Live: Live Blogging Conf. Call with Jerry Manuel
In a conference call with reporters, which you can listen to live by clicking here, Mets GM Omar Minaya officially announced that the team and Jerry Manuel have agreed to terms on a two-year contract with a club option for 2011 season.
…in other words, ‘ladies on the bus, gangstas on the field,’ as jerry said in his first press conference back in may…
…Update…1:12 pm…
He has not yet talked with Minaya about the coaching staff, though he intends to take time to review it and determine if he has the right individuals in place ‘to get done what we need to get done.’
…Update…1:14 pm…
Manuel has not watched any playoff baseball, though he’s following the scored. Instead, he has focused his attention on improving a new home that he purchased.
…i love the image of jerry walking around home depot…
…Update…1:18 pm…
Other than the bullpen, Manuel feels the team has issues offensively, ‘as far as managing individual at bats in situations that would be in flow with the rhythm of the game,’ and we have to address some of those needs, to have more of a ‘team philosophy at the plate,’ even though he acknowledges that the industry is set up to value individual performance, ‘those things have to be valued in order for us to get to the next level.’
…Update…1:19 pm…
Manuel says he feels very good about the commitment that the team has given him.
‘I do think it gives the media something to talk about,’ he said, since, if the team is struggling, the emphasis will be on him, which he prefers as opposed to it being on the players.
…he would know, after having had front-row seats to the Willie Circus from earlier in the season, and the pressure that point on the players and coaches…
…Update…1:24 pm…
He is excited to be able to run his own spring training, since it is ‘a time for teaching.’
…Update…1:26 pm…
Minaya says he and Manuel will speak with certain players during the off-season, as early as the next few days, to inform them of ways they can improve for next season.
…Update…1:29 pm…
Manuel feels that team’s core-group of players all have the ability to play a team-style offense, adding, ‘The problem is that young players really want to be heroic, but a lot of times they need to understand that the little things give you the foundation to be that.’ Asked if a manager can remake the team to be more gritty, he feels it can be address and understand and that he cam remake the team in that mold.
…Update…1:35 pm…
Manuel says that too many teams focus on ‘getting this player, with these stats, put him in these roles and expect to win, but that’s not how the game works.’
…Update…1:37 pm…
Minaya said there was a never a time in the last day or so that he felt a deal with Manuel would not get done, adding that Manuel ‘always expressed his passion and desire to manager in New York and manager this team.’
…Update…1:40 pm…
Manuel said he implemented this same idea of ‘teaching’ when he was with the White Sox, noting, however, ‘that it takes time.’
The Angels, Manuel said, are a good model of what needs to be done ‘in order to win.’
Manuel acknowledges that the type of offense he is talking about requires skill, not just a mindset.
…this is all just a fancy way of saying he wants a team that puts situational hitting first, above personal stats…
In other words, as Manuel put it, speaking not just about the offense, but the pitching staff, ‘They need to put the game ahead of the individual performance.’
…Update…1:47 pm…
Manuel believes their is enough strong leadership in his clubhouse, specifically mentioning Carlos Delgado, who showed ‘tremendous leadership down the stretch.’
…Update…1:53 pm…
Manuel does not think Delgado’s presence hinders the ability of David Wright or Jose Reyes to step up and be leaders, ‘if anything he is teaching them what leadership looks like.’
…Update…1:58 pm…
The conference call has ended.
