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As noted in an earlier post, Jerry Manuel had the following to say to reporters after last night’s game:
“We might have some tough decisions to make…We can’t continue play good, don’t play good, and not find a consistent formula…It could mean some tough decisions…Could be lineup changes, could be rotation changes, could be all types of changes. We have to do what we have to do to get this team on track. We have such great fans, and they’re just waiting, they’re waiting, they’re waiting, they’re waiting, they’re waiting for us to do well, just hoping we do well and we’re not giving them anything – and that’s not fair to them.”
To watch all of Manuel’s post-game remarks from last night, courtesy of SNY, click here.
According to Manuel, he and Omar Minaya have not yet talked about potential trade acquisitions, however he says they soon will, ‘No doubt about that.’
…that said, from what i can gather, manuel has met individually, and as a staff, with his coaches and different team executives following each of the last two games…
…also, from what i understand, manuel and Howard Johnson have been talking about different ways, such as switching up batting practice, changing the lineup, using different drills, practicing situational hitting, etc., that can help improve the team’s offense…
…of course, better players would help, too…i mean, last night the Mets were hitless in nine at bats with runners in scoring position, but also had Trot Nixon, Endy Chavez and Fernando Tatis in the starting lineup, while Jose Reyes was the only player in the starting lineup under the age of 30…
…much like was the case under Willie Randolph, this roster – and specifically the starting lineup – is a mess…
That said, it’s not too early to ask:
[Poll=127]
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This is one heck of a loaded question.
What do we mean here? Manage this mess to the world series…or even the post season? Manage this mess towards a record that isn’t a complete embarrassment? Manage to keep the fans from all entering into one of those crazy Japanese laundry detergent suicide pacts?
I like Jerry, I think hes really smart, got a hell of a lot of fire for someone who claims to be laid back, etc…but this team is a disaster. What can he be expected to do with it?
I completely agree, The best manager in baseball couldnt do squat with the club..
Tony Sopranos couldn’t get this group of gangstas to win.
Its the foot soldiers and lieutenants, not the Boss.
you can’t polish a turd….
Off topic but did anyone see that Lo Duca was playing LF in Washington? Woulda been a nice OF/ 3rd Catcher option to free up that extra bench spot that was used for a 3rd catcher all season…. plus his “fire” is missed.
… he then left the game early due to injury
The Todd Hundley experiment was tried once and failed.
Why bring it up again?
Are you kidding? Todd Hundley was a Gold Glove caliber left fielder. Haha. Muscles Marinara.
Because
A. just because one player fails doesn’t mean all will, and
B. Lo Duca has played LF in his career.
however, he isn’t the offensive bat we need, his ‘fire’ isn’t what this team needs, he’s not what this team needs.
hes been hurt all year, no thanks. cant imagine him covering alot of ground either.
Are you kidding me? Besides Castro Lo Duca was the fastest guy on our basepaths last year. I bet if we hung onto him we could have transitioned him to Center and put Beltran in LF since we need someone who covers more ground in center. MOP
Wow, I got a little sense of sarcasm out of this….
Would you rather have had LoDuca or Casanova?
Kind of hard to have multiple position players under 30 out there when we only have 3 that are actually regulars, one of which being injured, and one really needing a day off.
the new Shea chant should be:
“Fire Minaya!”
Everyone may be right when they say it’s the players and not the manager.
But, I’d still like to see the manager atleast try to do something. My biggest problem with Willie was that he never tried anything different, and when he did, despite results, he went back to the same old.
Like after the memorial day meeting, Willie benched Delgado for 2 games. We won both games. Then Delgado was back in the lineup, and the losses amounted.
So far Manuel is following the same formula. The lineup has been almost identical to Willie’s. He benched Castillo a couple of times and we won, so what does Jerry do, he puts Castillo back in, and we lose….then he puts him in again….and continues with Willie’s lineup.
Our problems have not been the bottom of the lineup. The problems have been that Reyes/Castillo/Wright/Beltran/Delgado doesn’t work. If the manager is gonna toy with it, make the change without immediately going back to what wasn’t working.
Agreed. It seemed like Church in the 2 spot was somewhat successful earlier in the year. However, his multiple concussions don’t bode well for the rest of this year.
It did work, until Castillo started complaining about hitting 8th. Then he was right back to the #2 spot.
I’m with you on WIllie. That was my biggest reason for him to go. That and he was always in denial. I like Jerry so far. If something is not working, then he says he will make a change.
Let’s face it – this team is, was and will always be (for this year) a .500 team. I was way overboard when they got Santana-up to that point I did not think the team improved at all overr the winter-but I should have stayed with my original prediction.
team is too old-no RBI production in ley areas- our LFs have 2 home runs this year-and we have a 2nd baseman that can’t run or hit! Let’s see what we have in the minors-Omar keeps saying it’s not that bad- now prove it..
BTW-why is Bernazard still in that clubhouse talking strtegy with Manuel and HoJo. Read about that today-get rid of him. I know of the guy-he is a snake!
Need more production from first base, right field, left field and second base. Church will solve the right field issue. Left field will go unanswered unless F. Mart can step up or a platoon of Endy and Nixon can get some offense. Second base will go unanswered. First base needs a non-Delgado. I would start DFA’ing aged stars with Delgado.
I’m not sure what was meant by “confidence” in Jerry Manuel as the manager of the team. Is the question independent of team performance (i.e. “How confident are you in Manuel’s ability as a manager of a professional baseball team?”) or is it dependent upon the success of the team in the division?
Consider, A) I am confident that Jerry Manuel will have a positive effect on the Mets and B) I am confident that the Mets will perform well, therefore C) I am confident in Manuel
(A & B) –> C
Both A and B must be true for C to be true.
But, of course, the notion of confidence can mean so many different things. So… it seems like what Matt should really be asking for is a kind of “approval rating” on a sliding scale of 1-10 rather than a “confidence rating.”
i think it’s a little unfair to throw tatis into the “guys who have no business starting last night” group when he collected 3 hits. and really tatis for wright was the only change manuel made to this inherently weak lineup.
I agree. Tatis has done a fine job. If and when he is put into his correct role (ph/bench), he will be an asset to the team.
the impact of the manager is overrated anyway (as it impacts wins). That is, the talent on the field pretty much determines how well the team does. All the manage can do is keep the team focused, and get them ready to play, and Manual can do this just fine. What he can’t do is turn stiffs into real players.
And while I agree he should change things up, he has a real limited roster to work with. I don’t want to see Delgado hitting 5 either, but really, what are Jerry’s options?
anyway, have you noticed that the Dodgers hired “mr winner, the best manager ever” Joe Torre, and they are buried deeper under .500 than the Mets (and might even have a better team!) If the manager is so important, why aren’t they winning more?
just because managerial changes are generally unnecessary does not mean that in this particular situation a change wasn’t warranted
Why does Hojo always get a free ride? Has he done anything to help this team? Don’t tell me he helped Church. That guy is a gamer. If Schneider was hitting .350 then I would be cheering. This team can’t hit out of a shobox. Why was the first base coach fired but the hitting coach stays? Because he is Hojo? Then hire Ray Knight. Or better yet Gary “i’m on my knees” Carter.
I disagree. Managers are not really overrated. Look at the Yankees. They used to have an All-Star lineup including the “great” A-Rod and didnt get anywhere. They havent won the WS in 8 years. As for Joe Torre, he was always OVERRATED, still is. Never could manage in the NL. An I never considered Joe Torre the best manager ever. I’ll take Bobby V over Joe T any day. Tony La Russa (even though I cant stand the guy), another great manager. Managers are more integral to the game than you think. Bobby V vs Bobby Cox in the 1999 NLCS was a classic. And Bobby V outmanaged La Russa for the pennant in 2000. He had to with the team the Mets put out on the field.
I am a Bobby V fan, but in your attempt at a logical progression here, V lost to Cox, every time, regular season and post season head to head.
And when he outdueled LaRussa, why did he get out dueled by Torre.
And don’t tell me it was talent, the Yankees that season were fumbling more than Tiki Barber prior to Coughlin as they came down the stretch.
Torre might not be the greatest managerial mind of our time, but you know what he has? 4 world series rings, namely double of the Mets entire history.
So while we constantly look to knock down everything else from the inside looking out, we could stand to notice for a second, not everything happens on accident.
Relax pat….I never said all you need was a manager. And of course you need talent. The 2000 Yankees were far more talented than the 2000 Mets. Thats what it came down to. Its a combination of several things. I was referring to an earlier post about managers being relevant. Please read before you go off. It helps…..
Well good to see we are in fantasy land as fans.
Last week, 75%+ where not satisifed with the idea of Manuel taking over the job.
The Mets continue to play exactly the same mind numbing baseball they have played for 12 months, but somehow the confidence is going to net into the 70-75% area.
So in a week, for the unimpressed by the choice of replacements, his managing exactly like Willie and getting the exact same results has you more confident because he makes funny comments and got ejected.
I am sure Jerry is a nice guy, but as I said a week ago the whole house needed to be redecorated, not just move the furniture from one room to another.
were, no h
I agree that this team needs to make some changes but don’t agree that this team is a mess and that it is not good. The most glaring problem on this team is Delgado. He is below average offensively and defensively and I believe he is a cancer on this team. If Church can come back and Minaya can acquire a first baseman who can drive in runs and hit meaningful homeruns on occassions the Mets will be okay. I really think Heilman, Perez and Castro could net the Mets the players they need to be a championship team in 2008. Ed
gave him a “6.” basically because the performance in the last 2 games at home vs. the worst team in baseball proves that it wasn’t willie’s fault. that should be obvious to anyone who watched his glorious rant last night in defense of beltran. bravo jerry! unfortunately, the only people he fired up were the fans. in all my years of following sports, i’ve never seen a more lifeless bunch of players. how can you not get charged after your manager tears into an ump the way jerry did last night? the manager goes nuts on the umpire and the players remain in a coma. as time goes by, jerry is gonna find out the same thing about these players that willie found out. there is just no overall desire or will to win among this bunch. and no manager is going to change that. by the end of the season, i may be giving jerry a “10″ for effort but the results on the field will probably still only warrant a “5″ or “6.”
If only it were that easy. Going out to protect Beltran was definitely the right move, and it could have fired them up all they want, they still have to go and square a knuckler. Anderson battled after coming on 0-2 and hit a sharp liner to 2nd. That followed by a 1-2-3 inning will take the wind out of the sails of any struggling team in a game barely within reach.