Daily Archives: June 17, 2008
The Game:
The Mets (34-35) begin the Jerry Manuel Era as they continue their three-game series versus the Angels (42-29) tonight at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, starting 10:05 pm EST.
The Lineup:
- SS Jose Reyes
- 2B Luis Castillo
- DH David Wright
- CF Carlos Beltran
- 1B Carlos Delgado
- LF Marlon Anderson
- 3B Fernando Tatis
- C Brian Schneider
- RF Endy Chavez
…with manuel’s comments earlier in the day i expected a bit more of shakeup in the lineup, but, hey, who am i to second guess the manager during his first day on the job…
The Pitchers:
LHP Johan Santana (7-4, 2.85 ERA) toes the rubber for the Mets. In his last start on June 12 versus the D-Backs, Santana earned a no-decision after throwing seven shutout innings, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out 10.The Mets are 8-3 in Santana’s last 11 starts. He is 2-3 with a 4.05 ERA in 10 career games, eight starts versus the Angels.
RHP John Lackey (3-1, 1.83 ERA) starts for the Halos. Lackey earned a win in his last start on June 11 versus the Rays surrendering two runs on four hits while striking out seven and walking two. He has allowed three runs or less in each of his six starts since returning from the disabled list on May 14. In his only career start against the Mets on June 12, 2005, Lackey earned a no-decision, allowing three runs on six hits and six walks while striking out six over 5.2 IP.
How To Catch It:
Tonight’s game can be seen locally on
and heard locally on WFAN.
The Bleachers:
For a live chat, head over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.
…as cerrone stated earlier in the day, i too am excited and feel a bit invigorated by today’s events, as this is the Mets first step to moving forward from last september’s awful collapse…i’m sad to see willie go, especially since he was a class act, but i’m looking forward to see how this team responds over the next few games under Jerry Manuel…let’s hope the Mets can turn over a new leaf and salvage the rest of the season…
…enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets…
Tagged Mike Nichols |
This was an odd day, to say the least.
When I got the news of Willie Randolph’s firing early this morning, I was a bit sad and angry. Early in the day, I wrote that I felt dirty, because over the last few weeks I have had the opportunity to watch this all go down, quite up close and personal in some cases.
Then, as I started reading the newspapers, listening to talk radio and watching the morning news, I became ashamed and embarrassed – because, as a Mets fan, I knew I would have to defend my favorite team to friends and family, who seem to take great pleasure in mocking the fact that I am a Mets fan. I was genuinely more worked up over that – about how you and I would be portrayed and perceived – than I was worked up over anything to do with Willie Randolph’s ego, since, as I wrote this morning, for as terrible as he must feel, I know he will live to coach another day, all while being paid $3.5 million to find his next job. In other words, this stinks, but he’ll be fine.
However, as the day rolled on, and I started running polls on MetsBlog, talking to fans on the street during my commute to New York City, listening to what people had to say, reading my e-mail from fans from all over the planet, while also talking to reporters, seeing people at the SNY studio, getting different opinion from an agent or two, a player or two, people connected to the team, etc., I started to convince myself that every one was getting all worked up for the sake of getting all worked up. In other words, their words and their previous opinions and actions were not matching up, which I still feel may be the case.
The thing is, I fear I tend to get a little rushed on days like this, and very, very desensitized. One thing that is very hard for people who read this site to understand is just how many people want to share their opinions and information with me. 
I have never been clear on why, but it’s true. People just like to talk sports, and they know I am interested because of what I do for a living. And so, through the course of the day, I bet nearly 500 people voiced their opinion to me, some in person and some in text, and – while I love every minute of it – that’s a lot to digest.
The result is that I end up not thinking clearly, and my originality suffers. At times, I wish I could just sit at my desk, in quiet, gaze out the window, brainstorm in peace and churn out an eloquent op-ed. Instead, though, I try to interpret all of this information for my readers, link to other content, media, etc., while writing, reading, talking, listening, researching, and so on, all churning out content to the blog, and I fear that my opinion may end up being a bit muddled and affected by all of the voices I encounter through the day. It’s not intentional, it just happens.
The funny thing, though, is that 27 people e-mailed me saying I am a sell out, I am dishonest and I have no backbone. Of course, 32 other people also e-mailed to tell me I am the most honest person in New York sports, and that I have done a great job keeping SNY’s influence away from MetsBlog. So, go figure.
In the end, after taking time to digest all of this while sitting in peace on the train ride home, I revert back to my initial reaction: that of being dirty and embarrassed.
I feel dirty for having had front row seats to what has felt like a circus – and I’m embarrassed, like so many others, for being addicted to an organization that is perceived as being a circus.
I’m not a journalist, though so many people like to think I am. I’m not, nor do I want to be. I’m a fan, with a blog and a large readership. And so, any time I get the opportunity to hear from you, a fellow fan, who will be honest and keep me honest at the same time, I truly appreciate that.
That said, I’m glad this saga is over.
Let the Jerry Manuel Era begin.
The following are clips from Jerry Manuel’s pre-game press conference with reporters prior to tonight’s game:
The Mets have named Marty Scott and Rick Waits manager and pitching coach, respectively, of the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs.
Scott worked in the Texas Rangers’ organization from 1982 to 1994, serving in various roles. Meanwhile, waits had been the Mets’ Minor League Pitching Coordinator for the past five years and has served as pitching coach on all levels of the Mets system since joining the organization 13 years ago.
Omar Minaya just stepped to the podium.
…which looks weird, because he is surrounded by logos for the Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles, or whatever they’re called…
…Update…5:01 pm…
According to Minaya, it was his decision, and the minute he made the decision he made the call to Randolph.
Minaya believes this team needed a new leader, and this is why he ‘went with’ Jerry Manuel, who was the team’s bench coach.
…Update…5:06 pm…
“This was a tough decision,” Minaya said, because it was my decision, which he repeated five times, adding, “This was tough because it was my hire,” noting that Randolph and he had a bond that was very hard to break.
“It wasn’t easy,” Minaya said, “It had to be done.”
…Update…5:08 pm…
Minaya believes this team is under-performing, not only because of Willie Randolph, “I’m responsible too,” he said.
“That being said,” he added, “It’s about how this team has played since last year.”
…Update…5:09 pm…
“I could not do this on Sunday, because the reality is that I made the decision on Monday,” he explained.
He and Randolph have been in contact about this last week, Minaya said, and he told Randolph that there is pressure and, “he needed to find a way to get it done.”
…Update…5:11 pm…
“We could not go on as a team the way it was this weekend,” Minaya said, with regards to the level of anxiety surrounding the team, “It would not have been fair to his players.”
…Update…5:13 pm…
He said, most managers get fired at lunch, in the morning or after the game, but because he works in a market with so much media and sources, he felt he needed to tell him the minute he made the decision, “And that’s why it was done last night,” because he didn’t want a third party to tell Randolph first.
…Update…5:14 pm…
…i need to listen to this again, but it sounds like he is blaming the media a bit for helping him make this decision by creating an environment, through leaks and rumors, etc, that was unfair to his players…
“You guys do your job very well,” he said, with a bit of sarcasm.
…Update…5:15 pm…
“Jerry Manuel will be the manager of this team for the rest of the year,” Minaya said.
“I love Willie Randolph, he’s my friend I hope he finds another job as a manager,” Minaya said, “But this ain’t about love…The reality is, we’re not playing to the level of the talent that we have.”
…Update…5:18 pm…
“Jerry Manuel was the best manager for this job, at this time,” Minaya said.
…Update…5:20 pm…
“We are where we are today, not just for the decisions on the field, but because of the decisions I made,” Minaya said.
…Update…5:24 pm…
“Randolph got back to the hotel, we talked about the game, I looked at him straight in the eye,” Minaya explained, “I told him I made a decision, and you’re not the manager, that’s my decision.”
I was not going to fire Willie Randolph on the field in uniform, it was going to be done in private, in confidence,” Minaya said. “Let me tell you something, the worst feeling is that when a guy is in uniform and some else reports to him that he’s been fired…I could have told him this morning, but in this market, to hold something like that a secret for 48 hours, ha, it just doesn’t happen.”
…Update…5:28 pm…
Minaya said, “Guys, let me tell you something, at the end of last year, ownership said it was your decision and I could have made the decision to let him go and I didn’t…Ownership supported me either way…When I came on board here, that was the agreement…In 2004 I came here with the authority to make baseball decisions.”
…Update…5:38 pm…
“Those remarks (from Bergen Record), created more mention in the situation, that’s a fact,” Minaya said, “i don’t want to get in to it, but it did.”
…Update…5:41 pm…
Minaya continues to say that, the reason he told Randolph at 11 pm PDT, was because, he knew, the minute he made this decision it would not take much for a third-party source to leak the information.
…which makes no sense…unless that third-party source as a mind reader…
…Update…5:45 pm…
Jerry Manuel is now at the podium, and looks very, very serious.
“There will be differences,” Manuel said.
…Update…5:50 pm…
“I think I would have reminded the team of the collapse, instead of putting it behind us, using it as a way to motivate us to get to a different level,” Manuel said.
…he is a very soft-spoken, smooth talking guy…it sounds like he should be on radio…this is news to me, because i had never heard him speak before…
…Update…5:52 pm…
Ken Oberkfell will be the team’s first base coach, Dan Warthen will be the pitching coach, Sandy Alomar will be the bench coach, and Luis Aguyo will be the team’s third base coach.
Manuel says he has been friends with Alomar for a long time.
“Oberkfell is a tremendous talent, from his days with the Cardinals,” Manuel said, “I’m looking forward to learning and growing with him.”
…Update…5:55 pm…
“I think we have a foundation here to really grow and get us back on track,” Manuel said.
…Update…5:57 pm…
He says he’s not one to just steal bases or hit and run for statistical purposes, though he knows that is important, but, instead, it’s more important for him to teach and work with his players on when is the right time – when is the right context – to hit and run and steal, etc.
…i have no idea what that means…oh well…
…Update…5:59 pm…
“At the end of the year, if this doesn’t work out, and Omar comes looking for me, you know, he said he would never fire a man in uniform so I’m keeping mine on – I’ll take it right home with me,” he said, with laughter.
…Update…6:02 pm…
“Being Interim Manager is not a problem to me,” he said, “It’s an opportunity.”
…Update…6:03 pm…
He says he needs to identity roles in the bullpen, “and lock them down,” and get them throwing first-pitch strikes.
He says he thinks starting pitchers should throw seven, eight innings, and 120 pitches, but he needs to work with his pitchers on that first.
…Update…6:06 pm…
Manuel explained, noting that David Wright will be the DH tonight, “I do plan to make some changes to the lineup, though that depends on how the guys are swinging. Any day, your fourth hitter may not be your fourth hitter that day…I like to use the second spot in the lineup to get a guy going. There may be some things, but if we continue to win then I’m gonna stay out the way.”
…Update…6:07 pm…
“Gangstas get on the field, ladies get on the bus,” he said, which is an expression he and David Wright often say to one another.
“We need to do it right for the fans in New York,” he said, “It’s a tremendous responsibility.”
…Update…6:08 pm…
“I’m going to let them know that I have transitioned to a new position of authority,” he said, “And they don’t have to like me, but they must respect the office that I hold.”
The press conference is over.
…i have to be honest, i am a little confused by how how some members of the media are reacting, saying things like, ‘The Mets should be ashamed of themselves,’ and so on…it almost feels like they’re more worked up about having missed the story, because they were all basically getting ready for bed when it broke, than they truly are upset with the Mets…their reaction is bordering on fake outrage, at this point…
…also, i do not sense that fans are truly upset with how Willie Randolph was treated – as much as they’re embarrassed because other fans and media are mocking the us…
…i mean, a few weeks ago i ran a poll and the majority of fans wanted willie fired…now, suddenly, he is a sympathetic figure…in reality, i think our collective frustration has less to do with willie, and more to do with Jerry Manuel, who is not seen as a drastic enough change, and more to do with how the organization is being perceived by rival fans and media outside of New York, such as ESPN’s Mike and Mike who called the Mets ‘a laughing stock’ on their radio program this morning…
…i suspect if the Mets had hired, say, Bobby Valentine, and did it in the middle of the night, we, as fans, would be far more supportive and tolerant of how this was handled…
will air today’s press conference at 5 pm EDT, during which Omar Minaya will speak with reporters and officially introduce Jerry Manuel as the team’s new manager.
The following video is of my on-air segment from this afternoon on SNY, while talking about fan reaction to today’s news:
…i’ve been hanging around the SNY Studios in New York City, listening and watching their coverage of today’s events with Keith Hernandez, Ken Rosenthal, Jon Heyman, Darryl Strrawberry, etc, all of which you can watch here, and, honestly, i’m starting to get excited about moving on from this…
…i want to hear what Omar Minaya has to say for himself during the press conference, and i’d like to hear from Jerry Manuel and what his plan will be, but, after that, i’m feeling a bit invigorated and eager to start what essentially feels like a new season…i hope the players feel the same way…
The following video clip, courtesy of , is of Willie Randolph speaking to reporters as he left the team’s hotel today:
