According to Andrew Marchand, in a report for ESPN 1050, Bobby Valentine would be interested in managing the Mets again.
In the report, Marchand quotes Valentine as saying:
‘I am working for a team that needs me and wants me as their man. I love it here, but I am an American and love great challenges. I was a in a Met uniform in the ’70s, ’80s, ’90s, 2000, and would love to be there in the next decade.’
As noted earlier, the New York Post and Newsday have both reported that the Mets have offered Jerry Manuel a two-year contract, ‘’but he has yet to sign it.’
The thing is, according to Marchand, ‘Manuel may want a three-year commitment.’
By the way, to listen live to ESPN 1050, and to check out the Marchand Report, which airs every day at 10:40 am, click here.
{ 156 comments }
Get. Him. Here. NOW. Manuel has given us a golden opportunity to get rid of him. Regime change is necessary. If it ain’t Minaya, they can do it by replacing the field general. Nothing against Manuel, but, once again, we had a manager preside over a meltdown. There have to be changes to get the players out from under the two-collapse hangover.
I’d love to see Bobby V back in New York.
The only thing I’m worried about is the clubhouse dynamic. Valentine is an abrasive personality (one that suited fine for the overachieving Mets teams in the late 90s early 2000s). With incumbent veterans like Delgado and Beltran, who are rumored to have ousted Willie in collusion with Tony Bernazard, I just can’t see the Carlos’s taking ANY kind of flak from a new manager…
Um, status quo in the clubhouse is not an option. I’d get rid of Delgado. Really.
I think you would get Delgado out moreso for a complete sense of change and ownership of the player & manager relationships if in fact Manuel is not back.
I don’t think there was any collusion, I think that the players might have simply said this guy has lost it. There is a lot of speculation the players felt that way when Willie put Heilman in during the top of the 9th of game 7 in 2006 vs. Wagner. A lot of the players were stunned that in a tie game he did not go with their best to hold the tie and take a crack at winning in the 9th.
Willie never helped himself after that, and I was as big a supporter of Willie as anyone. But Randolph was so obsessed with Bernazard being around I think that it freaked the players out.
You cannot deny that Willie walked around with an I am a Yankee chip on his shoulder feeling everyone should have just fell in line with that.
Wagner got rocked in just about every game they brought him out there in the NLCS. I don’t think it was a bad move at all to leave Heilman in. In fact, Wagner had trouble in the 9th the night before in Game 6.
There is a lot of speculation the players felt that way when Willie put Heilman in during the top of the 9th of game 7 in 2006 vs. Wagner. A lot of the players were stunned …
That’s absolutely FatManesque. A wild unsubstantiated statement.
Who speculated? You and your friends? Don’t make a statement that the players were stunned when there has never been any reporting of that. Or do you have a source? Or are you a mind reader?
It’s ALL speculation, FAH3, but when you have a team that can’t come through in “clutch” situations all year, and has a relapse in September, recalling the collapse of the previous year, you have to think there’s a psychological issue involved, and the changes that desperately need to be made desperately need to address whatever that was. (Whew – long sentence.) ANYWAY, going to a spreadsheet and saying “Ah ha — all we need is X in the bullpen or Y at second MISSES THE POINT.” We added Santana this year and the team around him STILL was too soft to win a “Pinewood Derby.”
TMU … my comment was only addressing the totally unsubstantiated far-fetched statement by patrick regarding game 7 of the NLCS, Heilman, and the players being stunned. That was worthy of the Fatman.
If you’re saying Collapse I & Collapse II are all a result of trauma from game 7 of the 2006 NLCS than I still think that is pure BS.
If that’s what you’re saying, we’ll just have to agree to disagree.
And, yeah, we added Santana this year, but because the bullpen was so weak, that led to Collapse II.
They should have addressed BOTH Santana and the bullpen before this season.
what dynamic is that- we lost – again! Time to make a change – Bobby can do that and the players will respond. At any rate, like to see Carlos D. moved after the Mets pick up his option. I doubt he can post the same numbers again. get something of value for him – what about Mike jacobs if you want to go on the cheap!
Id be very excited to watch next year’s season with Bobby V as our manager…get him in and get out Manuel out!
I would love Bobby V back as he would bring back a general excitement of unpredictability and risk taking that’s been absent since his departure. Nothing against Manuel, for he did a good job, but Bobby may be what the Mets need to get out of their rut.
Everytime we need a manager Bobby V’s name comes up. Of course we want him and he is a proven winner. lets get him
So would Bobby V be interested in taking a paycut to be back in NY? Or would the Mets be willing to shell out a little more for someone like Bobby? It’d be great to see Bobby back, even just for the entertainment value, but Manuel did what he could with part of a season and I wouldn’t mind having him back. I think it’s unrealistic of him to expect more from the owners than two years though – he’s still a little bit of a gamble.
I really have no problem with Manuel coming back as I think he did a pretty admirable job. However, I am a big Bobby V fan and would be interested to see what he could do with this team.
However, if Bobby V came on board, I would not suggest that people rush to get the Sunday Ticket Plan – he had a knack for resting certain key players on Sundays if I remember correctly.
He always rested Piazza on Saturday’s, that always drove me nuts since I can only hit weekend games.
Regardless WE NEED BOBBY V
Come home Bobby V!
Get him.
That pretty much settles that. Get this man in Citi Field.
GET BOBBY V NOW.
We Want Bobby V!!!
The first post I’ve EVER seen in which I agree with the majority of user comments. Seriously, I’ve always looked through the posts and said, man I hate Mets fans. Look at all these Wackos.
But not now.
Get Bobby Valentine to manage this team.
Get him now.
I love Bobby V, but I believe that Manuel is our guy. This is not Bobby’s type of team. Manuel had the Mets playing 17 games over .500, even WITH a sad excuse for a bullpen and countless injuries to key players. If that isn’t a good enough reason to bring him back, I don’t know what is. No disrespect to Bobby V, but I just don’t see him being as successful in a second stint here in NY.
How do you know this isn’t Bobby’s type of team? Have you seem him coach this type of team?
Agreed. I think, actually, Wright and Reyes would thrive under Valentine. From seeing what he’s done in Japan, one of the things he seems to have learned is to be a little more relaxed on the bench. I think his swagger and intricate knowledge of the game would rub off well on Wright, and his aggressiveness would really allow Reyes to play his game.
One of the big question marks for me with Valentine would actually be Delgado. He seems the kind of guy that might butt heads with Bobby. Of course this is all speculation, but I really want Bobby back and for he and Omar to work together to create the team that would work best for his style, even if it means losing a couple of the veterans who may not buy into his system and style.
We should remember that he did have an older team in NY and they did respond – Franco – Leiter etc. Besides i’m not sure Carlos D. is the right guy. Let’s also not go crazy with Manuel-3 yrs. is a bit much – he’s unproven as well.
Walter Alson worked for yrs as a i yr contract guy-where does manuel get off with a 3 yr demand. 2 Yrs was more than sufficient but I’m all for Bobby. This will take the negative soin out and he is the right person to lead the team. Can Fred and co. swallow their pride though!
Exactly my point, Prismo. You don’t know what you are going to get. Besides, how successful was Bobby in NY the first time? Career record of 536-467, which is a .534 W%. That’s pretty good, but he only had two seasons with better records than the Mets had this year.
Now, don’t take my comments out of context. I would be very happy with Bobby V, but I think we have a good thing with Manuel. I guess what I’m trying to say is that Manuel isn’t the problem with the Mets, its their bullpen. Regardless of who our manager is, we need to be more focused on addressing that issue first and foremost.
Um…go back an look at the team he had in 2002, which is what killed his record….
On the contrary, I suspect Bobby would love to have solid stars like Beltran, Wright and Reyes and would further love to manage guys like Murphy, Church and Evans.
In addition, Bobby is a very astute cat, he speaks many languages, just like Delagdo, even if they opted to keep Delgado I am sure that he would attempt to connect with him.
That’s a good point. Delgado, with his poindexter-level IQ and reputation as the thinking man’s slugger, would be hard-pressed not to appreciate Valentine’s intelligence. I think they’d get along fine.
I agree. its easy for us to say bring him back, but we arent the guys spending half of the year with him.
there were plenty of quotes from players, beltran, wright, schnieder, church, etc., of really liking and respecting jerry.
if they like the guy and respect and trust him, why mess with a good thing? Hopefully Jerry takes the two years and goes from there. Why not throw in a stipulation that if the mets make the post season next year they can either add money/years to his contract, or renegotiate completely?
Yes, but they did offer Manual a contract first and foremost and at this point if he doesn’t come back then Manual broke the relationship, not the Mets front office.
Too offer too much $ at this point is silly. He did well, but he hasn’t done a full years worth of work. What about Spring training and evaluating players to build the roster? Little things like that he still needs to be proven on and we shouldn’t give him a huge contract just yet.
Well, he did win that World Series with the White Sox, but I see your point. I’m pretty sure he’s holding out for a 4-year deal like the one Willy got for the obvious reasons. I would do the same thing in his shoes.
>>>Why mess with a good thing?
What good thing? It’s not like we owe the players anything after the last two Septembers. Get a guy in here who will win, and who cares what the players think…
I hope Mets execs are looking at that poll and the board here. I think the Mets will waste a golden opportunity to leave the last two years behind and create a new sense of excitement with their fan base as they enter the new park by getting Bobby back.
I like Manuel, but like it or not, he was at the help of another terrible ending for the Mets. Bobby gives the Mets an identity, and one that fits well with New York and the Mets–smart, scrappy, and a little brash.
The other teams in the NL East delight in beating the Mets. I want a manager that instills an attitude that relishes that reputation, and desires to be the team to beat and enjoys being hated.
Bobby V gives us that. Bring him back.
I like Manuel alot and would not be disappointed at all to see him stay and get a chance to manage this team for an entire year.
But you make a very good point. There is a personality problem with this team. The Mets are the bully the other teams like to knock down, knowing they won’t defend themselves and knowing they won’t get off the mat.
Bobby V. definitely would put an end to that. Nothing is for sure, but you can definitely see him making the Mets the big bully that beats you up everytime you come near him, and then laughs at you while you bleed.
you raise a good point.
I hope they aren’t looking at MetsBlog. It’s a great site, don’t get me wrong, but if the Mets are basing their decisions on what the fans want we are in big, big trouble.
especially if it is coming from some of the yahoos who post here.
Here Here. Time for the Mets to get an attitude.
what identity does bobby v give the mets?
Tough, aggressive, intense, in-your-face and overachieving… basically the polar opposite of the identity we have now.
Given that they didn’t even mention his name in the Shea Goodbye ceremony, I don’t think the Mets have much interest in Bobby V., no matter how much it makes sense.
we have a winner. if he meant that much to the wilpons, you’d best believe he’d have been mentioned. i mean, come on. george foster was recognised!
Valentine was in the middle of managing a season in Japan, are you saying the Mets value Foster more than Mookie Wilson?
Mookie was mentioned.
i said, “mentioned”, nothing about being “in attendance”
That was noticeable. Mookie, Davey Johnson, Hubie Brooks, Ray Knight and others nor in attendance were mentioned….but not Bobby V.
It’s a very good point. Doesn’t mean they won’t consider it, but that’s a very valid insight into why it may not happen. Doesn’t mean it shouldn’t, and the Mets have been well known for making some of the worst personnel decisions in the history of the game. Much as I love ‘em, they are, overall, a poorly run franchise. Not too late to turn that around, though…
Don’t kid yourself. Fred still loves him. And Valentine was on Minaya’s short list when he first took over, but Bobby declined an interview at that time.
no one under contract with another team was mentioned, i believe
Roger McDowell wasn’t mentioned either. Pretty much any person (manager or player) currently in uniform with another team was not mentioned.
Lets put it this way Roger McDowell has more importance to this franchise then Bobby V ever would.
BOBBY V !!!!!! yes !!!!!
That would help, but still. … fire omar.
BOBBY V !!!!!! yes !!!!!
That would help, but still. … fire omar.
What’s this about Valentine not getting along with vets? Not that I don’t believe it I’m just not well versed in how Valentine coaches. Would Delgado really be a problem under him?
To be fair here – did he really clash with the Piazza’s, Ventura’s, Zeile’s of the world? It’s not like the Bobby V teams lacked veterans.
Why would Delgado not like Bobby V? I don’t really understand. Delgado has played with a host of managers over this career and has had one of the most consistent careers of his generation.
He did clash with Hundley.
Hundley was probably roided out of his skull.
Hundley was a good left fielder pause not.
Hundley got shafted big time. He led the team with the HR and everyone was freaking out when he got injured. There was so much pressure to come early and lead the team and a couple weeks before he returns they sign piazza and throw him to first base.
The Mets have never done a good job handling personal and position changes.
i don’t think bobby v fits this team. he’s a tough, in-your-face guy. most of the personnel on this team doesn’t have that personality.
it would certainly be interesting though and perhaps bobby v learned from his previous problems with veteran players.
Which veteran players? Hundley?
most of them hated him. most.
i still think he’s a great manager in terms of strategy and would welcome him back if he learned a little about working with players from japan.
let’s also not forget that bobby v’s teams also fell apart at the end of september (1998, for example)
Right….i forgot how they folded in 1999….and I;m pretty sure their run in September 2001, which ultimately fell short didnt happen either.
ravi: they did fold in ‘99. They lost like 10 of 13 at one point, before sweeping the last-place Pirates to close out the season and force a 1-game playoff which they won.
They also played folded in ‘97 & ‘98. And in 2001 they stormed back before blowing 2 winnable games against the Braves thanks to Armando and Brian Jordan. Look, I LOVE Bobby V., and wouldn’t be upset at all if he managed here again, but let’s not sugarcoat things: this franchise has been awful down the stretch for over a decade now, no matter who’s been managing it.
But they learned from the fold in 1998 and won in ‘99 and ‘00. That ‘99 team was the toughest, most resilient Met team since 1986. And the ‘00 team made the World Series with an OF of Perez, Payton and Agbayani… and would likely have beaten the Yankees in the World Series if we’d had any competent closer other than Benitez… or if Timo wasn’t a space cadet with delusions of granderu who thought there was no reason to run hard in Game One of the series, even though he’d only been in the big leagues for about 10 minutes. (And you can’t lay that on Bobby… because unlike this current bunch, the 99-00 squad was known for it’s high-octane, run-everything-out mindset. Timo’s blunder was an anomaly).
i like manuel and think he’s done a great job, but i would hire bobby v in a new york minute
I love Bobby V. I’ve had the Kool-Aid, but I don’t know if Los Mets would play for him.
luckily, these aren’t “Los Mets”.
Las?
That’s more like it. Bunch o’ mary’s.
..Marias.
uh?
I love Manuel, and he has shown that he deserves it, but….
THERE’S ONLY ONE BOBBY V
Bring Home Bobby V!
Oh wow. Absoutely bring Mr. V here. Are you kidding me?! Wow! And the fact that he’s open to the position. Jerry was fun times, but it’s Bobby!
Yes…sign Valentine.
Wow, whether you are for or against this move, there is no denying that Bobby V would be the ultimate hangover pill for these fans. I never thought I’d see this much excitement after another disappointing season. It’s kinda cool.
yea it would be great for the fans. what about the players? They actually have to deal with the guy
Is Valenties resturant by the Shea still around??
I don’t know but I just read that Bobby Valentine claims to have invented the sandwich wrap. So awesome.
He has a restaurant in Stamford Ct which is an awesome sports bar. A lot and I mean A LOT of memorabilia and old school baseball cards and stuff
I like Bobby V. And everyone is happy when a team wins.
Bobby V. Let’s bring that I’m better than you tude back to the Mets.. This team is so soft….No brainer.
Look what Booby V did for an underachieving 1999 and 2000 Mets team. Imagine what he would do with this team.
Am I dreaming? This would be exactly what the doctor ordered. No more winter Mets depression.. Bobby V back in a Mets uniform would be Amazin.. I love this dude..
Why does the media tease us so.
There is a scene in goonies where the Mike’s dad doesn’t sign the contract to sell the house.
hey Jerry,,, No pen ,,, No sign,,,
I see this going the way of Billy Martin and the Yankees, if they bring him back.
I will always love Bobby V. He’s my all-time favorite manager, period. But I think memories here are running a bit short.
Remember, he was fired for very good reasons – he had really worn out his welcome in NY, he had lost the respect of his team, he would pick fights with his players, he was defensive, mercurial, hyper-sensitive, and arrogant.
I still love the guy. But not for this team.
These are not the characteristics we need back. Jerry Manual ALMOST overcame tremendous obstacles this year – he got fantastic performances out of Delgado, Beltran, Wright and Reyes; he got over-performances from Tatis, Cancel, and – at the very end – Ramon Martinez.
He handled the young players like Murphy (in particular) beautifully.
He simply couldn’t overcome the bullpen. That’s it. They blew save after save after save. Nothing else to blame. Willie couldn’t do it. Jerry did. 89 wins, guys. Who’d have thought it?
Bobby V is not the answer. Jerry Manual is not just a good manager, he’s a great manager, and brings confidence (not arrogance) to a team that deeply respects him.
Eric
Well put, Eric. One other thing of note was Bobby’s relationship with Steve Phillips. I remember thinking at the time that they had fired the wrong man when they let Bobby go over Phillips.
I do agree with your point though. Jerry squeezed water from a stone of a team this year. I think the Mets were lucky to finish as close to the playoffs as they did. He did a great job.
That being said, I would love to see Bobby V back in Queens. I’m torn.
Well put, and even as I posted my comment, I will admit that I am torn too!
We’ll see. One good thing is that either manager would be fine with me.
Yeah, well, at least a potential choice between Manual and Valentine is definitely a good problem to have.
If Manuel does indeed balk at the contract offer….then Bobby V has to be plan B.
confidence? they blew ANOTHER SEPTEMBER LEAD! The Mets need to dump Delgado and get a manager who is less about being nice and more about discipline and intelligent game calling.
Bobby V is was and will always be 100 times more of a Met than Beltran or Delgado. I like the latter mentioned, but neither wanted to play here! Delgado signed with the Marlins and then was traded here, he had no desire to come play for the Mets. Beltran begged the Yanks to take him. So if these guys don’t like a tough manager who doesn’t just coddle them, THEN THEY CAN LEAVE.
Maybe this coddling is why Jose Reyes has ZERO discipline, or why David looks more and more lost? Do you want Murphy growing up in this type of environment? The team had more problems than just the bullpen!
Dude, “Zero” discipline? The guy batted .297 with a (career high) .358 OBP. This was with 688 at-bats. He had a .974 fielding percentage and 17 errors (both better than Hanley Ramirez.) He walked 66 times. On top of that he got MARRIED this year, which is about as great a display or discipline as you’ll see (I’m personally putting it off as long as possible for that very reason.) I think knee-jerk reactionary statements like the one above show a greater lack of discipline than we’ll ever see from Jose Reyes.
in the last month of the season, how many times did he get 3-0, and then pop out? i LOVE JOSE, but his numbers are purely b/c of his insane talent, he is not intelligent. The base running blunders, not knowing when to steal, poor situational hitting. He SHOULD have hit .310 this year if not for some terribly undisciplined at bats with the season waning.
oh and about his marriage, you do know he totally got busted by one of his road mistresses a month ago, with pictures and everything, so i don’t wanna hear that marriage is ANY indication of discipline that’s just laughable.
Are you seriously arguing about something you read in the tabloid gossip section? If you were more disciplined you’d be reading the Times. I get your point about the mental blunders, but ZERO discipline? That’s negative hyperbole directed to a player who’s near and dear, like you said. I was just messing around anyway, no hard feelings and regardless of who the manager is I’ll be right there in the stands, arguing with people about everything imaginable.
Get this man in orange and blue right now Minaya. Enough of your double-speak. Get Bobby V in a Mets uniform.
See this stinks, cause if this is some ploy to get Jerry to sign, I’m going to be pissed. Bobby V’s name should never be used for leverage. If Jerry signs and we now know that Bobby wants the job, Omar isn’t very bright. Bobby V has more heart and determination than any Mets player/manager we’ve seen in 20 years. He is exactly what this team needs to rebound.
We need a LEADER. One that the players can’t deny. Someone that teaches David and Jose how to become great ballplayers. Bobby V would of been a hall of fame player if it hadn’t been for his injury. He knows what wasted talent is all about. We need him, He needs us.. End of Story….
He is a managing genius. Just ask him. How many MLB jobs since he got fired by the Mets? Goose egg, thats how many.
Omar, just say no!
While I agree he was an average at best manager. I still think it may be best to bring him in. He is a guy that for some reason the fan base loves and would bring energy back to a tired team and fan base.
He made it clear he didn’t want to manage in the states anymore. He’s spent a good deal of time in Japan. Maybe he wants to close out his career. Or maybe he just needs a greater presence at his restaurant in CT.
I love how you spew false information.. Your ignorance has been well documented with this post.
How many jobs has he been offered.. From what he’s said about 3 or 4.. So do some homework before making such accusations
It’s not false. It may or may not be misleading. He has had no MLB jobs since being fired from the Mets. That part is true.
Whether he has had chances is a purely debateable point that none of us knows.
except for the fact in “Zen of Bobby V” he states he was offered the Devil Rays position and the Dodgers also offered him a contract.
I’m no Sherlock, but it seems as though you have a rooting interest here. Not sure what is tipping me off, but I can see it not so much right here, or right here – but riiiiight here.
Fat guy in a little coat.
I had heard that the nationals offered him a position as well, but the money/years wasn’t right for him. the man has had offers, and continues to state his desire to manage in MLB again. Get er done!
What’s to say that Bobby V didn’t want to be anything less than a manager? I’m pretty sure he could’ve stayed in MLB in another coaching capacity, but preferred to go to Japan as a manager.
How many many managerial jobs has Manuel even interviewed for since he was on the white sox?
does this mean our team will now be “mafia”, instead of “gangsta”?
I like Jerry, and am in full support of him coming back to lead this team.
That said, the thing I like about Valentine potentially managing this team is he is an aggressive manager. That is really what I think has been lacking with this team offensively. We should have been using the hit and run more with the speed that we had at the top of the line up and the line drive hitters we have. Let’s face it, aside from Delgado, we don’t have any big bombers, we’re a line drive hitting team and need to play aggressive within that mindset.
The thing about bringing a whole new regime in is there could be a significant adjustment period, and if Valentine doesn’t work out with the players we have it could be a disaster. We know with Manuel we’re right on the edge of being a playoff team and are on the fringe of being a great team, we just need the supporting cast to get it done.
Paging Mr. Herman Mr. Herman,, there’s a telephone call…
WE ARE ALREADY IN A DISASTER! TWO CONSECUTIVE CHOKE JOBS= TIME FOR CHANGE..
Jerry has been with this team during both seasons. If he was that influential of a manager this would not of happened.
Good point when things were bad under Bobby things went really bad. This guy’s ego is so huge it could barely fit in the clubhouse. This is a guy that stole the show from his team by wearing that garbage in the clubhouse after being ejected. Yeah that’s not distraction to your team.
that was the most amazing thing in the history of pro sports.
But created imediate media attention when it was least needed. Bobby was always a me first guy like it or not. He did some great things here but he also lost his team because of those type of antics. Those work for the first year or two but have to wear on professionals when they see the same act over and over. Bobby was and always will be a media hound.
Opening day next season we should all where fake mustaches.. That would be killer..
god I wish there was an edit button… WEAR not Where
You do realize that the team went on a 40-15 (or something like that) run after the mustache incident, right? I’m not saying it got them to win, but it clearly was not a distraction.
I like Jerry, but if we have the chance to get Bobby V. back it’s a no-brainer. The guy took an average team in 2000 to the World Series. If he had been the manager with this group the last three years, we would have been in the Series in 2006 and the playoffs each year, especially 2007. This guy won with nobodies playing the outfield. If Bobby is getable, get him!
100% Agreed.
I love Jerry. But this team desperately needs a shakeup. Jerry has been here for all 3 collapses, 06 07 and 08. He was at the helm of a 140 million dollar team that once again choked in September, among other things:
He misused the bullpen, even with its limitations. He misused the bench. He never rested the core guys as he said he would. He got outmatched all series long by freakin Freddie Gonzalez. He mismanaged the rotation and especially Pedro. He never got David refocused on going the other way. He totally effed up with Kunz, and wasted multiple opportunities for Parnell. He messed up the 2B situation ROYALLY by immediately plugging Castillo in, and then continued to start him, meanwhile killing argenis reyes’ vibe. Marlon Anderson, nuff said. He had a 3rd base coach completely clueless mixing up signs and running us out of games. He brings in Schowenweiss during tie games, and Smith Ayala and Parnell with 5 run leads.
He was aided by a great 2 months of Delgado, and by having the best 2nd half pitcher ever, also the best pitcher in the game. I like Jerry, but he is not what this team needs.
Please: No to Bobby V.
Been there, done that.
He worked well with a group of established veterans; he’d be poison to the current crowd.
As Someone posted above, memories are short: he was run out of town on a rail. His teams choked in the clutch. He played favorites for no obvious reason. All the things we accused Willie of doing, Bobby V had done a few years earlier.
Just Say No.
What if it meant Super Joe would be our bench coach?
Yes!
And imagine if Eric Byrnes is picked up. He and Super Joe could be gritty and hard-nosed together! Dirty uniforms everywhere! No actual hitting, mind you, but winning attitudes in abundance!
This is perfect. Bobby as manager and I’m pretty sure we need a left fielder. Hello Mr. Benny Agbayani..
Or….Ichiro? Given the respect Bobby has among Japanese players?
this is how you learn who is in whose pocket.
it smells like Andrew Marchand was fed this by the Mets to move Jerry Manuel off his demand for a three year deal.
if the Mets can lock up Omar thru 2014 (!), they can give Jerry three years.
exactly, I just posted similar below before reading above.
Can someone explain to me why everyone thinks Bobby Valentine is some sort of modern day John McGraw?
Valentine was a decent big league manager, but he was nothing special. He ceraintly wouldn’t be any sort of major upgrade over Jerry Manuel.
Does anyone remember the “collapses” that Bobby’s teams went through? Or are we just going to ignore that? Bobby’s ‘98 team had a bigger “collapse” than either the ‘07 or the ‘08 team experienced.
Does anyone remember that this guy got fired for a reason?
Jerry did a great job with the team once he became the manager. He somehow got this team back into a pennant race with a bullpen that wouldn’t have won the Big East this year, let alone the National League East. We should all be looking forward to seeing what he can do with this team over a full season.
lol the ‘07 collapse is referred to as the greatest collapse in baseball history. Bobby V took teams with lower payrolls deeper in the playoffs.
You cannot bring this same team and coaching back and then just add K-Rod and expect to see different results.
you can’t either compare the 1999 and 2000 payrolls with the 2007 and 2008 as if it was apples to apples, in this day and ages salary environment
Leiter and Hampton would each have been making nearly $17M, Piazza would be a $20M player, even Ventura would be making close to if not $16M per year.
Can’t play that game.
And also:
The Mets have been a top-5 payroll team since the mid-1990s. So Bobby V did not have to make do with less.
I would love to have Bobby V back but this is all non-sense to hopefully light a fire under Manual’s butt to sign the contract.
I have mixed feelings about BV because of his abrasive personality. But maybe he’s toned it down a bit. And he’s certainly a better in-game manager than Willie or Manuel.
I think I’d rather bring back BV on a limited 2-year contract than give Manuel 3 years. I was not impressed with Manuel’s bullpen man-agement.
I’d also like to see them give Oberkfell a chance. Stay away from anyone with ZERO managerial experience. That means Jamarillo whose name has been mentioned.
No way Minaya hires a white manager..
Ah, this old rant again. How I missed it.
Put on your hoods, folks, the race-baiters are back!
Right just like he traded Pelfrey, Murphy, Evans…
and did not deal for Maine, Church, Schnieder, LoDuca
it is all a vicious race game for Omar.
im not a racist….im just being realistic…we’ll see for ourselves if it happens
Airfeet…STFU! Get a clue man.
Ha, the obscenity filter prevents me from responding properly to your statement.
i don’t get it. as much as i love bobby v, and wanted him here when willie was fired, manuel did great.
a few days ago manuel was the only reason the mets got as close as they did. he was loveable, a media draw, thoughtful in his question answering. he could do no wrong. no people cant get him out the door fast enough.
regardless, i want bobby v, its just funny how one story can have people changing their mminds so quickly
check my comments beginning mid july – you’ll see that, at least IMHO, he could do plenty wrong… PLENTY!
Everyone commenting here might want to go catch up with what Japanese culture is like, and Japanese baseball culture specifically, and how Bobby has had to rebrand and remake himself (successfully, I might add). The Bobby V. you all remember is not the Bobby V. coaching in Japan.
I don’t pretend to be an expert, either, but I do follow a few blogs on Japanese baseball.
care to elaborate?
can this team come back as constructed? i don’t think so…….every year there is a new excuse that Mets fans can fall back on as to why they arn’t in the playoffs or the W.S., as if we really deserve to be there had it not been for x y or z. How bout maybe this team is just not right yet? New manager is a start, getting rid of old veterans who don’t lead is next, and bringing in new winning players is third.
BOBBY V! BOBBY V! BOBBY V! Bring him back where he belongs! Manuel can put on a mustache and sneak in as a beer vendor, but may God spare us from three (or two, or one) more years of lefty-righty-lefty-righty ineptitude. In fact, anyone but him. Heck, I’ll take Oberkfell. Also, I’m sorry to say this, but HoJo must be immediately fired as hitting coach – I mean, the guy had some natural talent (i.e. power), but the bottom line is he WAS A PRETTY BAD HITTER. Why would 300 hitters like Wright or Reyes, or outstanding all-around hitters like Beltran (who really SHOULD be a 300 hitter), want to listen to a guy who consistently hit .240 and swung for the fences. I wonder if he had a bigger part than we suspect in Wright’s much-maligned change of approach…
Why wasn’t Bobby V at the closing of Shea? :o Is his team in Japan still playing? anyways, Bobby V for prez!
2 teams:
team A:
Jerry managing, leaders Castillo, Delgado, Wagner, Pedro, Manderson
team B:
Bobby V managing, leaders O-Dog, Beltran, Johan, Byrnes, K-Rod
win or lose aside, which team would be more fun to watch?
Why are Beltran and Johan leaders on Team B but not Team A?
I’m still waiting on some to explain why Bobby V is such a great manager.
His strengths:
1) Bullpen man-agement
2) Can play small ball (unlike Willie and Jerry)
3) Can deal with the NY media .. and has done it here before.
umm, maybe you forgot he returned to the dugout in disguise after being ejected…
one thing is for certain…he will deflect any negatives during the eason away from the players and onto him. I would think that type of personality would be great, and the distractions would be minimal
Manuel signed…discussion over.
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