In report two days ago for the Daily News, Bill Madden wrote:
“I’m told that Assistant GM Tony Bernazard, whom Willie Randolph found to be an intrusive influence in the clubhouse, especially with the Latin players, has been no less undermining with Jerry Manuel. For whatever reason, Bernazard seems to have the Wilpons’ ears, even more so than Minaya, and in organization meetings he’s never reticent to suggest areas where the manager might be doing a better job. I’m also told the Met high command ordered Manuel to tone down the not-so-subtle pleas for help in his pre and postgame mediafests and his periodic candor about his team’s deficiencies.”
In a October 2007 report for the Daily News, Bill Madden said Bernazard is the ‘real power in the front office,’ adding:
“I’m also told that all of the Mets’ minor league Latin players have Bernazard’s cell-phone number with the understanding they should call him any time if they encounter problems either off the field or with club officials.”
Last season, reports suggested Bernazard played an active role in the firing of Willie Randolph, which you can read more about in this post on MetsBlog.
…frankly, i don’t really know what to make of this…
…i used to think this was a problem… and, i want to think it still is… however, tony b’s role on the Mets didn’t stop the team from going 43–25 at one point last summer, post-randolph… it didn’t keep them from starting this season 28–22… that said, this sort of over-reaching is probably the kind of thing that only makes matters worse when they’re not going well, like now… in other words, i suspect this is not the last we’re going to hear about this subplot…
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great, just what this team needs…another dark cloud hanging over their heads…gonna make for some awkward clubhouse interviews.
… and his middle name is Rasputin!!! :O !!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is anyone else starting to wish the Wilpons would sell the team, I wish Bernie Madoff could get out jail, steal the rest of their money and force them to sell the team. There not very good at putting the right people in charge.
I was actually hoping that the $300million that they lost would force them to sell the team as well. Unfortunately we were wrong…
I despise the Wilpons.
I was kind of hoping that too. I know its not right to wish ill will on people but I dont feel bad since even after the loss of money if they sold the mets theyd still have more money than any of us could ever dream of making in a lifetime.
Bernazard was all over the place at Shea….on the field during batting practice, hanging by the cage…..basically what a coach is expected to do. I haven’t seen him much at Citifield….but he’s a weasel. Don’t see any other assistant GMs being mentioned with other teams…..
no offense, but i’m going to guess you don’t spend that much time following other teams as closely as you follow the Mets… so your statement should be taken with a grain of salt. ask a Phillies fan who Tony B is and they’d probably tell you he’s the starting center fielder.
man, this team is a mess, from top to bottom.
how strange to think what promise this era showed in 2006.
I agree, and stories like these point to the Wilpons as being the real problem. And as bad as things are now, it depresses me even more to think that Fred is going to pass the ownership onto Jeffy someday.
Unless another Madoff scandal erupts, we are going to be stuck with Wilpon ownership for a long, long time.
Im also worried that with the loss of money from madoff coupled with the lack of return on investment with omars big payroll chokers I fear we may be entering into a 2002-2004 type era.
How do we know that Madden isn’t just trying to stir pot? Especially last year? We all know how much he goes to bat for ex-Yankees like Willie.
I don’t trust Madden. He may be right but I just don’t trust him.
I’ll say one thing, if it’s true Bernazard places a higher emphasis on the farm system, then I agree with that strategy. In the long run, having a strong farm system to complement free agent signings is the best strategy. I think sometimes Omar has been too careless and neglectful of the farm system.
I believe his main duty is the farm system and especially the International side of it so you would suspect he would emphasize that part of it. It would be the part he has the most knowledge of. He may be a rat but since I do not attend those meetings I cannot speak with all that much knowledge.
That’s true. You would expect Bernazard to hype the farm system since he’s in charge of player development. And it’s really hard to know what really goes on since all we get are snippets from writers like Madden.
But regardless, I think most fans are disappointed by the general quality of the farm system and feel Omar should have done a better job. The records of the two top farm clubs this year are terrible and are not very conducive to instilling a winning attitude in prospects. And you would expect a few more major-league ready players by now than just Evans and Murphy.
They do a good job of signing young latin talent. And they have done that. But that talent takes a long time to develop. Fmart is reaching the big leagues 4 years after signing (not to mention dozens of players currently signed who will never make it )
There was a big a gap in development and that came when we signed Pedro, Beltran, and Wagner. We lost some valuable draft picks there, that while I dont regret any of those signings, those players drafted then, could be scratching at the ML today. We now have some younger talent that Omar has brought in, but b/c it was recent, it’ll be awhile before we see them.
Point is, The early years of Omar are being felt now. Ideally, in a few years, our farm system can have some quality talent at higher levels.
He wants to maintain the farm system, so when he takes over as GM he has a solid team.
Here’s the thing starz — Theo Epstein has been GM just one more year than Omar. He not only has 2 WS titles in that time — in what is considered to be the most difficult division in baseball nonetheless — but he has what is considered one of the strongest farm systems in the majors. PLUS, he has signed plenty of free agents and maintained draft picks by offering players arbitration before they leave.
In comparison, Omar has done a lackluster job. Omar has had 4 full years to draft and develop players, and I think we should have seen more dividends by now. Whether it’s from drafts or the international market.
The state of the AA and AAA clubs is especially troubling. Why is the talent there so thin? What’s the excuse for such poor records.
At some point you have to expect more from the farm system. Obviously the Wilpons are going to give Omar 4 more years to prove himself. But if it were my money, I’d be a lot more concerned how it’s being spent. Especially after seeing some of the contracts Omar’s given out in recent years.
does this mean we will see a managerial change on the horizon?
I don’t understand what Tony B. brings to the table. Everybody talks about all different changes that need to be made, why not get rid of this guy as a start. I mean I’m not saying he is responsible, but he certainly doesn’t have any overwhemning pluses. He only seems to cause controversey and issues.
A new Tony B might be one way of getting a new voice in Omar’s ear
If the Wilpons like him, there’s no way he’s going anywhere, unless Omar is fired and Tony takes his place. Then he’ll have nowhere to hide if the team fails under his leadership.
And now you see why he is trying to hang on to all his prospects and not get a bat right now.
the manager of this club wont have the teams full attention until this clown is gone…the latin players look to him..not jerry it seems and thats just pathetic…how does omar still have this guy under him
I can’t imagine a real manager being willing to come on board and manage the team with Tony B lurking in the background.
There is a LOT wrong with this franchise, but you know what? Time like these make me more of a Mets fan than ever…sometimes I wish I didn’t know about all the other inner workings of the organization…sometimes I wish it could just be as simple as playing ballgames…no matter what happens though, I will ALWAYS be a die-hard Mets fan….
LGM!
I would agree. You look at any company and you will have these kinds of things. Not everyone will get along and in some cases you have co workers working behind each others backs. I would agree that Manual saying everyday we need a hitter, etc is not helping. The FO knows we need one and maybe a pitcher two but since it takes two to tango and nothing is really out there right now reminding everyone including your team does not help moral.
finally the confidence rating is what it is supposed to be…at 1
I love my Mets but this organization is a joke. From the Wilpons to Minaya and Bernazard. We’ve got owners who build a beautiful stadium for a team that doesn’t exist (Brooklyn Dodgers). A GM who has made more bad moves that good moves and Bernazard, who is just plan evil and constantly tries to undermine whatever manager we have in place because he wants the job, yet our joke of an owner can’t seem to get that past him, so he leaves him on payroll.
It’s amazing how quickly public opinion of this team has changed, not only in the passing weeks but the past three years.
In 2006 we fell oh-so-short but it was a great year and everyone got a pat on the back. ‘07 and ‘08 were more of the same, although ’07’s demise brought about change that would “fix the team” and, when that didn’t work in ‘08, the same change/upgrade was made in order to “fix the team”.
We’ve got the third highest payroll in the league and nothing to show for it. At this point, I’m not even sure that having Beltran, Delgado and Reyes back would matter since our rotation is terrible anyway. I’m so freakin’ frustrated and put off with this team/organization right now it’s unbelievable.
I’m not asking for a World Series title. I just want this team to perform to the level of its ability. Is that too much to ask? Maybe it’s me…maybe this really is the level they’re capable of playing at and I (we) need to lower our expectations….I refuse to believe that.
too bad they didnt replicate Ebbets field, b/c If I recall, that was a hitters park.
You have to ask yourself why there is ALWAYS drama like this surrounding the Mets. And it comes back to the one constant — the Wilpons.
The worst news for any Mets fan is the presence of Jeff Wilpon, which will keep the long reign of incompetence going.
The best thing that ever happened to the Red Sox was getting John Henry and a great ownership group — everything fell into place from there.
Hear hear – now that Doubleday is no longer around to reign them in, the Wilpons are free to run our beloved Brooklyn Dodgers New York Mets into the ground.
This is when you have to turn a blind eye towards the media. They all love to pile on (and equally love to jump on the bandwagon after a winning streak). Plus, the Yankees are always the golden child of the media in this City, so it plays well to portray the Mets as the second class organization. As far as Tony B goes, there are always difficult people in any business, so you have to be mature enough to handle it. Somehow, I don’t think it bothers Jerry as much as it did Willie.
Yes, we have our problems, but I am not changing my stripes. I am proud to be a Mets fan, and I know we’ll get past this bad stretch.
It certainly feels like we are getting a lot of attention in the national media. Cant really blame it, its hard to make up whats happening to this team (the injuries, the errors, the current lineup). Its like a perfect storm of all things bad. Combined that with our recent collapses, its like the people feel bad for us as fans.
People don’t feel bad for us. For some unGodly reason, people dislike the Mets and dislike their fans even more.
People are laughing at us, no hearts are breaking for us Mets…
This guy might actually be a good thing for the club. If he could help get Jerry fired quicker, it’d do us all good. I don’t think he’d do a better just than Omar, but if the Wilpon’s value his voice I’m sure they’ll take it all into account. The blame has to go somewhere. Injuries just aren’t it. Jerry Manuel disgracing his players and not having their respect for basic fundamentals is all too obvious.
If we on this blog have said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times. This organization must be gutted and rebuilt. Omar Minaya must go, Tony Bernazzard must go, Jerry Manuel must go, and all the coaches, training, and medical staff must go. I cannot understand how the Wilpons are not completely embarassed with the state of the New York Mets. This organization is a joke, Fred and Jeff it’s time to decide if you would rather have your buddies in your organization or winners. Because obviously you can’t have both because this front office has ruined a once proud franchise.
Well isn’t this the guy that cost us the Delgado signing because he used Spanish slag with him and was disrespectful?
Anyway, I’m not sure the chain of command but if he’s Omar’s assistant than he’s Jerry’s superior and probably some sort of conduit between the players and management; which actually makes sense in a power structure situation. You can’t depend on the manager (Manuel) to be the only presence in the clubhouse. The players have to have some sort of outlet to the higher ups and it’s better him than say a player like Leiter used to be. That’s far more disruptive.
I don’t know I’ve worked in corporate America to know you usually have your branch manager who runs the office and some that runs the branches so he has a staff to help as a go between.
My point is this seems pretty standard in my experiences in various companies. They usually come across as a weasel types but honestly for better or worse it’s needed. Like human resources or internal affairs, no one likes these guys until you need them or have a real problem your boss doesn’t want to help you with.
When things are going bad all the writers want to find a unique perspective on what the problems are. Honestly from the players up to the Wilpons everyone deserves credit for this awful season.
I disagree, Tony B. has no place in that clubhouse period. And If I were Jerry Manuel I’d tell him that! How is the manager going to have the ear of the players if Tony B. keeps putting his nose where it doesn’t belong! This obviously isn’t the first time that Tony has had this effect on a manager. Granted I don’t always agree with the way Jerry does things, but frankly it’s his job to lose, let the club win or lose under his sole direction! After all that is what you hired him to do isn’t it? Tony B. Needs to keep his nose in the minors, where it belongs, and honestly I don’t even know if he belongs there!
I agree with a lot of what you said based on my 15+ years in corporate America but you forgot one thing. If HR only gave out the 800 number to the Spanish guys saying give me a call if there is a problem with anyone in the organization, it would become a Federal problem. Bernazard filters what gets to Omar and more importantly the Wilpons to further his agenda. The Wilpons might not be the sharpest tools in the shed but they do run a billion dollar business. I find it hard to believe they would rely solely on him.
So he helped get rid of willie, which was the right move, and now he’s criticizing the harmful things jerry’s been doing. All while making our prospects feel comfortable, and a little bit of scouting on the side…..BURN THE WITCH!!!!!
Tony B is ok with me
I’m glad that this is in the open again. I am sorry but the culture of this team changed when Omar (and I guess Bernazard) came to the Mets. Many more Latin players, especially ones that are questionable . The fact that only the Latin Players have his number to call shows a favoritism in the organization. And we wonder why Wright doesn’t speak up more and LoDuca was shipped out.
I have been saying for days the Mets need to stand pat because I don’t trust Omar and Bernazard. Now this hits the site. It is time to remove the Latin Kings and return this club to the hard working blue collar status that the fans deserve instead of islanders coming to NY looking to get paid.
That post was a waste of time.
You sir are out of line.
That comment was over the line.
Put your bedsheet back over your head and get over the fact that the environment has changed and diversified years ago.
Why am I ever bothering responding???
I’m with you, ericloz, these posts with the anti-Latin flavor are really pathetic. They say much more about the posters than they do about anything else.
im with you metsfan. Delgado even said that omar and bernazard told him during negotiations that they were trying to bring a latin flavor to the Mets and Delgado was turned off and signed with Florida instead. No one ever mentions that though bc it basically proves people like you and me right instead we are called racists and ignorant (although latin american is not a race so who’s really ignorant here) God forbid we admit that there is a possibility for someone who is a minority to show bias towards his people, after all only white people can be bias. The moves Omar has made when you look at the BIG picture, not just picking a move here and there, speak for themselves.
Zeile:
I can not believe that you read that post and agreed that it wasn’t over the line.
This isn’t biased? “It is time to remove the Latin Kings and return this club to the hard working blue collar status that the fans deserve instead of islanders coming to NY looking to get paid.”.
if you don’t think so then you must belong to the same club.
You are just as ignorant as metfan1 if you don’t see that for what it is, a direct attack on Omar and Tony for what they are and not who they are.
Read the post again, this time open your eyes and use the grey matter between your ears.
That is bigotry, plain and simple.
That is my last comment on the subject for tonight.
I think I remember very clearly that tis team absolutely stunk before Omar got here. That’s why he was hired, right? I’m not overly fond of Omar but please, he made the Mets relevant. The above post is ignorant, plainly speaking, because it assumes that there is a bias for a certain type of player (Reed? Church? Evans? Murphy? Sheffield? come on!) and that this bias is hurting the team. I’d for one love to get back Reyes, Beltran, Delgado. Why, because they’re bilingual?! No, because they’re great baseball players and we miss them! This stale canard about a bias for certain players is a dead end, and offensive. Please desist. We stink right now because of injuries, and looking at management’s approach to player health can certainly be questioned (though all these players played the whole season last year). Criticize Bernazard sure, but keep it within bounds, okay?
On a bright side; as expected, no Met will be in the home run derby.
This, a practice as detrimental as the WBC!
Tony’s a worm; we all have them at work.
He needs to be understood and manipulated thru his weakness’.
Why is this even news?
Isn’t T.B a member of management?
So what if he has the ear of a few players and the wilpons.
Not only that but how is he supposed to learn the ropes if he isn’t mingling? And isn’t Omar supposed to be training his replacement?
That is part of any corp. and not out of line.
Anyone who ever worked a regular job knows that upper management will occassionally swing but and chat w/ the employees.
Willie had a problem w/ it because he was constantly looking over his shoulder waiting for the axe to fall.
If J.M has a problem w/ T.B. I’m sure he brought it up at some point and was denied.
As far a Omar and Jerry are concerned, I’m sorry to say but something needs to be done. This silence from upstairs needs to be broken and Fred needs to address the people who pay his bills.
Fire, demote, replace, allow to spend whatever it is that’s preventing Omar from pulling the trigger on a trade or two, but something.
This bs about the calvary already being here is crazy. If that’s really the case then Jerry must feel like Custer @ the last minute when he realized that those guys with guns, bows and arrows coming over the hill wasn’t Capt. Benteen or Reno.
This is really disconcerting. Back during the Franco-Leiter era, there was griping that those 2 players stood above the rest of the team in terms of influence with the front office.
Then It was Randolph being undermined. Now that issue is back.
Really, it seems the issue is what the Wilpons tolerate/encourage.
You don’t hear this stuff about other teams – and I know its NY so there is extra scrutiny but we need less drama.
In other news, the Phillies scored as many runs tonight as the Mets have in their last 10 games put together.
Fire… everyone?
Not a very productive post.
Yes, you told us so. Wait, no you did not. You wanted us to sign Ben Sheets when even I knew he was hurt.
Theyre not going anywhere, no matter how undeserving of their jobs they may be. It doesnt matter how much we complain.
If Wilpon actually listened to the fans, we’d probably have a winning team right now.
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