Last weekend, when David Wright was put on the disabled list with a concussion, Jerry Manuel said Wright is a ‘different animal than Ryan Church,’ who 
missed time after suffering two concussions last season.
…i guess i’m naive, since i interpreted this to mean each person is different, in terms of medical issues, or, as Lewis Black once put it, ‘We’re all our own unique snowflakes.’… i guess others, including church, interpreted this statement to mean wright is more important and more special than others…
Today, with the Braves in town to face the Mets, Church, who was asked by local reporters to respond, said:
“I could read between the lines. It was kind of a cheap shot, but it is what it is. I’m not going to get into a pissing contest. It’s not worth it. I’m here trying to make the playoffs… I just find it funny that they take shots now that I’m not in a Mets uniform. It’s kind of odd… I’ll just take the high road.”
…i’m here trying to make the playoffs… zing… nice, churchie…
Later, Manuel tried to clarify, saying Church was never clear with the team about what he wanted to do in recovery from the concussions, whereas Wright was very definitive in his desire to return from the disabled list.
In the end, Manuel said, as he always did, ‘I like Ryan Church.’
…whatever… seriously… i mean, i know some fans – and especially reporters – want to turn sports in to a soap opera, and to some extent it is, but, come on… these two guys didn’t 
get along… so what… it happens… they’re two dudes at a job… seriously, i have lost count of the number of people i have worked with in my life who i disliked… it happens every day… not every relationship is worthy of a reality show… news flash, sometimes, two men will actually not get along… crazy, i know, and in sports of all places…
…yeah, yeah, i know, Mets, bad public relations, etc., i get it… i don’t know, maybe i’m just worn down from a long season of this type of stuff… or, maybe i’ve grown calious to the sideshow, wishing for Meaningful Games in September again… but, frankly, in this case, i just can’t muster the energy to think this really matters… i mean, i’m guessing some coach in Kansas City once said something bad about a guy, too, but since they had like two reporters covering the team, and no talk radio, nobody cared…
{ 14 comments }
Matt,
I think you are going a bit over the top in your comments, but with all due respect, aren’t you just adding to it by putting it on your site?
I mean, if we want this to go away, maybe the media needs to let it go. I’m sure no one is coming here to check out what is going on between Jerry and Church. Personally, I don;t find this newsworthy.
No intended disrespect.
Church is still seeking out first base.
Or third.
what jerry said over the weekend was super douchebaggy. and what he said tonight was retarded. i’m sorry, but why does either or any player have any role at all regarding his return from a concussion? serious brain injuries need to be left in the hands of serious brain doctors.
Matt, the clear and obvious implication was that Wright was tougher than Church. Not more important (which he obviously is and Church would acknowledge that) but tougher.
It’s really disgraceful Jerry would call him soft for that. And to do it after the guy leaves town is gutless.
It’s a pattern with Jerry — take on the weakest guys, kick them when they’re down, do anything possible to deflect blame from your own incompetence.
Jerry is completely classless — let’s not forget that both of Ryan Church’s concussions were caused because he was playing hard and going about the game at 100%. Even since he has come on board, the only thing I’ve realized is that Jerry only care about making sure that Jerry is seen in best light. You can say all you want about Willie — but Willie was all class all the time — he lived and died with his players
You know what bugs me? Many Mets fan, including Matt and formerly myself, had to force ourselves to deal with Jerry Manuel’s non-sense. I’m not a BS’er though. I’m not going to sit here and say he’s a ”charming guy who can handle the media well.” That’s just not true. He’s bitten the same hand that’s fed him too many times. I’m tired of it.
With all due respect, Jerry Manuel is a complete p*ssy. I don’t know how White Sox fans dealt with it for six years. Their title for a fiery manager surely made up for that. I have absolutely no respect for Jerry Manuel’s entire character though. He knows what he said. He’s been out to get Church from the beginning.
Now Manuel escapes some of the pressure because Omar’s words led him into trouble? I mean Jerry’s only the guy who’ll ”overachieve” us into like 74 wins, right? He’s the same guy who with the blankest star with 4 games to go last season said ”It’s just not like last season.”
If Jerry Manuel were my friend, I wouldn’t trust him. He’d be like the guy you know is going to talk behind your back. Willie Randolph may have not been as friendly of a guy. He may have had higher expectations and thinner skin. But he still handled himself like a gentlmen. He had etiquette. He was just a deadhead a manager.
Ryan Church has every right to defend himself on this one. In fact, he’s been swung at so many times by Jerry but didn’t do anything about it because he didn’t want to disturb the nature of the team. Guy’s like Omar complain that guy’s like Church don’t have ”edge”, meanwhile that’s the surrounding group he put around. Jerry knew who he re-signed here to manage. He’s a complete piece of trash and should be fired at the end of the season. Get that taste of our mouths already. Get us a GM who can develop a farm. Go for Billy Beane, Terry Ryan, Larry Beinfest or someone who clearly has a good track record.
Jerry’s comment was crap. I mean he is protecting the Mets but the Mets really F’d upped Church’s medical situation last year. For him to imply Church should have been more definitive in telling the team what he wanted to do. Are you kidding? First of all he kept getting platooned so he fought to get back in the lineup. He got hurt again. It wasn’t his decision to fly across country.
Just because he didn’t come out and say I am embarrassed to be on the DL shouldn
t give Jerry the right to imply Church was a wuss.
And by the way, Wright saying I am embarrassed to go on the DL is stupid. He doesn’t know how he will react 4-5 days after the incident and it makes it sound like it wasn’t a big deal. This isn’t football. It is not a contact sport. I wasn’t impressed but apparently Jerry was.
He said that he was embarrassed about having to go on DL, but he understands the concern for his well being, he did not speak out of ignorance imho.
The issue isn’t as black and white as a player and coach not getting along, it’s how that relationship affects the team’s success. If that begins to affect a player’s opportunity to get a fair shot in the lineup, or creates distance between the player and coaching staff, it becomes a detriment and a distraction.
It’s natural for certain people not to get along, like you said it happens in all walks of life. But professionals are able to put those differences aside for the sake of success… and this season has definitely led me to question the level of professionalism this organization displays.
There was no reason for Manuel to take a veiled shot at Church. As someone pointed out, Church’s two concussions last year came precisely because of his grit and hustle. So for Jerry to then question Church’s motivation is hogwash.
I can’t wait till Manuel is gone. It’s bad enough that he mismanages the bullpen. But then you have this disrespect for players and his over-reliance on some of the older vets.
So tired of this story. Manuel has talked about how he wanted to make the Mets feel like family. Who treats family like this?
Manuel showed his true colors on the first night he managed this team when he talked about ‘going Gangsta’ and cutting Reyes.
He’s a joke and an embarassment…just like his bosses.
time for a jerry manuel approval rating
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