Bring me Bobby Valentine… I want him to manage the Mets.
His knowledge of the game, his connection to Mets fans, and the team’s history, and his brand of baseball, is exactly what this franchise needs, for a variety of reasons.
In July, 97 percent of people who voted on MetsBlog.com said they currently have a positive view of Valentine… who, by the way, lost to the Yankees in a World Series… yet, 97 percent of people still like him.
Valentine is a brilliant on-field strategist, which the Mets will need if they are serious about building a team around pitching, top-notch defense, and a hit-and-run, score-from-first-on-a-double type of offense.
He treats all of his players equally, he is notorious for working hard for 27 outs, and he demands that his players do the same. As such, I believe he would bring a more disciplined, more creative, energetic and entertaining brand of baseball to Citi Field, one in which Mets fans have seen from him before and value as much as any other era in team history… despite never winning a Championship.
He explained to reporters on Tuesday that his new contract with ESPN allows him to leave the network at any time to take a job managing in the major leagues… and, according to the New York Post, “Valentine sidestepped a direct question on whether he would be open to returning to the Mets if Manuel is fired.”
The problem is, though Ownership and Omar Minaya like him very much, I think Valentine may be too much for this administration. I sense the team feels his personality and his presence, and his vision, and the stamp with which he’d put on the organization, are more than they are ready to take on right now… which is a shame. From what I can gather, the Mets see Valentine as more of a short-term solution, a Billy Martin-type band-aide, who can come in to change the climate, but who is not someone a franchise can build a sustainable program around.
However, to me, Valentine is exactly the type of person you mold your team around, especially the Mets, as he embodies everything Mets fans are about. Yes, he is quirky, but he is also an underdog with local roots, he played for the Mets, he grew up rooting for them, he played hard, he manages hard, he is organized and different and constantly working to be the smartest person on the field, and, most important, he wants to win, but he also understands that baseball is a game and should be fun – these are all qualities I want the Mets to be.
In fact, I’d like to see Valentine’s approach to baseball being supported by people in the minor-league system, as well, like through his friend, Wally Backman, who would be the ideal candidate to manage their Double-A team.
In other words, “If you are going to play for Valentine and the Mets, you will play smart, old school, exciting National League baseball,” or else go to another team.
Frankly, I believe, if the Mets make no other change this off season, fans would be excited for Opening Day simply knowing Valentine was in the dugout. Instead, however, I see the Mets leaning towards giving Minaya and Manuel one more year together, ‘to finish what they started,’ so to speak, and, if the team falls short again next year, maybe they’ll look to re-shape the franchise the following off season.
The thing is, with so many holes on the roster, in the farm system, and in the stands, why wait for tomorrow when you can get started today.
Bring back Bobby Valentine, before he goes to another team.
{ 76 comments }
Look what Bobby V did with a team who’s only real hitter was Piazza. Imagine what he could do with the talent we have now.
Umm, what talent?
Matt, that is your finest post yet. I agree with every word.
Finally! I have been screaming this all year! Front office should hope that Mets fan forgive them for sending Bobby V away in the first place.
Restore Bobby V to the throne and let him lead us back to respectability.
I also agree with the poster above. Matt, I have never agreed more with you than I do with this post. Every word, comment, point, argument, statement is right on.
I wish the Mets were a democracy and actions controlled by the vote of Mets fans. If it were, BV would be elected as our next manager by a wide margin.
Jerry can stay on as bench coach.
I dont know about you, but having Bobby V as manager and Backman as bench coach would be pretty entertaining…and would bring back that old school type of ball
though i believe Backman has said he only wants to be a manager in the big leagues, not a coach
I personally don’t blame Jerry or Omar for this season, but ownership would be nuts to not make some change. I also think Bobby V. would be perfect for this team. I think it would give the 2010 Mets an entirely different feel and fans would be excited. This would bode well for ticket sales and attendance. We need something to be excited about after this horrific year. I’m fine with Omar, but I just can’t get excited about Jerry Manuel sticking around with this coaching staff. The game is won on the field and we need a new general and some new officers around him. Like Matt said, bring in Bobby V. before it is too late.
“Frankly, I believe, if the Mets make no other change this off season, fans would be excited for Opening Day simply knowing Valentine was in the dugout. Instead, however, I see the Mets leaning towards giving Minaya and Manuel one more year together, ‘to finish what they started,’ so to speak, and, if the team falls short again next year, maybe they’ll look to re-shape the franchise the following off season.”
Matt – I agree with you 100%. Valentine was and always will be a great option for the Mets. I like Manuel a lot, but not in New York, on this stage, with all of the pressure that comes with it. He is better served in a smaller market as a manager or in a large market, as a thoughtful bench coach (like he was for Willie Randolph).
Please, Mets, bring Valentine in and give him and Jon Ricco the reigns in the front office at the same time.
if the team falls short again next year, maybe they’ll look to re-shape the franchise the following off season.”
WHY be willing to accept yet ANOTHER disappointing season? How many chances (collapses) are fans willing to take? Make some significant changes NOW. At least try to put a competitive team in 2010… Because to think they will win it all next year is just silly.
Right, they’re not going to win it all next year, so why don’t we try to rebuild????
100% right on the mark. The timing is perfect. They should do it. But you know they won’t…..
I dont know much about valentine because I was back in my country when he was managing the mets, but if everything you said its true, I like it!!.BRING BACK VALENTINE!!
God No. Stop with the revisionist history. If Bobby was/is such a great manager, why has no MLB team scooped him up since he was fired after ther 2002 season?
He was scooped up by Chiba who have since built a shrine (literally) for him.
I think Bobby Valentine is overrated and isn’t nearly as good a manager as he is made out to be. However, at this point any one would be an upgrade over Jerry Manuel (him not being Willie doesn’t cut it anymore). I would rather see the Mets bring in Tony LaRussa (w/Dave Duncan) but I would not mind if Bobby Valentine was brought back.
“Him not being Willie doesn’t cut it anymore”. I love it…. never stopped to think about it, but the only reason we really liked Jerry at the beginning was that he’s not Willie. The Mets play during his tenure last year certainly helped.
Man, Willie Randolph was horrible. Thank goodness he’s in Wisconsin
I wouldn’t mind if he came back but i’m not going to go out there and advocate it. It’s fine if he comes back, fine if he doesn’t, i don’t know what he’ll be able to do but i do think he’ll manage to get a lot out of this group.
I’m with you guys – I wouldn’t mind if he was brought back, but I’m not going to advocate for him. Bobby rubs a lot of people the wrong way. His tenure with the Mets was not as wonderful as some people make it out to be now that some time has passed and the bad memories have faded (like 1998 and 2001) .
I would much rather see Dave Duncan as pitching coach and I don’t see him working with Bobby (but I could be wrong). I also wonder if he would help or hurt the Mets chances with guys like Holliday or Fielder.
But yes, Bobby would be a step up from Jerry.
Bobbu V won with Benny Agbayani in LF. The man should be canonized
…and not to mention Jay Payton and Timo Perez.
Exactly he won with Benny, Timo and jay as his starting OF. He also had Rey Ordonez as a SS who couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn. Yet he still got us to the playoffs twice and a WS. If not for Kenny Rodgers it would have been 2 WS trips. That is why Mets fans would be happy if they brought him back. He may rub some guys the wrong way but he wins and he doesn’t get out managed very often.
I think saying “if not for Kenny Rodgers” it would be two WS trips is a little off, no? They still had a game 7 on the road and it was Franco and Benitez who BOTH blew late leads that should be blamed for that game – or Al Leiter who gave up 5 runs without recording an out to start. Rodgers got dropped into an impossible situation, and regardless there was still a MAJOR hill to climb.
ya know that is a good point
He also had Piazza and Alfonzo that averaged between them an OPS of ~1.000 that year, along with a good year from Ventura and a few others.
Agbayani also had his 1 career fluke year that year (ops of ~.850)
give him 8 rafael santans and if he goes to the playoffs with that, then he is a god.
Matt, organize the Bobby V March in front of SNY Studios for the post game recap on Sunday. I would fly up from Tennessee just for that.
LOL I’ll get the T-Shirts w “Bring Bobby V!”
OK, here’s a bizzaro suggestion: How about BobbyV as GM, and Wally Backman as manager?
Start the Billion Bobby Brigade!
Seriously, the front office should be salivating at the idea of bringing in Valentine and Dave Duncan, as it would save SO much money in free agents, since we wont NEED to bring in superstars to be competitive.
The problem with Bobby V is that alot of people thing he’s an arrogant prick and would never work with him – and since LaRussa was at the front of that line, its hard to imagine Duncan would be clamoring to work for him.
Agree 100%
Manuel cannot be blamed for injuries, but can be blamed for the casual attitude, the fundamental mistakes and the roster management.
Backman is a good shout for AA too.
Backman in AA, that’s funny.
i agree with almost all of this
except the part where omar’s involvement next year is assumed
I’m actually more of a Wally Backman supporter for Mets manager, but Valentine just makes perfect sense for this organization, even in a crass business way. I have little doubt that many folks that are not considering buying tickets or ticket packages would be turned around by seeing Bobby V even if the Mets made no other changes. I think he’d actually do more in that way than LaRussa would, as V brings with him the aura of past Mets successes, a local-boy connection, and a grint-it-out, in-your-face attitiude that works for the Mets as a franchise.
I LOVE the fact that Bobby Cox hates Bobby V’s guts. That’s a part of what made the late 90s rivalry with the Braves so much fun.
He’s the right guy at the right time for this team. Frankly, I think he may be the one guy who can save Omar’s keester.
Revisionist? LOL! See: Agbayani, Timo Perez, and Jay Payton comments above.
Fact is, Bobby V did more with a LOT less in those 98-2000 teams. A LOT less. Nothing revisionist about that.
Is he being overrated? Probably. But he’s a hell of a step up from Manuel. And he brought a championship to Chiba after returning there.
Actually, I just want Jerry gone. At the start of the season, even when the Mets were “winning”, we all questioned his decisions. They won despite his follies. Without the talent, they didn’t win. He must go, he’s a completely incapable manager.
TImo played 24 games that year (when payton managed to play 142). He just happened to be there at the end.
Derek Bell actually played the most games in RF that year (140+)
and to beat a dead horse, having the best hitters at 1B and C certainly made up for not having all stars in the corner OF.
Are you actually trying to compare the talent on the two teams?
The point is more with less. And this group would certainly have played more fundamentally sound baseball. Not to mention the bad decisions making on Jerry’s part….
I wasn’t comparing any 2 particular teams, but that certainly can be done, and it might not turn out quite like you expect.
My issue is with this concept that the 1999-2000 squads had no talent. Some posts make it sound like they gave Bobby the equivilant of the 1964 team, and he turned them into a 90+ win machine.
They had a lot of talent on offense, and better SP than most people remember (and a strong pen, at least until the playoffs!)
Not an exciting OF maybe, but productive and solid, but Alfonso and Piazza were absolute studs those years. And Ventura had at least one very good season.
I think it was 1999 where the big 3 of Fonzi, Piazza and Ventura (with Olerud not being a slouch) was better than what just about any team had. They just weren’t playing the normal big hitter positions.
Not completely disagreeing with you but that team was a subpar team than the current Met Squad. The point
People are making, he seemed to get those players to play. Period. Maybe he gets too much credit, maybe.
But this Mets club the past 2 years have the best CF in baseball, top 5 SS in baseball, top 5 3rd baseman
in baseball, top 3 closer in baseball, best pitcher in baseball etc. They have a lot more talent than that
team and they consistently lose. So yes, we can only go by history and bobbvy V seems to get the most from
his players. He won the world series in Japan not being able to speak japanese.
And with Bobby V managing, in 1998, they blew a 1 game lead in the Wild Card with 5 games to go by losing the last five in the season to the Expos and Braves. In 1999, they turned a 4 game lead in the WC with 12 to go into a 2 game deficit with 4 to go but managed to pull that one out because the Reds loss 3 of their last 4 regular season games.. Bobby’s teams also had trouble closing the deal. BTW, that 1999 team was probably the best offensive team the Mets ever put together. You had 6 regulars who hit .298 or better. Roger Cedeno had his one great year with the Mets that season.
I didn’t mean to suggest that the 99 team was garbage. Of course not. But the level of talent wasn’t as high as this team. I think most of us just think Bobby V got more out of them than it seems Manuel+Willie got out of a team with more talent. Imagine what Valentine could do with a healthy squad of this caliber.
Plus, I don’t think many of you would disagree that Valentine, strategically, blows Jerry out of the water.
If Omar and Manuel are not both fired, I am not renewing my season tickets. Omar and Jerry are not responsible for the injuries, but they are responsible for the following:
Omar:
1. Lack of depth on the bench and minor league system to supplement injuries.
2. Lack of prospects that have any impact on the major league team – not one young guy made any positive impact on this team (Pagan does not count).
3. Bernazard, Rubin situation and how it was handled publically.
4. Lack of trade deadline transactions.
Jerry:
1. Pure lack of fundamental baseball.
2. Sloppy, lazy play from all of the players – from fielding, to baserunning to poor situational hitting.
3. Lack of effort down the stretch to play respectable baseball even though the season was over. This all falls on the manager.
Buckner – I agree with all of your points but one. I am happy that Omar did not make any moves as the trade deadline if what you expected was a major, blockbuster move. I think he could have made a trade or two to cut payroll and get younger, but hindsight is 20/20. Regardless, even if Omar brought in Holliday or Halladay, he would have overpaid and left the Mets in an even worse position for this offseason.
No it was a general statement about is lack of deadline activity over the last few years not just this one. Given all of the injuries, not making a move at this year’s deadline was the correct one.
Agreed 100% Buckner
An interesting thing to me about Valentine is this – to me, the only season in Mets history that I think even remotely parallels this one (and none really do) is 1996. The 1994 and 1995 Mets were clearly rebuilding teams where as 2007 and 2008 were teams built to win, but those years did see the Mets on the upswing and they expected to compete in 1996 with Gen K. They all got hurt or stunk and the team lost 91 games, and Bobby V was brought in to turn it around as Green was seen as not the guy to turn the corner. They won 88 games in 97 and took off for the next 3-4 years.
Yes, it is a stretch – the franchise was in a VASTLY different place then…but its the one time the team has seen a one year blip on an otherwise steady trajectory – which we hope is what this season was.
My worry, as has been pointed out, is how many people hated this guy and how many players refused to play for him. Now, there’s not alot of players left in the game who remember him with the Mets and it might not be a huge problem, but generally when you have the resources to attract talent, you don’t want a guy who scares them away. I always tohught Bobby would be perfect in KC – they aren’t signing any free agents anyway!
However, unlike Manuel, I do see Valentine as a guy who could take a team to the top, even if I think he has a limited window before wearing out his welcome. I like his ties to the 99-00 teams as well as the mid-80s (remember he was the third base coach under Davey in 84 and half of 85.
I do think revisionist history is applied to the Bobby V. era, but maybe he is the right guy at this point.
The only difference is that in 1996, the Mets had offensive players who had memorable years that actually made them fun to watch at times. The had Todd Hundley breaking the record for catchers with 41 home runs. Lance Johnson hit .333 with a team record 21 triples and stealing 50+ bases. And, Bernard Gilkey had one of the best seasons EVER by a NY Met (.317, 30 HR, 120 RBI). Even though they stunk, they were fun and exciting. In comparison, what did the Mets have this year? Who on the Mets put together a season anywhere near this?
I honestly think Beltran would have been MVP had he not gone down. That would have been the lone bright spot.
True, he was having a great yr…
Of course – listen, its not a perfect comparison by any means, or even a very good one….
Is it true that Tom Seaver is going to pitch the final game of the season? I see TBA, but I heard that it will be him.
Matt, start a petition.
I wanted to do one myself about a month ago when I reached my tipping point of frustration, but this is the perfect forum for Met fans to let the Wilpons know how we feel
I guarantee 90% of Met fans want Bobby back as the manager at least. I think that he would be perfect and it would actually allow the team to retain Omar as a talent evaluator and team him up as a GM with Bobby without breaking the bank. The only sunk cost would be Manuel, who has GOT to go.
But at the very least Bobby should be brought on as Manager and give Omar one more year
“and the stamp with which he’d put on the organization, ”
I love that Matt often assert that he is a writer. LOL!
“The Unofficial Facebook Campaign to Bring Bobby V BACK to Flushing!”
I didn’t start it, but I am a member:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=286369650314&ref=ts
Matt, I agree with you 100%. Old school National League baseball. And if some of our high priced superstars don’t buy into it, we don’t need them. That’s the approach we need to take. Is it too much to ask a professional baseball player to run hard for 90 feet? I think not. Yet this blase attitude has infected our team to the point that only an organizational enema will pull us out of this downward spiral.
old school NL doesn’t include bunting the lead off hitter over after a double in the 1st inning, does it?
If so, cross BV off the list!
You ‘re speaking in very specific terms. My point is more general in nature. I am talking about an attitude, a persona that has been severely lacking in our organization for some time. Failure is accepted far too easily in this organization.
If the Mets don’t get Bobby Valentine in here, the should turn to plan B and give Dave Duncan a king’s ransom to help turn around our pitching staff. Duncan would bring Perez and Maine back to their 2006 form (or better) and could easily guide Santana to multiple Cy Young awards. He would also be able to teach Pelfrey how to use his fastball properly and get the most out of that nasty sinker.
Bobby V is my first choice.
My second choice? here are some criteria.
Not a member of the 1969, 1973, 1986, 1988, 1999, 2000 or 2006 teams: I don’t want to be reminded of past successes – the guy can’t take the field
No off the field issues: I don’t want to read interviews about past domestic abuse, tax fraud, assault, etc
No superstars: I don’t want a manager to be bigger than the team. Career minor leaguers okay
Fundamentally sound: As a player, did all the right things (even if he couldn’t do them well)
Infielders preferred: I still think catchers get it better than most, but statistically, infielders have a higher winning percentage than all other positions
Sounds like Brian Schneider if he had more seasoning.
we all want valentine, but we also need a LF, a #2 SP, 1B and a C. does signing bobby v affect our priorities?
I think you build around a managers strengths. If hiring Earl Weaver, I’d be looking for homerun hitters. I think a Bobby Valentine player is more of a gap hitter
I’d rather have better players than a better manager, personally.
Getting a better manager than Jerry Manuel is not that difficult. You could bring Art Howe back and it would be an improvement over Jerry.
Hear Hear!
This is the first subject MetsBlog commenters are nearly unanimous about. Thats remarkable.
Not exactly unanimous. It isn’t like Bobby V will suit up and play LF for the Mets next season. Spending 4-5 million on another manager, while in this economy, and while our current manager is on our payroll is plain foolish.
But the current manager isn’t cutting it. The Mets can do a lot better than Jerry Manuel.
I love Bobby V. and would love him to be the Mets manager.
That said, I think the Mets would be best letting Jerry take one more shot at it this coming year. If things don’t go well (I can’t imagine we’re going to have a good year next year) then we don’t bring back Jerry, and we bring back Bobby V after he opts out from Baseball Tonight.
I’d prefer to wait a year for Bobby mainly because I don’t think we have a shot next year. Let Jerry take the hit for that, then regroup and start fresh in 2011 with Bobby V, Ike Davis, and some new fresh faces.
Hear Hear!
You tell ‘em Cerrone!
Get us Bobby V. for 2010!
You know what would’ve been nice? If we hadn’t extended Omar’s contract.
*LOUD CLAPPING*
Well done Matt. Unfortunately my reply here coming late to the party will be 60 deep, but hopefully it will be seen by some :)
Bringing Valentine back does several things:
1) Admits we need to change regime
2) Admits he did a great job when he was here
3) Brings back a guy who is somewhat local (Stamford, CT) and who actually cares about the franchise (and did so even when he was in Japan)
4) Brings in a very smart baseball man
My only concern with him is how hardcore he went into the Japanese game and how that may impact his management style here. For all I know, that may be a good thing, but could backfire as well
“My only concern with him is how hardcore he went into the Japanese game and how that may impact his management style here. For all I know, that may be a good thing, but could backfire as well”
Very interesting point. I personally feel Japanese baseball (from what I’ve seen at the WBC, anyway) seems to embody traditional baseball more so than MLB ball right now. It’s a shame. I think it’d be great for the game if it shifted back to being played that way, rather than relying on HR, etc. That probably wouldn’t happen, though, and I can see resistance from the players if Valentine did try that. Could be a bad situation.
brilliant Matt, maybe the Wilpons will surprise us.
Wishful thinking.
“…and there used to be a ball park, right here..”
Francis Albert Sinatra
“It’s been a tragedy”, said Valentine, describing the 2009 Mets ‘lost’ season.
It sounded like he cares, just as much as WE do! I need that—someone is “affected” by what’s been happening to “our” team & NOT going to take it anymore. If anyone else ‘phones’ it in, cut ‘em from the squad.
BRING HIM BACK.
Why are we debating this though? Is there a chance he comes back? It seems management is devoted to Jerry for another year at least.
I think we should be on the Dave Duncan train, in my mind that would make a bigger difference, and how much would he cost? i don’t think too much compared to what we’ll have to pay players, the wilpons need to open the checkbook
Get rid of Omar and Jerry, bring back Bobby. Let him bring in the type of players he thinks he can win with.
Keep fighting the good fight Matt!
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