Willie Randolph will be in Citi Field tonight, as he is currently the third-base coach for the Brewers.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him,” Jerry Manuel said about Randolph, when speaking to reporters yesterday at Citi Field.
For more on Randolph’s return, check out the New York Post, the Daily News and MLB.com.
Meanwhile, Rob Harding from Hot Foot provides some random thoughts on his night watching the game in Citi Field.
Speaking of ballparks, Toby Wachter of the Upper Deck blog explains why, as a Mets fan, he hates the new Yankee Stadium.
In the New York Times, David Waldstein explains why, ‘Despite his recent troubles, Daniel Murphy is OK.”
Lastly, on his blog for 1050 ESPN Radio, Rich Coutinho posts audio of his exclusive pre-game interview with Gary Sheffield.
By the way, if you have yet to do so,
click here to vote in today’s MetsBlog Fan Confidence Rating.
{ 79 comments }
wwwwwhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttttt???????????
he will BE in Citi Field tonight as BENCH coach for the BREWERS
matt – you mean brewers, not yankees right?
and isn't he the bench coach?
Pumped for my first citifield game tonight!
Matt, Willie Randolph will in Citi Field tonight, as he is currently the third-base coach for the Brewers not the Yankees.
He's the bench coach for the Brewers … not the the third base coach.
i thought he was the brewers bench coach…
wouldn't mind "wave em home" willie screwing up a big inning for the brew crew this weekend tho
LOL at third base coach for the yankees. Talk about an accurate blog.
he is brewers bench coach, that statement was not even close to being correct….
seriously matt? This is jsut patheticly inept.
you spelled just incorrectly. ineptitude at its finest.
we need the price is right tuba sound there… priceless
dyslexia strikes again!!!
Somebody stick a pen in my eye…………
“I’m looking forward to seeing him, so I can get my knife back out of his back” Jerry Manuel said about Randolph, when speaking to reporters yesterday at Citi Field.
Priceless!
I was going to post a similar joke even though I don't think Jerry backstabbed him last year.
You have to wonder what Willie's coaching credibility is with some of the players. After 2007 and last year I don't know if players really care about those WS he won with the Yankees.
he isnt even their third base coach, he's a bench coach.
is there any proofreading done on this blog before you hit post?
When you say "he isn't even their third base coach," do you think that the third base coach is higher on management ladder than the bench coach? It isn't.
Does anyone else have to refresh their browser so the new comments section appears instead of the old company Matt used?
No, I'm only seeing this one run by IntenseDebate
Am I the only one who wishes this site would just go back to the original comments format? This is not in chronological order and that gets frustrating.
and there's so many problems with it. they go back to older version and back to newer version and back to older…
It is in chronological order. It just pushes up older comments when someone replies to them. Just look at the "active xx minutes ago" next to the amount of replies. That's not to say it's not annoying, though.
I like the way the new comments look it's just wierd that the old ones appear from time to time. I've cleaned out my browser multiple times. I know the old comments had issues with firefox, I wonder if there are still some lingering issues. But over all the system is easier to log into and the comments are in order and I dont get that stupid waiting for moderation error anymore.
Every once in a while I am suddenly 'transported' into the old comment section. It's pretty weird. Sometimes a simple refresh brings me back to this one, other times I have to reset my browser. This intense debate format has some stellar benefits, but also lots of quirky annoying bugs.
I could not agree more with Toby.
Me too – everyone should read his blog post!
Maybe I just read it wrong, but I hated Toby's Mets-are-second-class-citizens-and-always-will-be approach. It's like Joe Benigno's tired lame woe-is-Mets spiel he gives all the time.
Suffering is NOT the Mets fans' destiny and in case Mets fans have forgotten, the Yankees were failures during many periods over the last 40 years and haven't won squat since 2000. Moreover, when they were successful over the last 15 years, it appears PEDs played a big role in their success, and that's nothing to be proud of.
Toby says that Yankee fans will never understand suffering but if that franchise simply continues on the track it's been on the last 4-5 years, that's all they will know.
I can see where you're coming from, but even if we DO have an amazing run of success, we're still born from the shadows of Ebbets Field and the Polo Grounds. There's just a different attitude about us. we love BASEBALL, you know? It's not a woe-is-me attitude, it's more about having perspective and passion.
As much as I'd like to think it's true, I don't think we'll see the Yankees "fail" for a while. They have too many resources, and the expectations are far too high from the ownership, media and fans.
Mets fans do seem to be a little more appreciative of the little intricacies of baseball — and not just the goal of a WS title — though you might not know that if you read all the posts from the mannyacs(c) this past winter.
As for this second-class-woe-is-Mets attitude, it's strongly entrenched in some Mets fans such as Benigno, and it's sickening to me.
And in terms of failure, it all depends how you define "fail" but in the 60s and late 80s/early 90s, the Yankees had consecutive years of below .500 seasons and were considered second class to the Mets. Maybe, Toby, you are too young to know this. In more recent years since 2004, there is only one NY team that's gotten as far as a league championship series, and that is the Mets. For all the money the Yankees have spent recently, they've been a failure. And I don't think in this era of PEDs testing that trend will change anytime soon.
Sorry, but I just hate the type of talk that paints the Mets as second class citizens. It doesn't have to be that way — money or no money. Since 2004, the Yankees have been second class to the Red Sox, yet Boston spends as little as the Mets.
But I do agree that the new Yankee Stadium looks like a mausoleum and I said the same thing yesterday! The over-abundance of OF billboards and signage also makes YS look like a chintzy Vegas strip on the inside.
still not correct…
Watch the Mets get swept and the camera catches Willie laughing in the dugout holding a balloon that says "Mets in 3000"
With our last two managers in town, I think it's appropriate for me to voice up my feel for this team and why, as I said at the end of last year, the Mets needed a fresh start (as they so obvously did at the end of '07 as well).
To me, this team is very talented, but lacks swagger, and it shows. In '06, this team had an inner conceit helped by some hard-nose players to give it some drive. But in both '07 and '08, you saw that this was a team that feels like it could win-not like it will win. It simply doesn't have the players that can lead in such a way.
This team needs a Wally Backman or Bobby Valentine-type manager to push them into the drivers seat–to make them feel like they are better and when big situations come up, that THEY have the advantage, not the opposition. It is painfully obvious that when our guys come up in big situations, whether starters on the mound or batters with runners on base, they feel like the pressure is on them, not the opposition. Nothing against Manuel–he's just not the right guy for what this team needs to succeed.
In 2006, they started out on fire, going 9-1 or whatever it was, and that set the tone for the season. Winning breeds confidence. Thus far, they are 3-5. Not a good start.
Which would just go to prove, it's not the manager, but the players themselves. Willie was the manager for that '06 run and that awful collapse of '07 with more or less the same cast of characters.
I wish this team would start clicking together, all together, instead of individually – if that makes sense…
I disagree, it's both. And for a team without any real vocal hard-nosed leaders (for all you want to put on LoDuca, he performed in '06 and his leadership really helped propel that team and give it its swagger and a vocal, performing Billy Wagner), it's all the more important that you have a manager who can set that tone. This Mets team is in obvious need of that, IMO.
Yup, you're right, that's one way, but not the only way. Indeed, when you're coming off two years of not winning, having a guy who can fire the team up even with a slow start is all the more important. Having a new manager that doesn't have the baggage is crucial, to my mind. The Mets are in desperate need of that–not to mention a new hitting coach as HoJo is, to me, absolutely killing DWright, turning him into a all-pull, sever upper cut hitter instead of the all-field drive hitter that made him such a tough out in the past.
To early to pull the plug on Manuel, but it hurts me to see this team play like they're not expecting to succeed. Too much talent on this team for that.
I think you forgot a win Wednesday
The only change I'd like to see is HoJo replaced. Many of us have been calling for his head for a long time…
Why can't I see a replies on this post? This new posting system is terrible. I liked it in the beginning but so many problems… Just go back to the older system.
how about we stop nitpicking and we actually blame the people playing the game… the players! pep talks will not solve the problem. the players failed under willie and have failed so far under manuel. how many managers do we need to go through before we realize this group of guys is gutless?
Really wish you could see the other comments 15, but to me, a manager is not nitpicking. For some teams, it's unimportant, but for this team, it's crucial. Mets have made a huge mistake twice in a row in not giving the team a fresh start to begin 08 or 09. Can they overcome it? Yes, they have the talent, and I don't think they're gutless. It's a question of leadership, and this team doesn't have that in their clubhouse–making it crucial for it to be coming from the manager. I think Jerry is the wrong guy for that, especially given he now shared Randolph's stigma being at the helm for the second September swoon.
Citi Field Opening Night, behind the scenes, on the field, player interviews VIDEO
http://www.queenscourier.com/articles/2009/04/16/...
take the time to read that why i hate the yankees post. it really is a good piece of writing, and it kinda sums up how i've felt for a while.
mustache thanks for bothering to type that, I wasn't going to click on the link but after you recommended it I did, and you were right it was a good read.
thanks man, it was a really good mets fan summation i thought.
Thanks for the kind words :)
In case you're wondering, today is baseball jersey day here at Upper Deck, and I'm proudly wearing my retro 80s Mets away jersey (you know, the one with "New York" in script…)
i actually have that jersey at home right now… number 16 to be exact. i'll be sure to have it around for the game tonight!
again, nice essay man
Mine has my own last name and birth year on it. A little self-indulgent, but it's fitting. Got two others in my closet to mix in with it ;)
VERY jealous of you guys getting to see the new stadium, it seems so far away from here in San Diego…I'm chomping at the bit to get back home now.
sadly it's those guys, i moved to washington dc last year for work. so now it's just me and my laptop for the games. thankfully the nats and o's are both terrible teams, so i can catch the mets when they come to town on the cheap.
I'm beginning to think Matt is getting out of touch with baseball with all of these extra SNY shenanigans being brought on.
Posting incorrect game scores, team records, incorrect game play details, and just mistakes throughout the blog.
And I'm also beginning to wonder whether he has actually watched any games this season..
i defended him most of last year, but now it appears he has less help from the others, and relies on himself Cerrone is terribly inaccurate and never proof reads. Its really getting annoying, as this IS his job, do it to your best ability.
Totally agree. I always defended Matt and this blog whenever there were inaccuracies. The past few weeks have been ridiculous. Incorrect scores, inaccurate accounts of what happened in innings, incorrect names, etc.
I come to Metsblog as my exclusive source for Mets information. I would like what I read to be accurate and credible. These constant mistakes are making me lose faith in this blog and the time being put into it. More disturbing is that I am starting to believe that the people who post on here do not even watch the games.
How fitting is it that my first game at Citi is Willie's first game back? Total coincidence with my pack… LETS GO METS!
Anyone else think the RSS icon character looks like he's reading the paper on the toilet?
Yes, every time I see it I think that, and I get a cheap chuckle out of it.
Isn't that where we all read the papers in the morning?
thats quite obviously a typo now isnt it?
I love DWright, but it seems like hes trying to hit a homerun every at bat. He's swinging for the fences on every pitch and getting beat with the fast ball. He's striking out at an alarming rate. Has HOJO suggested that he might want to choke up on the bat alittle bit. He's got a "sluggers" mentality now, and that was never the case when he first came up. I can see he's pressing
uh? again? didn't you already say this?
Yes, I posted it just incase some one missed it, Its very important stuff.
While you make a good point, ultimately, I think it's on the players. Lou's brand of managing didn't stop them from being swept in the first round last year…
That swagger is most certainly missing. And I have no idea what's needed to get that – other than, as someone previously put it, start winning. Winning always breeds confidence. But then again, you have to have that confidence to win.
Hope to see that attitude soon….
I think that's overrated… Joe Torre is not a vocal guy and Jeter is not a vocal leader, but they have been to playoffs for 52 years straight.
Depends on the team and the players. Yankees have Jeter, who meshed perfectly with Torre as a team with an inner conceit that loved to cooly, calmy beat you. Meshed very well with players like O'Neill who added the fire. But this team, with it's recent history, and lack of clear vocal leaders screams for a manager who can bring that attitude to the fore, because they players themselves don't have it. Had they brought back Cliff Floyd and brought in Orlando Hudson, I might not be saying this, but they didn't and so the manager bringing that kind of attitude is of added importance.
Hope they pull off a 10 game winning streak and make me shut up, but that's what I'm seeing so far.
Yanks made many playoffs after O'Neil retired. Stop with this Paul O'Neil thing. The dude retired like 30 years ago. An yet they still made playoffs year after year regardless who was on the team. If you have enough talents, you'll make the playoffs.
Manager isn't that important.
Spending a little extra cash on a bat (Manny) or a starter (Lowe or Sabathia) was. Citifield is alread half empty after game 3. It's beautiful, by the way.
i hope Brad Fischer is ok with Willie taking over 3rd base
Hey Matt, haven't posted for a while, but was having an interesting discussion above on "player vs. manager" with Mr Koo, kistics, Metsfan4decades among others. There are 11 comments, but now it seems impossible to scroll down and see them even clicking on the arrow icon. If you're looking to keep conversations going on your blog, this is a kink in the new format you really need to address, as it's pretty frustrating to get into a good back-and-forth only to see it go away.
Ah, now it's back, but not with the last comment I submitted. Still some serious kinks in this new system.
yeah the new system sucks…
Dan Murphy is and will be even more so the real deal, he's got the heart that this team needs. There's no spot for him but I'd really like to see Evans up as well, he's another young guy with lots of heart.
Very humbled by all the positive comments guys, really appreciate it :)
Just wanted to mention that the post isn't really about me "hating" the new Yankee Stadium, as I haven't even been there yet. Just used Monument Park as a good example of my point.
Definitely understand where you're coming from, again :) Of course I'm aware of the horrible Yankees teams of the 80s, for most of my childhood the team in the Bronx was a joke.
Even though the Yankees haven't been as successful recently, it would be poor to dismiss the weight of their history and success. I for one, don't embrace it. We don't have to be "second class citizens" by comparison. To me, it's not about how many banners we're flying, it's about the passion we bring to our team, compared to the guys in the other borough. Of course I want my team to WIN on top of that if possible, but I'm not going to give up on them after one bad start, one bad series or one bad year, like Yankees fans do.
"Since Ruth, the Yankees always have been, and always will be the Broadway feature with the marquee names."
"In the end, the suffering makes the success that much more meaningful. And it’s something Yankees fans will never experience, much less understand."
"it would be poor to dismiss the weight of their history and success. "
Toby, I actually agree with most of what you said in your original column and here, but it's statements such as the ones above that are so annoying and which I feel are false. They seem to be accepting of second class citizenry for the mets, no matter what you say.
In the 80's, it was the Mets who were the "Broadway feature" with the marquee names. Not the Yankees. And you yourself admit to some of the dismal periods for the Yankees in the 60s, 80s, and now. So how can you say Yankee fans will never know failure? If they consider 2004-2008 success then they are delusional.
Finally, the "weight of their history and success" means nothing in the face of a losing record or finishing in third place. I also think that their "history and success" pales in comparison to the weight of their history of spending $$$ and PEDs usage in terms of the reasons for any recent success.
Bottom line, I can't buy into this history is destiny thing.
I know you guys, for the most part, did not think very much of Willie as our manager. As you may recall from my past posts,I happen to disagree. I'm looking forward to seeing him "back home" and wish him nothing but the best … AFTER we kick the Brew Crew's butts this weekend.
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