the clubhouse – which is supposed to be the manager’s domain – as he does. After Gomez was thrown out stealing third for the final out in the ninth inning against the Marlins in Miami on Sept. 21, Bernazard was immediately at the kid’s locker after the game – which could not have been very settling to Randolph. But the fact is, once the Mets fired Randolph’s only hand-picked coach, Rick Down, at the All-Star break, they sent a message to the players that the manager didn’t have the juice they had perceived him to have. At the time, Minaya made a point of saying Down’s replacement on the staff, Rickey Henderson, would be a good influence on Reyes. Right.
Until then, Randolph had attempted to instill discipline in Reyes by employing the “tough love” approach. But when a player knows he can go over the manager’s head to a higher authority with a sympathetic ear, the manager’s message starts to get tuned out. And while Bernazard may insist his open fraternization with Senators manager Manny Acta in Washington was no big deal, what kind of message do you think that was to Randolph’s impressionable young Latin players?
Mets sources have told me that Bernazard pushed hard for Acta to get the manager’s job before Minaya settled on Randolph. I have no doubt that if Acta were not under contract to the Nats the next two years, Minaya would not have had that press conference with Randolph yesterday. The same sources insist that, because Randolph had no previous managerial experience, the Met hierarchy expected he would simply do what he was told and go along with the program. They didn’t want a manager who would exert his will. If they did, they would have hired Jim Leyland.
The thing is that there have been many reports of Bernazard hanging around in the clubhouse. In addition, its been reported that he has all the latin players call him if there are any problems or anything like that. While nobody with the team has come out and publicly said this, like the old saying goes, where there’s smoke, there’s fire.
it was reported that tony spends a lot (or too much) time in the clubhouse, and has made himself a little too available to the players, disrupting the chain of command. How true that is, I don’t know, but there have been a couple of stories about it.
So because the assistant GM is in the locker room after games Delgado can’t hit, Castillo can’t field or hit, Heilman give up long balls every outing, Reyes can’t hit, and the team never comes back?
The Bernazard business smells like a bunch of bs. Go try and bark up another tree boys.
I really don’t know what the hell is the matter with this team. I think the only logical conclusion lies within the roster. Castillo sucks, Delgado sucks, and Alou in unreliable visa vi his injuries. We need upgrades at those position.
Perhaps it would also help if we played smart baseball rather then overly agressive.
I *wish* the Mets’ biggest problem was an executive spending too much time in the locker room.
Well, putting aside the clubhouse stuff, if Bernazard’s job is to develop minor league talent- he’s failed in that miserably. He is easily replaceable and firing himt sends a message to his buddy Minaya that he better wake up.
well, if true it certainly helps undermine whatever authority willie has, and that’s relevant. the original point being about clubhouse division and willie losing the team.
Get Bernazard out of there. It’s cronyism like this that has fractured the clubhouse and ruined the farm system. Bernazard and Willie should not have tickets back to NY on the team plane. Leech. . . .
There’s a reason TWO different players have spoken about the lack of accountability from Latins (Lo Duca) and players over there (Wagner pointing towards Delgado).
And his name is Tony Bernazard.
First FIRE OMAR! He is the reason this team has no intimidating hitters. Omar relied too much on players past their prime ( Delgado & Moises Alou) This is rediculous and don’t tell me that Omar didn’t turn a blind eye to these guys because they are latino. How in the world can you be a competitive team when your main hittters are either not in the lineup because they are constantly hurt or a hitter who last year showed he was on the decline.
the biggest play of the game is when he comes in the field in the 7th when he comes charging down the line like a bat out of hell to field a 2 strike bunt from hudson, when gary keith and ron were just talking about how he did the same exact thing a few weeks ago and johans fields the ball and can’t throw to third bc wright’s not there. so the same exact thing happened last night and instead of a runner on 1st and 1 out theres a runner on 3rd and 1 out and the big inning ensues. the 4th run also scored after wright couldnt handle a 1 hop throw when they had the runner out by 15 feet at 3rd.
Well, that is why some teams call for the wheel play……
something willie refuses to do….
You are right. I am sick of people blaming Wright for that play. He is charging hard. That’s his job. If the wheel play is on, Reyes is standing on 3rd to tag out the runner. Simple as that. Don’t second guess Willie though. He has been around this game a long time and knows his guys.
yeah, keith and ron said a couple times that Wright should let Johan field it when he’s on the mound because he’s such a good athelete…but what the hell do they expect wright to do, ignore a lifetime of training and baseball instinct? And what happens if he doesn’t charge, and the ball gets by santana? he’d be roasted alive.
I think that Ron Darling made the most ignorant comment the night Pelfrey pitched ” I still think this guy is going to be a good pitcher, if only he can get his second or third pitches over” I mean come on that is the most rediculous comment I ever heard from someone that a professional ball player. Pelfrey has had THREE years already to get some sort of consistency and he is unable to. I think Ron Darling in that statement really made a fool of himself. It is time to get RID of Pelfrey.
It was an absolutely perfect time for the wheel, with the tying run on 2nd, and an anemic Mets offense. Why Randolph is so stubborn on not putting this is beyond me. Why not go with the strategy that gives you the best chance to win?
I think we can put a fork in this team. We should be in last place by June.
please go root for another team
No
fork you
This team has to prove me wrong. I havent seen any improvement in the Mets. They are an overpaid team that is failing, just like the team in the Bronx. 350 million in salary, not one of the teams has a winning record. It is patently obvious that the big money era is over.
The Mets have become comfortably numb.
Yes they have
It’s amazing how quickly things went downhill.. I mean, things haven’t been rosy since the start of the season, but it’s really starting to hit me that this team is below .500 – a losing team. We’re still doing better than the Tigers & Yanks at least, but for how long? Ouch.
Luckily, my enjoyment of the game isn’t entirely dependent on winning. A lot of drama is going to unfold if this team doesn’t start to win, and that ought to be at least a little entertaining.
Poor Willie. What a contrast with the manager in the Bronx. Last night the Yankees were losing. Girardi exploded and got tossed arguing about a caugtht foul ball. The effect on the team? Well, here’s one quote: “Joe got fired up,” Giambi said, “and we got fired up.” The Yankees then rallied to win the game.
Dude..the game was tied going into the 9th. Girardi had every right to argue that call, but I don’t think that’s the reason they won.
“Joe got fired up,” Giambi said, “and we got fired up.”
WIllie is in a coma and the Mets fell into a coma.
Any coincidence?
How’s a manager getting tossed gonna help his team? You guys don’t know anything about baseball. This isn’t football; its not an emotional game. (extreme sarcasm).
What is the Yankee’s record? That raw emotion has really turned them around. You bring up one case that the Yankee’s win late and Super Joe is a great manager. The other games well, they just don’t count.
It sure came at a time that sure didn’t help Willie any … I’ll tell you that.
for sure…about the worst timing for willie there could be
I really love Wright.
The only reason why I think he is struggling as mightily as he is right now is because he feels as if he needs to put the entire team on his shoulders and carry them himself. The problem with that is when you go and make such a conscious decision like that, you wind up trying too hard. And that of course leads to frustrating at-bats, which of course pile up, and then yer in a world of crap.
He’s too smart for his own good. Gotta stop thinking so much and just do! It’s the same in the field for him. When he has too much time to throw, that’s when they sail over, under, and side to side.
But when he needs to make the bang-bang play, nobody is better at his position than D. Wright. And I dare anyone to argue that!
As Ron Swoboda was once told, don’t think kid, you’ll only end up hurting the team.
Wright sux…Trade him…Trade Reyes…Trade Beltran…Trade Santana…Trade Maine…Trade Perez…Trade ‘em all!! Start over!! Get the payroll down to $30mm…They’ll be in last place, but at least we would expect that!
The Marlins are in 1st with that payroll and at least they are fun to watch.
Wright does not sux, but I agree I would get rid of Reyes, he is nothing more than some ignorant sandlot ballplayer. Reyes just does not get the fact his job is to GET ON BASE not to keep try hitting triples or doubles. You had Willie Magee and Vince Coleman and Ozzie Smith all had great speed and knew that their job was to get on base. Reyes is a MORON! he just refuses to get it into his STUPID head his job is to GET ON BASE any way possible
This team needs A-Rod’s therapist, ASAP!
Every who is off the bandwagon now, never come back again because a TRUE METS FAN STAYS THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES. NOT ALL OF YOU LOSERS WHO JUST SAY DUMP EVERYONE AND WELL SETTLE FOR LAST PLACE. THERE IS NO SUPPORT HERE AT ALL.
No, we hide according to our fearless leader. I guess we are all there for Willie. Because we were hiding before he got here and after he leaves this team in last place, we will all go back into hiding.
Been here since ‘86 and will be here till the end.
I’m not off the bandwagon. I love this team. I’ve loved this team since I was 6. My comments were out of frustration. This team, as assembled, is simply unwatchable. Something needs to change very quickly.
Church4prez …
Comments like the one you just made are totally unnecessary. You think people come on this blog everyday and complain because they are “on the bandwagon” … or “not true fans who deal with tough times” ???
Come on … If anyone is on the bandwagon or not a true fan … no one would give two S***s and never come on here to express their frustration. People are UPSET … that’s because they CARE.
Don’t come on here making blanket statements about a bunch of fans that you don’t know a damn thing about … half of them are probably twice your age and been through many more “tough times” than you.
Just because you’re in denial … doesn’t make you a “better fan”.
Kudos, well said mikey
zap
I see both sides to the story…and quite frankly, I’m with NY Cuban. I’ve seen the worst of the Mets and I have seen the best…But right now, this team is not fun to watch. They have no heart. They are playing for paychecks they do not even deserve. As someone mentioned, the Marlins are fun to watch–and that’s with a $30 Million payroll. Something has to give. Wilpon(s) what are you going to do about it?
All hell will erupt come Monday when the Mets return to Shea. The fans will not tolerate this much longer. It’s depressing.
I love the fact the ballplayers are upset that we boo. When I was a kid i was able to go to the ball park with my friends on a whim, it was affordable, now I can barely afford to take my son to a game where ticket prices are about 80.00 a seat ( not including parking). And the ballplayers don’t feel we don’t have the right to boo them. I make a good living but if I am going to shell out that kind of money to see one game I want good value for it and the METS are NOT good value. Right now they STINK! and if I don’t like what I am paying for at that price I am going to let them know it and if they don’t like it they can quit. The Mets ballplayers have a lot of nerve to make a comment that we, as fans, have no right to boo. We pay their salaries and if we don’t like the way they are playing we have the right to voice that disapproval. Considering the configuration of the new ballpark the Mets are building the Met ballplayers won’t have much to worry about because more and more “regular” fans won’t be able to afford to go to see them and we will be replaced with corporate non caring customers that will not boo!
Willie is gone today I believe.
Monday. Let him finish the trip.
If that does happen, I wonder who would replace him.
I’m hoping for Oberkfell. The guy paid his dues in the minor leagues and had success at every level. The only logical step would be to promote him to manager.
Then again, “Mets FO” and “logic” don’t often collide in the same sentence.
He wont make shea monday put it that way
I’m going shopping for the BBQ today…
fire willie?
The sooner we get Willie out of here, the sooner we can concentrate on running the incompetent Minaya out of here. Time is of the essence as he’ll be further gutting our farm to try and save face.
Next to Frank Cashen, Minaya is likely the best GM the Mets have had. He isn’t going anywhere. Before him, we were being robbed of our top young pitching. With him, we have been doing the stealing. And don’t even mention Bannister, because he hardly qualifies as top young pitching.
True, those who point to the Bannister deal as a “disaster” need to be referred to his 4-6 record, 4.94 ERA and the fact that he has lost 6 of his last 7 decisions. Methinks the league has figured him out.
Overall I like Minaya and I think he should stick around. He has made some mistakes though – the most glaring of which was handing Castillo a 4 year/$25M deal.
But he’s done more to help the team than to hurt it, that’s for sure.
Besides who on this site right now would not like to have Burgos in the BP right now?
I know…I’ve been wondering where all the “Omar bashing Bannister supporters” have been lately. Bannister throws meatballs. I’d rather run Pelfrey out there every 5th day. At least I can get excited watching the MPH in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
maybe we should mention Scott Kazmir then. and how about the other relief pitches he traded? Minaya has to go. Frank Cashen was a GENIUS compare to Minaya, who can barely put two competent sentences together. Have you ever heard Minaya speak he sounds like a Moron.
MINAYA DID NOT TRADE KAZMIR!!!!! Thats exactly who I was referring to when I said before Minaya, we got robbed of our pitching prospects. Seriously…Did you become a Met fan last year?!
As for the relievers given up by Minaya:
Matt Lindstrom, who pitched all of 17 innings this year, with a 3.18 era, which isn’t so great for a reliever
Henry Owens: Out with shoulder surgery. Probably because of how he threw the ball
Heath Bell: This is the only bad one. At the same time, he had more than enough chances to prove himself in NY, and couldn’t get the job done. For the record, he sports a 4.50era away from Petco Park
Royce Ring: 6.43 era.
We have no farm
Which was the case before Minaya got here…I’m not saying you are anti-Minaya or anything, but it takes time to build a farm system. Not every prospect is like a Reyes or Wright and can shoot thru the system.
That being said, they really better be paying over slot this year
What’s wrong with being anti-Minaya? The man is a clown.
Hopefully this gets fixed. I remember reading one of the posts here a few months ago (as in, maybe January or February) where Minaya actually said that this year, they would not draft according to slot prices.
There is something the is IMPORTANT here that no one is thinking about. The Mets ownership will not give up on this season. They have spent too much money and have a new ballpark next year. This is why Manual is bot the guy. I think they will still treat this year like it.s W.S or bust and will go get a big time manager right now.
Everyone associated with the Mets are taking this beginning of the season way too seriously. Look things could be worse, we could be Padres fans, now thats a team that is seriously underachieving. Lets let this thing play out some more. Everyone (including those on this site) need to loosen up a bit and start having some fun. The constant negativity from fans, reporters and coaches and players is doing nothing but making the situation worse.
Let’s go to Colorado, win 2 of 3 and get some momentum going.
LET’S GO METS.
(I’m now ready to get crucified)
“The constant negativity from fans, reporters and coaches and players is doing nothing but making the situation worse.”
NO. The constant negativity is a REACTION to the PRODUCT ON THE FIELD FOR THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, at least we aren’t in the coma the team is in. Its good to know the fans still have a pulse. When we stop caring, thats when we have a problem.
We’re the only ones who seem to care lately. Well, Wright does … but that’s not enough. That’s the problem. The Wilpons better do something before we really do stop caring.
Yes, I agree but how is that helping anything???
Look, these are grown men … “professionals”. It’s not the fans’ job to coddle them.
I’m not saying to coddle them, but the teams that play the best are the teams that are having fun on the field and in the clubhouse. This team was at its best in 2006 when you couldn’t wipe the smile off of reyes or wright’s face between pitches.
In real life terms, if your job is a high stress environment and you have to walk around on egg shells all day, how excited are you going to be to go into work everyday?
If you can’t get a tree to grow in the desert … do you blame the people who live there, who are upset about why the tree can’t grow?
Or do you fix the real problem and plant the seeds somewhere else, where the tree can grow?
If you can’t get a tree to grow in the desert … do you blame the people who live there, who are upset about why the tree can’t grow?
Or do you fix the real problem and plant the seeds somewhere else, where the tree can grow?
The problem is NOT the fans. The problem is this TEAM and this team’s M.A.N.A.G.E.M.E.N.T. (banned word apparently) Until they fix the problem from the root … nothing will get better.
In real life terms, you have to pull your weight at your job, high stress or not.
You pull your weight but burn out and are useless.
Be fair mikey, it’s only been a year. The 2007 Mets were playing well in April & May.
If you want to get technical … yeah you’re right.
Yup, the constant booing by Met fans at Shea definitely made this latest debacle all the worse . . . except that it happened IN ATLANTA.
I was thinking this morning on the way in that Willie being such a “winner” is actually his biggest flaw. He doesn’t know how to deal with adversity. He has never seen a ship spiral out of control like this. Even in the Bronx Zoo days, it wasn’t him calling the shots. He just went about his business while George, Billy and Reggie tried to kill each other. Well, he got a crash course in losing last year and this year is just an extension of that. He just never figured out how to stop the avalanche.
No one on this team knows how to handle adversity – this explains the struggles at the end of last year that have continued to now.
How was coming back in 1978 not adversity. How was the team captain dieing in the middle of the season not adversity. Willie has dealt with adversity.
by hitting a ball and fielding grounders
winning as a player does not equal running a winning team
HERE HERE! LETS GO METS!!! SWEEP COLORADO!!!!
And then someone come out with some more controversy to kill the momentum…
God forbid Willie ever used the wheel play on a bunt…….
So true…
I don’t think he knows what the wheel play is, so why would he call for it. Guy just isn’t an NL manager. He doesn’t know the game well enough.
Who else thinks we will not win with Delgado, Castillo, Marlon Anderson and/or Endy Chavez as regular starters?? Forget about Willie for a second. The offense is not hitting and doing the right things at the right times (double plays, base running mistakes). Yea Willie has made some bonehead decisons on handling the bullpen and what not, but at this point it falls on the players. 2 runs a game is not acceptable.
You’re right … Its Willie, It’s the players and it’s Omar. They are all to blame. It’s time for someone in charge to WAKE UP.
Marlon and Endy were never supposed to be starters; it’s just the way things have worked out at the moment.
Delgado and Castillo are definite problems.
What is it with people making comments and then backing away from them? Say what you mean and mean what you say – stick to your story!
And yes, David had it right the first time. This team is dead in the water, and until they show us something else, we have no right to have any expectations regarding the playoffs whatsoever.
Was thinking the same thing….you said it, you meant it, now stick to it. Stop backing down and being a little wuss about all of this.
This just continues to show that we have no leader on this team….including the “manager”
Unfortunately they seem to be reflecting their manager in this context. Further evidence that it’s time for a change.
I don’t know how much this helps right now, but I firmly believe that David Wright cares as much about this team as every single diehard Mets fan.
Just saying it because it’s kind of the exception to the rule these days, in all sports.
Of course he does. He is harder on himslef than anybody. He is trying to do way too much. They all need to relax and go out there and have some fun. They are too talented to be losing this much.
I could deal with this team losing, as long as they were playing hard. They are not, obviously. They look like they are playing scared.
I think they are playing hard, they just have no confidence. As soon as something goes wrong they are waiting around for the bottom to fall out or they start pressing trying to do too much.
Eveyone was quick to commend Wright on his comments, but totally forgot that he has been just as inconsistant and difficult to watch this year as the team. His comments are similar to Beltran’s. It is great that they said it, but the shine was off pretty quick when they don’t perform.
Willie is a problem, but please get rid of HoJo too. The team needs a batting coach that gives a his hitters an acceptable plan going into a game. The whole staff, minus Manuel, needs to go with Willie.
I’m at the end of my rope with this team. Not that I won’t watch them (Believe me, I’ve tried to ban them before to no avail. I watched 95% of the games in the Art Howe era.. and that’s only because I was unable to watch the other 5%)
Anyway, I mean, I’m done reading about them and spending any more of my time thinking about them when they are not on the tube. I come to this website 10 times or more a day and I get pissed off 10 times or more a day. I read all of your comments and they are all negative. Fire this one, get rid of this one. I need a little break, I guess. the only place to solve this is on the field, so there is no sense in driving myself nuts in between games
And for the record, I used to think you were all wrong for being so negative, but I realize there is little to be positive about these days and that you are all just frustrated. I realize that the guy who says ’stick a fork in them’ will be tuned in tonight to see them take coors field. And I know you people will be the first ones to cheer them when they get this turned around…and I say when, not if, because they are gonna do it
In the meantime, I’m gonna focus on the few positives from last night and hope they can build them. They were obviously playing tight last night, so I don’t think it is a question of them caring.. Two Carlos bombs. Church came in a ripped a nice base knock (after being told he may miss 10 games). They made a couple of nice defensive plays. Endy looked a little less lost.. In addition, they are going to humidor nullifying bandbox in Denver, where their bats can hopefully get hot. Maybe dipping below .500 will provide the spark they need, as Matt said… and Pedro is already making plans to come back from the DR.
And if none of that does anything for you, at least we got a nice 3 day weekend staring us in the face
Ya Gotta Believe!
nice post.
Kudos, metties1! That is the fairest post in this thread. I’m just as disappointed as anyone here, but you know what, I’m still going to watch the games this weekend, and pray for some Ws. (And scream at the TV if/when the wheels come off again).
This is the problem with blogs in general. Most of the noise is always negative (more comments). When something does go right, it seems like we need to nitpick until we find something to complain about. (more comments)
Matt, can you do a quick analysis regarding # of posts following wins and losses? I’d bet the farm that only the losses generate hundreds of posts, while a W would be lucky to generate 40 posts. Of course until someone mentions a “negative” from the win, then let the keyboards click away.
No recently even the wins have reached 500+ Mostly because of the negative fans coming on and saying how we will eventually lose the game.
i wish Scott Kazmir was still a Met.
lol, dont start this again…
Ya. He would really help the struggling offense and the bad defense. Oh, and he would also be great filling in the outfield for Alou.
Kasmir is old news.
Remember the year that Jason Phillips started the year off on an awful slump? Everytime he would strike out he’d looks completely dejected and he’d be muttering under his breath and stuff like that. Seems like the way things are going these days with this squad. A lot of muttering under the breath and little results. Of course all the guys on the team right now have more talent in their back hair than Phillips had in his entire body, but the body language seems similar.
Meet the Mutts, Meet the Mutts, Step right up and meet the Mutts….
We need a new manager. Joe GIrardi’s actions last night should put all the “getting ejected does nothing” naysayers to rest.
We need a left fielder who can replace unreliable Alou. We need someone who can hit cleanup. We need someone who can slug. At this point I welcome the controversy. This team is getting nothing but negative press. Guys, we need Barry Bonds.
How can you base one game that they won and say ok that puts that to rest? What a joke.
If that were true then managers would be competing with each other trying to get thrown out last night. What happen to the Yankee’s last night is that they actually won a close game. Something that Super Joe has not gotten them to do all season.
You saw Giambi’s quote. They got fired up because their manager did. You’re telling me right now that you’re satisfied with the Mets’ level of “fire”?
lets see the Yankees not lose two of three to Seattle before proclaiming Girardi a genius.
If they lost he might have said it was a distraction. Of course they are going to say that after a win. Come on now. Go find some stats that show there is anything to a manager getting thrown out and a team winning a game.
Yeh, firey Lou in TB getting thrown out of every other game sure helped them win games.
I really don’t get the general dislike for Castillo. He is not a power hitter and has struggled a little but not to the extent that everyone assumes.
Castillo has a hit in 9 of the last 10 games.
He has played in 34 games and has reached base in 31 of those.
He has a .295 AVG and .436 OBP at home.
With RISP 2/O .333 and .500 OBP.
He is 4th on the team in OBP
Has the least amount of SO of any starter
2nd in 2B stealing 7/8.
And although I know that errors do not show range, they do show the ability to make the normal play (with a couple of exceptions) he has 2. Compared to 6 for Utley and Hudson.
He is not great, but he is not far off from exactly what Omar expected of him.
I don’t have a problem with him yet. Its when hes blocking an infield prospect that the deal will get to me. I can see the Wilpons buying out the last 2 years of his contract cuz its cheap, but not more then that. If we get someone (like Argenis Reyes) ready to make a big league impact at 2nd, and we’re only a couple of months into Castillo’s contract, that could be a problem.
you’re right, but he also had the misfortune to be in the middle of a couple crippling plays over the last two days. Please understand I’m not saying this is exactly analogous, but it’s similar to armando being an excellent reliever most of the time, except for those critical games where he was the armando we all know and hate. It’s a perception, and perception for most fans is all that matters (see: clutch, arod). however ignorant that may be.
Yet other players get much more of a pass, such as Wright.
Don’t take me wrong, I love Wright. But Castillo is a role player and so far this season he has done ok at that. Wright is a superstar and so far has not been one. Most of the blame for this team needs to fall on Willie and Omar of course and the superstars Reyes, Wright and Beltran.
right on, I posted something similar yesterday.
a lot of teams lose 4-5 games in a row but there are always signs that they will snap out of it and play better the next game. But by the look of this team, seems like there’s no end in sight. God I hope I’m wrong.
A microcosm of the season, 7th inning, Beltran gets a hit and steals second. With a one run lead you are looking to build a couple of insurance runs.
Here comes Delgado, who hits the ball to the right side 99% of the time against Hudson. Of course, Hudson is pitching away, to not make it easy for Delgado to pull the ball. Of course, Delgado flails away at an outside pitch that he couldn’t possibly pull and flies out weakly to center. No advance by Beltran who gets thrown out in a run down on the next play.
This is a team of guys who have no clue on how to play the game properly. They are the worst fundamental baseball team I have every watched and that is why they lose so many games.
Nice interview by Wright. Honest responses and none of the rose colored fglassesOR the world is crashing. He’s a good guy and I hope he stays relaxed as he looked on the interview.
Thanks Matt for posting the interview.
Perception is reality. Just because willie thinks he’s a fiery guy, or as animated as any other manager out there, doesn’t mean its true!
its ok to show your frustration, willie. let the fans see that you care! show some fight! its not too late.
Willie is who he is. Why on earth would he do something out of character just to impress a few fans? He answers to the players and to Mgmt not to the fans. The idea that a manager should be trying to please the fans is a joke to me.
“Damion Easley was given permission to leave and attend the high school graduation of his son, Rocky, Thursday night in Arizona … ”
Ladies and gentlemen….your 2008 New York Mets.
If I continued with my actual thoughts on this matter, I’d be banned from the site. So let’s just say I want every player who is not focused on winning off this team immediately. Delgado, Easley…this team takes more personal days than an office temp.
Delgado looked really unfocused and complacent when he drilled Hudson deep last night.
Do you have a child? Would you ask off work for their graduation? This IS THEIR JOB TOO>
My job doesn’t pay me a million dollars.
Oh, and when I take a day off, there are people to fiull in for me.
Fine, let them all take personal days for graduations and birthdays and BBQs….this team does not want to win. End of story.
THEY DO NOT GET IT.
That’s great, we have a problem in society of Dad’s not being there for their children and you want to blast him for going to graduation. You obviously have no children. There is a big difference between graduation and a BBQ. And what does money have to do with it? You think that the president would miss his kids graduation? I think his job is more important than the backup infielder on the Mets.
It’s not his kids fault that Alou is brittle, Church got hurt, and the Mets stink. If the Mets were on a 8 game winning streak and he left to go to his kids graduation wouldn’t care.
They are not losing games because of Damion Easley going to his son’s graduation. The team just sucks.
I’m sorry but you are simply out of line. Thank God that Easley went to his son’s graduation. That shows class. You obviously think that baseball is more important to him than his son. If you look at it the same way, then you need help. He did the right things and I applaud a team that allows him to do this.
There may be some things wrong with the Mets but this is not it. You are trying to find problems anywhere and blame the Mets for anything and everything. Be a little more rational.
Out of line? That’s the dumbest thing i’ve ever heard.
Moises Alou went on the DL last night. Church was largely unavailable. Easley is Alou’s primary backup as a RH hitting OF.
It’s all about priorities…and ths team’s priority is not winning. That’s a fact. If you agree with Easley’s priorities, and Delgado’s priorirites, that’s great for you. All I know is we’re paying these clowns millions to take their jobs a little more seriously than to force this team to play last night with essentially a 21-man roster.
Look bud the line goes God, Family and the ….. New York Mets. You can’t be serious, you are a joke.
That’s your line. You must be a Republican.
and you must be a nazi to think someone’s job is more important than their family.
So now Democrats do not care about their child’s graduation?
And you really must be 12 year’s old because almost any sports fan would notice that is a play off of Vince Lombardi’s Packers speech. By the way he was a football coach in case you have never heard of him.
Whatever people.
And what’s out of line is telling people they ‘need help’ and are not ‘rational.’
My point is a valid one – people have repsonsibilities in life and they have to make choices. I don’t agree with Easley’s. That hardly makes me a bad or irrational person.
How can you choose your job over your family? That is silly. And just because you have no family values does not mean some one else is wrong for having them.
Hey “Real” – BACK OFF.
You don’t accuse people of having no family values.
If you don’t agree, make a constructive argument, don’t make anonymous accusations.
You know what Real – I think we’re all a bit testy where the Mets are concerned, so we’ll agree to disagree as they say. We don’t need to spark a referendum on family values.
There is alot of evidence regarding this team’s lack of focus and drive, which was the bigger point to begin with.
Then why come down on a bench player who did what he was supposed to do as a father? You spoke more about your family values then I ever could.
Dude – I just extended the olive branch – why are you continuing?
I have an opinion on the matter…people in this blog don’t seem to share it, so I’m not going to beat a dead horse.
Stop commenting on your interpretations of the family values of someone you’ve never met, and who you know nothing about.
Yeah, you can’t get on Easley for wanting to witness a major milestone in his child’s life…
Maybe the bigger question should be why we have so many guys on this team old enough to have kids who are graduating from high school.
LOL, now that’s a good post.
HAHAHaha!
I’ve never heard of a player talking off for a kid’s high school graduation. Graduating from high school isn’t exactly an achievment. It struck me as a bit absurd.
Especially with Alou and Pagan out, and Church with his concussion. They play 6 months a year, and can pretty much follow their own schedule the other 6 months.
If every player took off everytime someone in their immediate family had a wedding or kindergarden graduation, the game would fall apart.
Again a little difference in between Kindergarden Graduation and HS. Also, weddings of immediate family are most likely scheduled around the players season. Graduation can not be.
The reason you have not heard of many players taking it off is you have not looked and because most players who had this issue would most likely be 38+ and would be a bench player and you would not even know he was missing.
Bill Simmons from ESPN wrote this is his most recent article. He wasn’t talking about a particular team but I can think of a few.
Finally, we need to name the goofy tradition that happens after every game-winning homer now, when the batter gets mobbed by his teammates and they all jump and down in a happy circle for a few seconds. Right now, I’m going with the “Walkoff Mosh Pit” just to make paragraphs like the following a little more efficient:
Isn’t it weird that you can tell exactly how well a baseball team gets along by its Walkoff Mosh Pit? If there’s some half-hearted jumping and it disperses quickly, then they hate each other. If it’s a raucous mosh pit that goes on for three seconds too long, followed by 15 more seconds of hugging and helmet slapping, then they love each other. If it’s somewhere in between, then they are ambivalent. And it’s really that cut and dry.
Well, if we ever saw a walk-off again on this team we may be able to tell. But this team hasn’t come back yet this year from what I can tell and its already almost one-third through the season.
Well put. Thats the most frustrating part. When we are down past the 6th inning the game is OVER.
I saw this and thought of the Mets too…but honestly, they’d buck the hypothesis. They’d probably go nuts, talk enthusiastically about all of the momentum it would give them, and promptly get swept by the Padres.
I’m speechless. My team looks completely lost and snakebitten.
I was hoping Hudson would charge Santana last night in the 7th… This team needs a good brawl to get going! Show some F#$%kin life out there…
I dont care who replaces Willy, bottom line is the team DOES NOT respond to his style.
On another note, is there a most awkaward looking baserunner than Texeira.
If you voted above a 7 in the confidence poll, you’re seriously clueless. I’m talking suicidal cult clueless.
That’s a good point but according to the poll it’s the over all direction of the team, thus it’s hard to understand how you go from 6.6 to mostly 1’s in a series. That is very short sighted and makes the poll invalid and just a judge of current emotions. I try and be objective. I think I started the season at 8 and I am down to a 6, if it continues to slide I am sure that my vote will continue but it’s obvious that some posters went from a 7 to a 1 that’s called petty.
You are being a little irrational. This poll is about the overall future direction of the Mets. Has it really gone that bad in the last 2 months to go from an average of 8 to someone making a post like this?
We still have a young core to build around, delgado and alou and duque and everyone people use as the whipping boys will be gone next year. This isn’t the freaking royals we are talking about. The future is not that bleak.
Exactly it’s like the Willie poll before this slide, all critisim rightfully due at this point. After a winning series it would be at 80% and after losing one it went down to 30%. Same thing with the OVERALL DIRECTION of the Mets. Go on a 5 game winning streak and it would be 7’s and 8’s again. Lose a series and it’s back down to below 5. Look back and see how many 1’s we’ve had all year.
Ha, I actually had a tough time putting up a 6, then i saw the results and was like “wait what? What’s with all these 1’s… dramatic people”
From my buddy Jason, I thought this hit it on the head.
Could it get any worse? It seems like it’s been three months since we won those two games against the Yanks. If not, Willie probably would be canned by now. Although Willie gets some blame here, it starts with Omar. It’s not Willie’s fault that he resigned Alou for another year. Or brought El Duque back, oh wait, is he still on the team? Or signed Castillo to a four year deal (I know Jerome loves that one) Okay, so Ryan Church and Brian Schneider have played well, but that magic of ‘06 (late inning heroic comeback wins, getting lots of mileage from guys like Darren Oliver, Chad Bradford, Jose Valentin, and Endy Chavez) is so far in the rear view mirror it’s not even funny. And to think, we praise that team because of it’s camaraderie, heart and mental toughness and THEY DIDN’T EVEN MAKE IT TO THE WORLD SERIES. Talk about the ultimate moral victory. Now that I think of it, who the hell at Major League Baseball came up with the idea to produce the 2006 NY Mets DVD. The team, the time, the Mets. I’m not kidding. Go to Best Buy and I’m sure you’ll see it on the shelves. As a Met fan, why would you purchase that? I’m know I’m a masochist, but even that is too much for me to swallow.
How can this team play so well against their crosstown rivals, and then lay like dogs against their division rivals? They score 18 runs in two games against the Yanks and 9 in four games against the Braves. And you can’t say it’s the pitching matchups. We beat Wang and Pettitte and we can’t beat JORGE CAMPILLO? The best is Tom Glavine retiring 17 STRAIGHT BATTERS!!!! ARE YOU F#%&ING KIDDING ME? This is the same guy who threw the division in the toilet on the last day of the season and he’s in a time machine, pitching as if it was 1991, and shuts us down completely? I’m so sick of what’s taking place that I feel that it’s not even 2008. It’s an extension of the 2007 season. Now they go to Colorado, which is hungover from last years run to the Series. If we lay another egg (remember we got swept there last year) this weekend, Willie may not make it on the plane back to New York. Think of this, whether Willie is here or not, say they lose 2 out of 3 (God forbid get swept) imagine what the crowd at Shea is going to be like Monday when they face the FIRST PLACE FLORIDA MARLINS!!!???
I’ve said enough. Guys, thanks for listening/reading.
extension of the 07 season indeed.. well put.
chuhrch and schneider for milledge was pretty damn good
santana for 4 prospects was pretty damn good.
omar deserves more time.
i think willie’s time is up, he has been .500 for over a year now
Willie after the game when told about the Wilpons “Win Now or Else” directive and about the results of the Metsblog confidence poll:
“Hey…I’m Willie Randolph….I’m not putting my job on the line for ownership and fans who don’t deserve it…”
How stupid would it be if Mets front office waited for until they get back to NY to fire Willie. This needs to be done today. Imagine the Media nightmare that will happen if they did that. Allow Willie some dignity where he can fly back a clean his stuff out without having to deal with all the extra media. The Mets can avoid a little of the circus if they do this today and allow the Mets to start clean with a new manager on the road. Coming home to a new manager would be chaos.
If they did do it today,, then Willie already knows and is on a flight back to NY. If they didn’t well then he’s not getting fired and the nightmare continues.. Cause they won’t fire him at home.
I really think the issue is WHO DO THEY HIRE as a replacement?
Personally I am guessing the decision to cut him loose is made, but you can’t turn over a $130MM team with playoff aspirations to an interim fill-in.
I see that,, but you would think they had a list after last seasons collapse. If this front office was unprepared for this situation then they dropped the ball. It been obvious for some time how this team reacts to Willie. So at the very least they should of had some names floating around.
You would think that, but you’d also think they might have considered cleaning a little more house than they did. The only main guys not back from that team were Glavine, who left as a FA. Green who retired, and Milledge who was hardly the problem.
Message sent.
I know as a fan I’m having a hard time coming up with viable candidates (I for one am not on the bandwagon who lists everyone from the 86 Mets as a candidate like Backman, Carter, Keith (?), and Mazz).
If there’s one 86er who is intriguing to me, it’s Ray Knight. Where is he these days?
I ask about Knight last night, who knows. At least he has manager experience.
By the way you forgot Loduca who I am very glad we got rid of.
Hey maybe not. I forgot this
In Knight’s managerial career, he is 125-137, managing the Reds from 1996-97 and in 2003 for one game. In 1997, he forgot how many outs there had been in a half-inning in which the Reds were at bat and called for a bunt at an inopportune time. He later fined himself $250 for the incident. The team’s lack of success would lead to his eventual firing and his replacement with Jack McKeon.
Knight currently has a similar role on the Nationals network to that of Mazzilli’s on SNY.
The curse of Nelson 2XDay – Fred and Little Jeffy will NEVER hold the WS trophy in their creepy hands
Good news everyone…Ollie’s career numbers in Colorado:
Career starts: 2
Record: 0-2
Total IP: 5
Earned Runs Allowed: 16
ERA: 28.80
Rockies Batting Average during those 2 games: .613
Nice!!! I am pumped up about tonight knowing that little nugget of info!!!
haha this should be a fun night!
Sounds about right for tonight.
So you’re telling me there’s a chance!
lol, classic… thanks for that.
hey, that means they don’t hit the ball almost 40% of the time! 40% is a lot, right?
I’m done and so is this team.
Someone else commented that it’s effecting their everday mood. Me too! Way too much time invested in this team the past three years and I need to get my life back.
Ugh!!!
cool, we probably won’t miss ya here!!
but…if they do somehow climb back by a miracle, I suppose the bandwagon will still fit you
Thanks.
Hope they make me proud and if by some small chance they do get it turned around your gonna need a bigger wagon.
Ive found that listening to Howie instead of turning the TV on (and expecting a loss) has helped me keep a good mood this week. Its a lot less painful if you’re not seeing the boneheaded plays.
The Rockies are struggling a lot worse then us. We may have a shot at taking this series.
Have a nice Life!
Anyone listening to WFAN,, That was classic
what did they say?
How much of this is HOJO’s fault? Every hitter outside of Church looks lost at times at the plate…
If I thought this team was give 100% and the mets hitters were struggling then I would put this on HOJO,, I think its something else all together.
Either way when Willie goes the clubhouse needs to be wipped clean of everyone but Peterson. Not because I think he is great but because I don’t want to mess with the pitchers routines midseason.
True, some are trying tho. Wright is struggling right now, he is trying to do too much. Beltran does not get a pitch hit hence his high walk total. Delgado just can’t get it done period. MArlon Anderson, damien Easly, Endy Chavez should not be starting period. I dont know how to fix this team right now, but something has to be done. Sorry Willie and the rest, but it is time to go..
D-Wright by going to be our modern day Tom Terrific . . . toward the end of his contract (if not sooner) he will be fed up with this dysfunctional franchise and will haul ass out of town . . . and I won’t blame him in the least
Its time for an intervention. If Omar and Willie can’t do it, I think its time we gave it a shot. Last season a few fans tried to put something together at Shea and everyone dropped the ball. IMO if this team continues this play and Willie is still here come Monday. Its time to get a group of people together and challenge this teams heart and Guts. I imagine plenty of seats being available for this next coming series against the Marlins. I think this is something we need to seriously consider. For all the people that spend hour after hour on this blog conveying there love for this team, I don’t think it would a lot to ask you to get your butts to Shea and help out in this.
If any of you are down for something like this.. Let it be known. Cause we need to step up as fans.
How exactlly would you challenge a team’s heart?
I just think we could get a few chants going or something,, maybe a few signs or whatever. Anything is better than doing nothing. I know its very unrealistic that we get this to work. But I figured I should just see if anyone is up for it.
What would those signs or chants say? I am not ragging you but I am just trying to get an understanding.
you are a bit but its fine,,, I think hanging a pretty large banner with just the words Heart and Guts would do. I don’t really know. There are thousands of people on this blog that I’m sure have better ideas than me. We can come up with something. We spend all this effort killing Willie(and we should) but the amount of effort this would take wouldn’t even come close to the effort we put into killing Willie and Delgado.
I agree, I think that they fans need to step up too. To me I was really offended last September that during a pennant race the team was getting booed.
It always amazed me the level of coordination that the Phillies fans have. Those ridiculous Wolf dances and all the other things they do.. Actually I thought the Wolf dance was pretty friggen cool. Anyways. you would think Matt would try something. It would certainly help if he took the bull by the horns and got a few people together.
Totally… I’m a life-long fan and I feel that my fanhood has been shaken. I want no part of this negativity at Shea, with the booing, etc etc. I am embarrased to be associated with other Mets fans right now. I have prided myself on being a Mets fan for years… like it somehow defined an aspect of my values as a person. It’s disappointing that I don’t want to go to Shea this year, and I typically go at least 20 times a season… I understand the frustration, but take a deep breath and enjoy the weather… jeeez
The Wilpons’ crack marketing department already has it covered . . . everybody clap your hands . . . clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap
im absolutely sick of the met players backing up on their words especially when it is so obvious what they were talking about the first time. BILLY was obviously calling out delgado in his interview. the fact that WILLIE thought his was off the record is plain stupidity and the worse excuse because if he really did think it was off the record, wouldnt he be speaking his mind? and now WRIGHT- i mean cmon, how could you say your comments and then say that you werent ripping your temamates? i congradulate you for it, you had every right to, and you were right, but PLEASE can you not back up on your words?!
maybe they all did it to try to make sure it wouldnt make this clubhouse a bigger mess then it already is but if thats the case THEN they shouldnt have said anything at all, because now they come across as a bunch of idiots (sorry david)
i love the mets, but right now they are killing me
SWEEP THE ROCKIES SO YOU CAN ACTUALLY COME HOME WITH A WINNING ROADTRIP !!!!!!!