Buzz: Zephyrs Prepared for Life after Obie
By Matthew Cerrone - Jun 16, 2008 1:07 pm

Last night, Omar Minaya was peppered with questions from reporters on the current job status of Willie Randolph.

This morning in the Daily News, Adam Rubin wrote that Randolph could survive the first round of firings, while citing a team insider as saying, “I think the coaches are in trouble. That may be the compromise for now.”

Over the weekend, multiple reports indicated that Ken Oberkfell and Dan Wharthen, from Triple-A New Orleans, could replace Tom Nieto and Rick Peterson on the coaching staff.

…in fact, from what i can gather, the Zepyhrs have already begun to plan for life after oberkfell and warthon, and are ready to see their coaches leave in an eventual promotion

i can’t remember the last time i heard a bad word about obie…i had the chance to interview him back in 2005, and i remember him being a tough-guy, salt of the earth type of talker…it would be interesting to see how he would play in New York City

“Don’t get me wrong,” Oberkfell told me in 2005, “I enjoy the Minor Leagues, and I love what I do, but there’s no question, my goal is to get to the Major Leagues.”

For more on Oberkfell, check out this recent post at Hot Foot.

By the way, speaking of the B’Mets, the Press & Sun Bulletin is doing a are giving you the chance to win four tickets to any regular-season, non-fireworks B-Mets home game. 

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125 Comments »

Comment by plasto
2008-06-16 13:09:34

I’m 100% okay with Oberkfell on the big club in any capacity. Don’t know much about Wharton, but an internal promotion makes sense there, too, I guess.

Comment by toogr82b4got10
2008-06-16 14:09:24

I’m all for change and it seems like Obie would be a great addition to the staff.

I’m not sold on getting rid of Peterson. He’s done a pretty good job with what has been given to him. Is it a coincidence that nobody knew who John Maine was before he got here? Would Ollie P ever have gotten back to form if Peterson wasnt the coach? Wagner even praises Peterson’s teachings.

Our hitting is the main problem right now and I dont see a need to change our pitching coach just for the sake of change

 
Comment by almar1965
2008-06-16 14:19:56

Obie should have been the manager from the beginning of Omar’s tenure.

Comment by toogr82b4got10
2008-06-16 14:22:41

Maybe he’ll be like Obi-Wan Ken-Obe(rkfell)

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Comment by GeorgeTheodore
2008-06-16 14:35:07

The Wilpons have demonstrated once again why, other than the Dolans, they are the most incompetent sports team owner in NYC history. Not only have they botched medical issues for yrs on end: the latest being Ryan Church, but also in the past taking passes on Vladmir Guerrero and Maglio Ordonez because they were supposedly brittle. But, getting to the immediate matter - Willie. While I was all for the firing of Willie (and Omare) not just a few wks ago, but even at the end of last season, I have to say I no longer feel this way. The INCOMPETENT WILPONS - yes, the means you FRED and you JEFF (you immmature putz), have totally botched the situation. Willie is an honorable man and you have collectively, with your timid indecision, have allowed him to blow in the wind - on father’s day, no less. You two weakling bullies should tell Willie he’s safe and then sell the team! What we need is new owners (preferably without immature sons)!!

 
 
 
 
Comment by TheBigStapler
2008-06-16 13:10:05

I don’t actually want to see Randolph go but, if he does, I’m pulling for Ken Oberkfell.

Comment by DC26166
2008-06-16 14:03:01

I THINK KEN OBERKFELL IS WHAT THIS TEAM NEEDS. HE WAS A HARD NOSED BALL PLAYER BACK IN THE DAY. AND HE WILL BRING SOME FIRE TO THIS BALL CLUB WHICH IT DESPERATELY NEEDS

 
 
Comment by lonman1129
2008-06-16 13:12:49

The Mets should offer the Zephyrs job to Wally Backman and let him reclaim his MLB manager status.

Comment by UnclePauly
2008-06-16 13:13:35

Couldn’t agree more.

 
Comment by atlantasnumberonemetsfan
2008-06-16 13:14:02

Didn’t he beat his wife??? I’m not so sure about him…

Comment by There's Always '09
2008-06-16 13:21:54

I think Backman may be a little over the top. We are talking about a guy who went to the radio announcers booth after he was ejected from a minor league game to talk smack about the umpires.Not sure he is emotionally ready.

Consider this. Eventually, he will come under some fire managing the Mets. Whether it is this year or in three years, the time will come. Could you imagine putting him in Willie’s place right now? It would be very entertaining, but unprofessional…by all accounts anyway.

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Comment by dwright012
2008-06-16 13:13:36

NBC reports Peterson is gone…

Comment by NCMetsGuy
2008-06-16 13:14:51

Linky?

 
Comment by atlantasnumberonemetsfan
2008-06-16 13:15:33

NBCSports.com is saying that they “could” be gone…

Comment by dwright012
2008-06-16 13:17:36

yeah sorry can’t seem to post links in the comment section…

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Comment by dwright012
2008-06-16 13:18:38

The article says “Pitching coach WILL BE let go Monday”

 
Comment by NCMetsGuy
2008-06-16 13:21:27

Thats a crappy article. It comes out and says that he will be but then says “Minaya could fire pitching coach Rick Peterson and first base coach Tom Nieto on Monday, the newspaper reported, citing unnamed sources.”

 
 
Comment by NCMetsGuy
2008-06-16 13:17:48

That is all I have seen too, same garbage that’s on ESPN. Well of course he COULD be gone. Hell I COULD be gone.
This stuff needs to end TODAY.

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Comment by Gasface77
2008-06-16 13:21:49

Speaking of ESPN and kind of off topic. I was watching Mike and the Mad Dog on Yes the other day and they had a shot of Mike’s computer screen. He was on the ESPN website. I guess that is one of the sources they use for info. I find that funny since they are constantly bashing ESPN’s programming.

Anyway, definitely all for Obie over Manuel.

 
 
 
 
Comment by NCMetsGuy
2008-06-16 13:13:37

Why on earth would Hojo get to stay? We have not been able to hit since he has been here. I would not move Peterson this season either. The pitching has been better and I would not want to change any routines. However as far as everyone else they can go. Still don’t think replacing Peterson and Nieto makes a difference at all.

Comment by UnclePauly
2008-06-16 13:15:17

It sends a message. Just like the coach firings when Bobby V was around. And look what happened after that…..

Comment by NCMetsGuy
2008-06-16 13:18:49

I understand it sends a message, just like last year when Down was fired. And look what happened after that……

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Comment by There's Always '09
2008-06-16 13:24:00

I am against firing Peterson. I like to think that he is somewhat responsible for Ollie getting better.

Unless he is being replaced with Mazzone or Dave Duncan, I wouldn’t do it.

By the way, when will Dave Duncan get that kind of respect? He is the best pitching coach in baseball. Look waht he has done.

 
Comment by NCMetsGuy
2008-06-16 13:25:40

I would only do Dave Duncan or Roger McDowell. There is no way that I could stand seeing Mazzone on our bench in his rocking chair.

 
Comment by Gasface77
2008-06-16 13:27:30

I think Dave Duncan already has that respect. He is wiely considered the best pitching coach in baseball. What he is getting out of his staff this year is amazing.

I

 
 
 
Comment by beltran the warrior
2008-06-16 13:29:52

but hojo can’t go? he was an ‘86 met! he can’t go!

the mets don’t respect their past.

 
Comment by aus1331
2008-06-16 14:27:00

I agree that Ho Jo should go. They should have never fire Rick Down and kept Ho Jo at 1b last season. Before Down was fired the offense was GREAT, after, well I don’t have to tell you how it is. And, this move was Omar’s, not Willie. I say bring back Down, if he would come back.

 
 
Comment by toomanyuniforms
2008-06-16 13:15:35

I think the coaches are last people I’d blame . . . though the approach they take to the plate is often highly questionable.

Comment by YouNeedATissueToo
2008-06-16 13:29:22

I think that the coaches share the blame with the manager and in some cases, might be more to blame.

If you remember a couple of weeks ago how the Braves came into a game against the mets with a hitting plan, they layed-off most of the down and away change-ups and did a lot of 1st pitch hitting: They had a plan against Met pitchers, an actual plan that you could see them executing and it working! The hitters actually hitting. Has anybody seen anything like this from the Mets hitters? The Met hitters go up there and seemingly try their personal approach, but that’s it. Why doesn’t HoJo have a plan?

And with the pitchers… Yes, it seems Peterson is helping along all the starters — with the exception of OP — but the bull pen is woeful. So when Willie confers with his pitching coach before making a move, Peterson is for sure making suggestions which WR is considering, then makes his move and, most of the time this season, it falls apart and the crowd boo’s the sh*t out of Willie and wants him fired.

The coaches should be just as accountable as the manager.

Comment by toomanyuniforms
2008-06-16 14:09:26

I think the manager AND the coaches have to come up with the plan. The manager has to insist on the plan. It’s not that they had the wrong plan. They had NO plan.

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Comment by Ceetar
2008-06-16 13:15:36

Don’t know. I wouldn’t be surprised if some new ideas/thoughts/approaches helps this team, and from the ‘uninformed fans point of view’ I’m happy to see Peterson go.

Comment by UnclePauly
2008-06-16 13:18:39

The Jacket is worn out!

 
 
Comment by KingWright
2008-06-16 13:18:19

This front office is embarrassing these coaches with every minute that passes. If I were on this staff, I’d be begging to get out of this organization.

 
Comment by zen
2008-06-16 13:18:51

dan wharton can fix peterson in 10 minutes.

Comment by Gasface77
2008-06-16 13:22:50

You hit the nail on the head. Th