In a report for Newsday, David Lennon writes, “The Mets decision-makers have been meeting regularly for the past six weeks in an effort to sort out what went wrong this season.”
… umm, are you sure six weeks is enough time, guys…
…here, let me take a crack at it: everyone on your team got hurt, your GM struggles with foresight, you have one reliable starting pitcher, and your players are soft…
According to Lennon, “The only thing they know is that the task is far from finished and more heads are likely to roll.”
…i bet the beginning of the end for Razor Shines started the day he flaunted his Phillies World Championship Ring in the Mets clubhouse towards the end of spring training…
…i can argue that every coach on the staff should be fired, but it’s also difficult to be honest in that criticism when you consider who they were being asked to coach, due to all of the injuries… but, that is not the point… if the Mets want to change the culture and attitude around their ballclub, they need to ditch these guys and bring in a new crew… and, that may need to include Jerry Manuel, as well…
For details on planned meetings between Omar Minaya, ownership and Jerry Manuel, and when they’ll occur, read Lennon’s report in Newsday, here.
{ 21 comments }
I would fire Omar. He’s my fall guy. I put everyone in a holding pattern. they have the options of seeking employment idf they don’t want to wait. I hire a new GM and let him evaluate who is worth keeping. If he flushes it all, so be it. A new GM should be able to choose the manager he wants to work with.
I’m not one for change just for the sake of change, but I do think if you are going to make any changes, you would do so at the GM position.
I am not an Omar hater (I think anyone who loves or hates Omar is too biased to make rational decisions personally, since he’s a decent GM with strengths and weaknesses and should be seen as nothing more or less than just that).
But if the Mets feel they want to change the philosophy of the types of players they draft and acquire on the market, then making the move at GM is the way to go and everything should naturally cascade down from there.
Minaya and the Mets gave the Mets two excuses to make the GM change this offseason. First, the players all got hurt and the team as a result played poorly. Not entirely Minaya’s fault by any means, but always a great excuse to get the media to support a regime change. Second, Minaya’s loss of control in the Adam Rubin saga and the behaviors of his right-hand man (Bernazard) show that there are some issues at the helm.
The only thing I ask is that the Mets bring in a true professional. I would much rather see a new GM brought in with good quality player retained, than see us ship out good quality players while retaining the GM. In other words, don’t break up the core … break up the front office, and install a better GM to build around your existing core and stock your farm.
After said change, the decision to keep or dismiss coaches (including Manuel) should be solely at the discression of the new GM, and the Wilpons should not be able to touch that one with a 10 foot pole. The Wilpons should only retain the ability to put pressure on the GM to make those kind of moves in the event that a coach or a player does something very bad that is off the field and reflect poorly on the brand. On-field performance should be measured by the new GM. Guys like Hojo, Warthen and Manuel, who have at a minimum been very professional all year long, deserve an objective judgement from a qualified baseball person.
Okay, you said it better.
You see the problem there is that you make too much sense.
I say we start a movement to get Old Backstop as GM.
I wonder if my moves would actually put fans in the seats?
As a GM, my first move would be to try and stock the rotation. I don’t think guys like Maine, Pelfrey or Perez belong anywhere in my top 3 slots … they just haven’t proven anything yet.
I would look into Jason Marquis, who I believe would be well suited for NY and a pitcher’s park. He did pretty well last year in Coors. In addition to Marquis, I would look to bring in a legit #2 starter like a John Lackey.
So money would be spent on the rotation, and going into next year it would be Santana, Lackey, Marquis, Pelfrey, and Maine with Neise in the wings.
As for position players, I am not really interested in seeing Beltran, Reyes or Wright moved. They are young, marketable and productive, and all three of them hit far better than the average player at their respective position (not to mention that all 3 of them run a lot better than most Major Leaguers as well).
That leaves me with C, 1B, LF, RF and 2B. Franceour seems to be working out with the Mets, and he doesn’t cost a boatload. He’s also healthy, and I think he would make a nice #6 or #7 batter in your lineup given his RBI potential. His defense is decent, his arm is plus. Did I mention he stays healthy? :)
At the catcher slot, I am more than content to go into 2010 with Thole and Santos in a platoon role. Santos is well-rounded as a role playing catcher, and Thole has solid plate discipline skills and may be a sleeper of a hitter.
As for LF, I don’t think the Mets have much of a chance to sign Holliday, given the budget issues and the fact that he probably wont want to come here (especially with Citi Field being a terrible hitters park and Boras being his agent). I basically cross Holliday off my list. Instead, I would look to giving Fernando Martinez a real shot in LF, and compliment him with a proven, veteran, right-handed stick in LF that can either be a 4th outfielder, a platoon-mate for Fernando or an every day guy if things do not work out for Fernando in 2010. Someone like an Austin Kearns (solid Ops and OBP numbers) or Xavier Nady type player.
Luis Castillo is a tougher one. We’re stuck paying the guy 12MM over the next 2 seasons, so it’s tough to envision a scenario where it makes sense to make a move with him. I just don’t see the market being there, unless you are swapping bad contract for bad contract. His defense isn’t what it used to be, and we seem to have too many guys who slap hit in our lineup already – thing is, not many 2B options can hit, and I don’t think I am open to the idea of starting the Dan Uggla era …
I would love to see if Daniel Murphy can play second base. I think his offense goes from disappointing to inspiring with that switch, and I do think the kid would work his tail off to get where he needs to be defensively. It’s not like a guy like Castillo is setting the world on fire.
Oh yeah … and if I could move Murphy to second base, I’d look into adding Nick Johnson in a 2-year deal, with a kid like Ike Davis potentially in the wings and ready to learn under Johnson.
So …
Reyes SS
Murphy 2B
Johnson 1B
Wright 3B
Beltran CF
Franceour RF
F. Martinez / Xavier Nady LF
Thole / Santos C
Bench: Pagan (OF), Tatis (1B/3B/OF)
Rotation: Santana, Lackey, Marquis, Pelf, Maine
I’d have to say that it works. Only concern is the health of Nady. My understanding is that he may not be ready by spring
I agree with your thoughts on the pitching, but think we need to do more on the offense than you lay out here.
Living in DC, Austin Kearns is not an option – he is washed up, hitting below .200 for most of the year, and always looks like he is overwhelmed.
I share your skepticism about our ability to sign Holliday (or Bay for that matter), but think we need one more big bat in the lineup – though I struggle to identify who that might be. I’m not going to toss out any wacky trade options here, but I’d like to see our GM aggressively pursue something, likely at the 1B or C position, that would be a 4 or 5 hitter in the lineup and provide a serious power threat / 30+HRs.
I agree with what you are saying and your concerns. As for Kearns … I don’t actually watch the guy daily and I was never in love with him, but his .200 averages over the past two years have come as a guy who gets a few ABs per week. He tends to be more of a .240-.250 guy with great iso plate discipline. and some pop. My point was to find a guy like that … heck, Tatis might actually be that guy (.800ish ops the past few seasons as a super sub).
I’m with you on the bat … but I am going on the premise that we wont be able to increase payroll and might even have to decrease it.
I just think that adding some bonified gamers to the rotation like Lackey and Marquis will be more of an upgrade than adding a decent bat in place of a Fernando platoon.
Bay may be an option worth looking into, but I fear his power numbers would go the way of David Wright’s power numbers at Citi Field. Bay may suddenly become a .240/15 guy … not quite the upgrade we want.
Creative trades may work, but my gut tells me the timing for that is the AS break in 2010, as more of our prospects begin to pan out and move up a level. Right now, we have a number of viable prospects but they are still to green to hold value in trades.
Just out of curiosity, would Bobby V be a good candidate for GM? He seems to get the most out his players. I would assume that this comes from an understanding of what motivates them. Just an idle thought while avoiding work…
I have a feeling Bobby V would want to micromanage the team in the Billy Beane mold. Not necessarily a bad thing if you’re willing to put up with an Art Howe type of manager who’s willing to take orders from above. But in that case, why not just make Bobby the manager and be done with it?
Even though the team was decimated with injuries, you still have to blame Jerry for being complacent to and/or not being able to correct the Mets continued poor execution of baseball fundamentals. How many games would the Mets have won if they hadn’t made repeated baserunning blunders, stupid fielding errors (like last night), forgetting how many outs there were, etc?
Why is Bobby V always the panacea with Mets fans?
Bobby V is a very good manager. Lets leave it at that.
By the way………..
For the hundreth time, demote Warthen and bring in Dave Duncan.
Dave Duncan probably won’t come over here without Tony LaRussa, which would be even better.
Tony LaRussa might provide Holliday with enough incentive to consider the Mets..in addition to a pile of money of course.
I like Jerry Manuel, but he needs to be fired. I said the same thing about Willie Randolph after the 1st collapse. It may not be their fault but you can’t bring them back. It’s like giving the captain of the Titanic another ship the next day. Part of it is just changing the kharma on this team. A mental clean slate.
(1) Wally Backman is not the answer. The guy is a loose cannon and frankly I think he would be ticking time bomb under the NYC media scrutiny.
(2) Buck Sholwater is not the answer. Players hated playing for tha guy. He’s the Eric Mangini of baseball.
(3) The answer may just be Bobby Valentine. I was against this move before, but the Mets need an established manager with a history of getting the most from his guys and who is an in-game tactician.
FIRE OMAR! Hired Valentine as your manager and Ricco as your GM.
THEN INVEST MORE MONEY IN DEVELOPMENT!
I agree Old Backstop, also considering like everyone in the organization is one of “Omar’s guys” getting rid of him and then cleaning house is a much better idea. Just bring in somebody smart who can build a team
i don’t know if Thole will be up here next year at least at the start, I’d probably sign a veteran catcher to platoon with Santos and see how Thole does in AAA for a few months
I also like the idea of Marquis as the number 3, Lackey as the number two? I prefer Pelfrey and Maine over Ollie but we are paying Ollie 12 M so what to do with him.
The biggest thing is not to overreact to players – they are so much more valuable then front office and field pieces. Hold onto the “core” players and wait for them to rebound.
With that being said, the manager, coaches, and front office all need to be overhauled. The apathy and bufoonery have trickled from the top on down and infected the club.
Continually surprised by these band-aid solutions. Rip it off and let the wound heal openly in the air.
Look, I don’t blame Omar Minaya near the level most fans do, moves are basically a coin flip and it is easy to judge everyone of them in hindsight. The fact is though, he lost complete control of the ship, he let an underling create the opportunity for drama, waffled about it, and then blamed a reporter. It was irrelevant whether the Bernazard story was part fiction, he and Minaya allowed it to become a story. Moreover, Minaya had a plan and here it is 5 years later and that plan has collapsed.
That is why he should be fired, not endless second guessing, the plan failed. I was not enamored with the idea of Manuel and coaches hanging on last year when Randolph was fired, but they nearly turned an impossible task without a bullpen, but at this point injuries not withstanding it is time to clear house and begin again.
Ideally you make the full regime change together. Can the Gm and cronies, install the new GM, etc. and let them install the new field people.
The problem is, the Mets seem intent on keeping Omar, at least in some capacitiy. So, the changes in the FO will take longer to implement.
That, however, does not change the fact that they really need to clear cut the entire coahcing staff and start fresh. And since most of the key FO players (jeffy, omar, Ricco) will likely be around in some capacity, why wait?
By next tuesday at the latest they should have everything lined up to ax them all (jerry on down), and start lookiing for the new manager, before going after any coaches (unless, of course, someone like Duncan can be snagged. Hard to imagine any manager having a problem with that !)
The Indians already notified Wedge and the entire staff that they won’t be back. No sure why they didn’t wait until the season was over, but at least they are being procative!
While I understand why some would want to can Omar, I’m not sure this isn’t an overreaction to an injury plagued season. Omar was hired to make the Mets relevant for the long term. No team could survive the injuries this year and last year we lost Wags and Tatis for the stretch run. Even with that, it took Lidge being perfect (see this year) for the Phills to win. My point is Omar has a decent farm system, a solid core, and a starting staff that regressed this year and was a huge disappointment. No reason for Omar to think the Pelfrey and Maine would not be better this year, and that Ollie would not be Ollie.The Phills, Braves and Nats have/will have solid rotations the next few years. Omar needs to invest in starting pitching this offseason. Omar is no PR guy, but there is no reason we can’t be in the hunt again next year. No need to clean house.
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