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In a report for SI.com, citing ‘sources,’ Jon Heyman writes, “Omar Minaya is seriously considering changing managers and at least a couple of the team’s coaches,” including Howard Johnson and Rick Peterson.
According to Heyman, if Randolph is fired, the job will go to Jerry Manuel, “who would be given the season to see whether he can turn things around.”
…thanks to Alon Rothschild for the link…
…from what i can gather, willie has one foot on a banana peel, and the other out the door…he has the support of minaya, and tentative support from the team’s ownership…the way i heard it, willie would get at least through the all-star break, unless of course his team went in to a serious downward spiral…i’m not so sure losing six of seven is such a spiral, but it’s a good start…
This morning on WFAN, host Craig Carton suggested that, not only should the Mets keep Randolph, but they should extend his contract – thus sending a signal to the team’s players stating, ‘You have no choice but to get your act together.’
…i feel bad for willie…i do…i just don’t think he has the right mix of players to fit his strengths as a manager…had Omar Minaya actually built the type of team he said he was going to build when he arrived here, i.e., young, fast, athletic, sustainable, etc., i think willie would have been a perfect fit…but, today, the fact is, the team is losing, and if it continues to lose, willie is going to pay for his player’s sins with his job…
Nevertheless, Randolph appeared to be in good spirits today, while doing an autograph signings at Macy’s.
…Update…1:20 pm…
In report for ESPN.com, citing ‘a baseball man who speaks regularly with Mets management,’ Jayson Stark writes that ‘Randolph is not going to be fired. Period.’
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Just do it already, what the hell could happen today that could change what has happened since May ‘07? This is really becoming a joke.
CLEAN HOUSE BABY!!
CLEAN HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I second that motion Mikey_FF!
A few thoughts….
First, while Willie has made some poor decisions, he still has to play the guys on the team. Simply put, the players play, the coaches coach. If the team isn’t getting it done, that falls on the players and the person that brought them in (Omar Minaya).
That brings me to my next point, the players. Aside from Wright, Reyes, Johan, and Maine, I think you see what is available in a trade for anyone else. Look at the available FAs. Kenny Lofton is a winner, and we need an outfielder. We also need a run producer. Arguably the best run producer in the history of the game is available (Bonds). Maybe not popular moves, but I’m sure they would be a lot more popular if we were in first place.
If Kenny Lofton had been an Expo at any point in his career he’d already be a Met.
You are probably right.
that, sadly, is hilarious
Touche, Pancakes…. well done….
I cannot believe I am actually taking the time to post this, but the “Get Kenny Lofton he’s a winner!!” people really make this entire site look like a colony of silly 6 year olds….forever, we have all been complaining about ancient players who have made zillions and who are at the end of their careers, and who are we pining for on this site? KENNY LOFTON!!
Folks, 2009 is not that far away, we have an excellent foundation, and with all of the KENNY-LOFTON-like old, satisfied players gone, we will be young and hungry again next year.
Kenny Lofton. If he was on the team right now, he would be exhibit A of everyone screaming at Omar for the old players.
Actually, Kingman, Lofton is still healthy and productive. Old is not the problem. Old, injured, and useless is the problem. Lofton constantly plays on contending teams, and knows what it takes to be a winner. That type of attitude is missing from this Mets team.
The problem is old players who have made tens of millions and don’t care anymore. And players who get injured more in their late 30s/40s–this is a key point to consider. We have more than enough old players. We don’t need another one.
Duque, Pedro, Alou, Castillo—they may all care, but older players get injured more, and we need youth.
Don’t trust any free agents over age 30.
The other problem if old doesn’t mean unproductive it means soon to be unproductive. Do we really want to be holding the bag when soon becomes now?
It is becoming extremely obvious the impact that Steroids, and HGH have played in baseball over the years. Baseball is a young mans sport. Baseball is going through a transition. Older, experienced guys, have to teach pass on their knowledge to the younger generation.
Young teams, Rays, Diamond Backs, Red Sox, are doing it right, build with young players, and sprinkle in some hungry early 30 year olds to push hard, the younger guys.
I can’t think of any teams in the top of their division who have as many older players like the Mets do?
This year could put us back a few, unless we sit vetrens who are not carrying their weight, and play hungry rookies.
Put this season on ice, and build for 2010.
Peace :)
Kingman, I’m not saying bring these players in for long term deals. I wouldn’t want Lofton or Bonds for more than a year. They are just better options than anything we have right now. Would a younger guy like Nady be a better move? Without question. But do you really want to give up Fernando Martinez to get him? This team lacks leadership and heart, and unless the Wizard of Oz stops by, it won’t magically appear this season with this team as presently constructed.
I’m interested to hear your suggestions. You mention getting younger guys. Who do you have in mind? Or are you thinking more for next year?
I feel that you are wrong, cause I feel that the team does have leadership and heart, but it is not helping them.
I just feel they have an emotional losing feeling that has crept into their system and they somehow let that feeling destroy their winning potential.
And it is my belief that it is that feeling that must be removed.
And in a big way Sillie is part of that feeling.
You say you feel that the team has leadership and heart. Who do you see as a leader on this team? Who shows heart? You’re blaming Willie as part of that feeling. Is it Willie who blew three consecutive saves? Is it Willie who can’t drive in runs? I don’t know how old you are, so you may not know this, but Willie was the type of player this team could use right now.
Wont happen till after the All Star Game. The day after.
Then the season is over
Well the Stark comment guarantees it doesn’t it.
BTW, anyone notice the irony that Willie’s on the hot seat, the team’s not hitting and “wannabe manager-hitting guru” Rudy Jaramillo will be at Shea this weekend. Can we kidnap him?
I agree wholeheartedly…as much as we all bash him, Willie is a nice guy and a very good baseball mind…however, the last 170 games says it all…it’s a big sample size and therefore changes need to be made…it is easier to change the manager and/ or pitching/ hitting coach than a light-hitting, non-caring first baseman making 15 million, so this is what has to be done.
If you fire Randolph, Johnson, Peterson, you MUST bring in someone from the outside or someone from the minors. You do not hand the job to Manuel!!!!!
I agree, but logistically, they probably need someone from within for the interim.
Why? This is become insanity. When a corporation is struggling and their CEO leaves, they don’t promote the next guy in line…they bring in someone from the outside to shake things up. As Branch Rickey once said about Ralph Kiner — “why are we going to pay you that much money when we can finish in last place with or without you.” This team is filled with a bunch of losers that are hard to cheer for. Bring in a manager with some feistyness and maybe that will rub off on these non-chalant players
Actually, bringing up an interim chief executive internally is not so uncommon among major corporations.
Uh, not really with struggling corporations my friend…in stong companies yes, struggling companies, no.
But who can you get in the middle of the season at the drop of a hat? Fire Willie, let Jerry take over, and then in the off season, bring in the guy you really want. Hard to find someone who is available now, let alone the one you want. Jerry wouldn’t be a permanent manager, just a stop gag to finish the season.
Ken Oberkfell. He has succeeded at every level in the minor leagues. If they’re going to fire Willie mid-season, bring up Ken and see how he does for the rest of the season. If he turns things around, keep him. If not, find someone else in the offseason.
In either case, they need to let the new manager pick his own coaches. Willie got the shaft on that one.
The options mid-season are always rediculously thin.
You can only get someone who is either…
A) Currently employed by the Mets
B) Currently unemployed by any MLB affiliated teams (Indepenant Leagues, Japan, Retired or in the Media)
A Larry Bowa (For example) isn’t going to ditch his current team mid-season to manage the Mets no matter how much he might want to, because that would be breaking so many unwritten rules.
And, Either scenario B or C would put the Mets under subject to the minority hiring rules where one would have to get an interview, because those are external canidates.
The right way to do such a move is to give the job to someone like Manuel on an interim basis and then after the season you conduct your full interview process, or you can just remove the interim from his title and give him the job if you are pleased with the job that he is doing.
whoever made the comparison to corporations hire from outside is an idiot. yeah, maybe corporations hire new executives from the outside, but this is sports, and most of the time, an intermim is hired. unlike in business, sports has a fixed timetable. in business, you dont know when people will become available because the business “season” never ends. if we hire someone new now, we will be selecting from a much smaller pool of candidates. by seasons end, some guys will be fired, some coaches will be available, and guys abroad or in independent leagues, can breach contracts. if we select a new manager now, were risking our future to save this season, which might already be lost.
Eli, you are telling me you want to wait til the end of the year to find a new manager to see which ones get fired…Yeah, just what we need more, recycled junk.
Any successful business person knows that when you struggle you bring in someone from the outside that will throw some cold water on the employees. Keeping Manuel would be saying we’re giving up on the season and I’m not ready to do that on June 15th and 6 games out.
There are guys out of work, etc that could come in now and shake things up just like Jack McKeon did a few years back.
Buck Showalter, Lee Mazilli, Bob Brenly, Tom Kelly, Cito Gaston, Gary Carter, etc.