Jeff Wilpon and Omar Minaya talked with Mike Francesa for more than an hour on WFAN today.
To listen to the entire interview, go to WFAN.com.
By the way, to watch Chris Carlin’s one-on-one interview with Wilpon following today’s press conference, use the video player in the sidebar.
To read of several noteworthy moments and statements from Francesa’s interview with Wilpon and Minaya, click below:
Update, 6:40 pm:
In parting, Minaya wants Mets fans to know he and his staff are working hard, and Ownership is committed to putting the best product possible on the field.
Wilpon said, “I want to thank all of the fans who showed up to support us,” adding:
“I have faith in Omar and Jerry, otherwise they wouldn’t be back, and they have Ownership’s support.”
Update, 6:40 pm:
Wilpon said he doesn’t understand criticism from fans, who, according to Francesa, believe the Mets walk-away from big free agents because of money, when they have one of the highest payrolls in baseball.
Howard said the team is considering a ‘flexible payment plan for season-ticket holders next season.’
Wilpon said the team will not make a big-ticket move just for marketing purposes, or simply in an effort to sell tickets, concluding, “The team will be as aggressive as it has been in the past.”
Update, 6:36 pm:
Howard said the team is considering a ‘flexible payment plan for season-ticket holders next season.’
Update, 6:32 pm:
Wilpon said he demands better from the team, ‘and the fans deserve better,’ he wants Manuel and Minaya to stay, and he wants to see a Championship-caliber team competing right to the end in October.
Wilpon said they have already been talking with doctors and staff to determine why the team suffered so many injuries, and will look at all protocols, from pre-game warm ups to off-season programs to weight-training programs.
Minaya said he has already been talking with his staff and scouting department about an off-season strategy, while pointing out, “We don’t just want to compete, we want to win a Championship.”
Update, 6:18 pm:
Wilpon pointed out that the Mets paid over slot for their first-round pick in the last draft, when asked why the organization is ‘cheap with their minor-league system.’
Minaya said the Mets still have the same financial commitment towards winning that it had when he signed on to be the team’s GM.
Update, 6:15 pm:
Minaya said he doesn’t believe the team needs to be rebuilt.
Wilpon feels the team has ‘two or three holes,’ which they can fill through a combination of free-agent signings and trades.
Minaya said, in talking to other GMs, it has yet to be determined what type of free-agent market it will be, something which typically takes shape in the days following the World Series.
Wilpon says he has heard the market will be ‘soft,’ as there is typically a one-year lag in the market, meaning last season’s buyer’s market could continue.
Update, 6:05 pm:
Minaya said he will look at the trade player, to see how we can change it up,’ in an effort to improve the team, because they cannot just limit themselves to the free-agent market.
Minaya said there are core players that would be very hard for him to trade, and though there are certain guys who are special, as a whole, he must look at all ways to improve the ballclub.
Update, 6:05 pm:
Minaya still believes Oliver Perez can pitch like he did in 2007 and 2008, noting that pitching is ‘hot and cold,’ citing examples like Justin Verlander.
He said he believes ‘Daniel Murphy is getting better,’ and can be an every-day first baseman for the Mets… so long as he has more power at other positions.
Minaya likened Murphy to Boston’s situation with Kevin Youklis from a few seasons ago, saying:
“He was not the big, productive hitter that he is early on, but they surrounded him other guys who had power… So, when you put the team together, there are eight guys, and how are you going to balance that offense.”
Francesa pointed out that Youklis is a Gold-Glove first baseman, then told Wilpon Murphy cannot be an every-day player at first base for a Championship team, especially when consider the type of production the Phillies are getting from the left-side of their infield.
Minaya then informed Francesa that there have been lots of good teams in the game’s history that did not get power from first base, to which Francesa asked for examples of what Murphy does well, and Minaya said:
“What does Murphy do well? Right now, you’re talking about a young, developing player who is learning at the major leagues and improving at first base… Now, he comes at you everyday and he gives a good effort… He has to improve with the OBP… But, we are talking about a rookie.”
Minaya said the team no longer sees Murphy as an outfielder.
Update, 5:56 pm:
“We are in a results town in a results business,” Wilpon said.
Wilpon said he will give Minaya the resources he needs, ‘whatever that is,’ to put a Championship team on the field.
The team has not discussed ‘slicing payroll,’ he explained, adding:
“Whether it ends up being more or less I can’t tell you until Omar makes suggestions… We’re going to be aggressive, we have to be, whether it’s in trades or free agents… For all we know, Omar might save money, Mike.”
Update, 5:53 pm:
Wilpon said he was most frustrated this season with the team’s ability to drive in runs, despite being among the best team’s in batting average and batting average with runners in scoring position.
Minaya believes the players gave the team a good effort, but, ‘We did have a lot of players who were secondary players in their career, and were overexposed,’ and so, ‘When you have that and play them for a long time those weaknesses will show up, and that’s what happened.’
Wilpon said he liked watching Josh Thole and Nelson Figueroa, but, he added, ‘Again, it’s frustrating when you have that many guys out of your lineup for that long, knowing you could have had so-and-so up instead.’
Minaya said, ‘You have to like the way Jeff Francoeur plays the game,’ pointing he finished the season playing with a broken thumb.
Update, 5:48 pm:
Wilpon said, ‘Yankee-economic structure are unto themselves, they have their own structure and we fall much more in line with the rest of the league,’ when asked why his team does not spend money like the Yankees.
Update, 5:46 pm:
“When you win you’re a smart baseball man,” Minaya explained, regarding criticism of his public speaking. “When you lose, you’re not a smart a baseball man.”
Francesa asked Minaya to address accusations that he is only interested in bring Latino ballplayers to the Mets, to which he said:
“Look, when you’re the first Hispanic GM those accusations were going to be made. It’s part of it. It’s not true, it’s not fact, it’s not something I think about. I believe in talent. I will go after the best talent, no matter who that player is and where he is from.”
Update, 5:44 pm:
Howard said the team will continue to add Mets imagery and history to Citi Field, and they are working to develop a Mets Museum in a prominent location in the ballpark, though he would not specifically say where.
Wilpon said there will also be other ‘naming opportunities,’ in the building, that will link to the team’s history.
…come on, do it, The Piazza, for the table-n-chair section below the bridge…
Wilpon said, “I don’t think we did anything to slap anyone in the face. It’s not like we said, ‘Gee, let’s honor the Brooklyn Dodgers and not honor the Mets.’ Those claims are unfair, but we’re gonna make those changes and correct it, because it is a proper criticism.’
Update, 5:40:
Wilpon said Minaya and his staff intend to always build a team around pitching, speed and defense, and so the team built a ballpark with that in mind.
Minaya said he feels it is always easier to win when playing ‘National League baseball,’ and when pitching strong.
In regards to the lack of home runs, Howard said the ballpark is not much different than Shea Stadium, noting that losing Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran will impact any team’s home run total, which likely exposed David Wright, who had little protection in the lineup.
Update, 5:36 pm:
Wilpon said it was Minaya’s recommendation and decision to keep Manuel as the team’s manager.
Minaya said injuries had to be considered, plus, when factoring in Manuel’s entire body of work, including his work last season, when with a healthy a team, he wanted Manuel back as manager.
Update, 5:33 pm:
Wilpon says Minaya is the GM, and his responsibilities have not changed.
Minaya said he plans to continue making changes in the front office.
He said Adam Wogan, who had been the farm director, will take on a more prominent role – the team also plans to hire a Field Coordinator, who will be in uniform, traveling the system, working with minor leaguers and reporting to Wogan.
…hmmm, i wonder if that is what Wally Backman is interviewing for…
Minaya also said Assistant GM John Ricco will be more involved in working with the minor-league directors.
Update, 5:28 pm:
“I like to think in our minor-league system we have talent,” Minaya said.
Update, 5:28 pm:
Francesa asked if the Mets will have to pull back financially from their 2009 payroll, to which Wilpon said, ‘NO.’
He said the Bernie Madoff situation had no impact on the Mets.
“What happens this year between free-agents and trades and whatever Omar wants to do to get us back to a Championship-caliber team will be up to Omar,” Wilpon said, acknowledging that his team will continue to have one of the highest payrolls in baseball.
Update, 5:25 pm:
Wilpon says much of the blame for the team’s injuries are a result of relying too heavily on other team’s medical staffs when injuries occurred on the road, and did not fly players back quickly enough to be examined by their own medical team.
Minaya added that the team must create a protocol that will allow them to communicate to media and fans the status of the team’s injuries.
…here’s a thought, how about having less injuries…
Update, 5:22 pm:
Minaya and Wilpon, plus Dave Howard, are in the studio.
Again, like he said this morning, Wilpon believes this seasons results are ‘basically unacceptable.’
…unacceptable, one of the most misused words in business, as well as sports… if it’s ‘unacceptable,’ how come every one is back and being allowed to return to the project… apparently, it is acceptable…
Update, 5:18 pm:
According to Francesa, Wilpon and Minaya were stuck in traffic, but are now in the building and will remain in studio through the end of the show.
{ 42 comments }
There is no middle ground here….this is going to either be a positive vibe booster for the organization towards the fans or an absolute unmitigated disaster…must listen radio if you are a met fan, i’ll be tuned in for sure.
it is absolutely mindboggling that both omar and jerry not only still have their jobs but the question of whether they should still have their jobs has already been taken off the table, not 24 hours after the last out of the season
Not that I agree with the decision to retain either of them, but if minaya and manuel were going to be kept on for sure by ownership, this was the right way to handle it, make it official immediately so everyone can concentrate on the offseason.
Agreed. If ownership has made the decision to keep them, no point letting them wave in the breeze. Get the front office stuff settled ASAP, which it seems they’re doing, so that as soon as free agency starts they’re ready to come out the gates solving problems (fingers crossed).
The Wilpons always do this. Instant “we’re keeping Omar & Willie” within 24 hours of the 2007 choke. Instant “Omar’s making the call. We’re keeping Jerry” within 24 hours of kissing away the 2008 season/playoff hope. And now the 2009 version. Mets fans have long run out of cheeks to slap, and the thought of Omar concentrating on another horrendous off-season makeover fix-it cure for this team is frightening.
Just curious… when Johan got Pedro, Johan, Putz, K-Rod, Wagner, Delgado, Beltran, etc., etc. in various offseason makeovers, how furious were you then?
That should have read “when OMAR got” those guys… clearly.
There’s really no disputing that this team is cheap with its draft picks.
Granted, they signed their first guy at overslot. But they spent less in the first 10 rounds than just about any team in baseball (including those like the Phillies that also didn’t have 1st round or sandwich picks).
And it’s not just about signing your guys to overslot. It’s about passing on guys like Max Stassi in the 3rd and 4th rounds because you dont want to pay him overslot as well.
“unacceptable, one of the most misused words in business, as well as sports… if it’s ‘unacceptable,’ how come every one is back and being allowed to return to the project… apparently, it is acceptable…”
Great point. Thanks for the updates Matt. Those of us still at work appreciate it
“…here’s a thought, how about having less injuries…”
Here’s a thought, Matt the Writer: learn the difference between “less” and “fewer” and when to use which.
mike is BEATING omar over the head with don mattingly oops i mean dan murphy
I love the fact that Francesa, is not shying away from asking tough, pointed questions here. I am sure the haters will come on and spew the usual venom, but he is showing backbone here. Minaya and Co., as usual, are trying to use vague generalities to avoid having to say something of substance. They seem timid, usure of themselves, all of the qualities that have plagued the franchise the past couple of years. Their half hearted humor is not amusing at the moment. Does anyone get the sense that they have a real plan for this offseason or the future?? PS- brownie points to Mike to putting Murphy on trial in front of the brass…
mike is making them his b*tches and they are taking it
and while i’m enjoying it, it doesn’t bode well for the future
This is some great stuff. Let me attempt to wade through the incompetence of Minaya here.
Comparing Justin Verlander to Oliver Perez. Good lord. Verlander was a top three pick with disgusting stuff and a proven, consistent stud in the majors.
Comparing Kevin Youkilis to Daniel Murphy. Good lord again. Youkilis has always been a plus-plus defender at multiple positions and always has “the OBP” 100 points higher than his BA. So even when he’s not hitting (which is rare) he’s valuable.
Also, it’s not a good sign when a GM refers to “the OBP.” It sounds like my grandparents referring to “the Interwebs”
interesting interview imo, read between the lines it seems that the core will be back and mikey is after praising the core, if jeff-y opens his wallet we could have a good team next year if omar doesn’t screw up
although i think jeff should be answering more of these questions instead of omar, and dave not saying much i wonder why they brought him….
“being a mets fan develops character”
did i just hear that right?
preposterous, silly , nonsense.
mr wilpon
tear down this team!
“tear down this team” = preposterous, silly nonsense.
Who are you, Razor McShines?
Next time I get my oil changed, I’ll read the book ya wrote below.
You call three paragraphs “a book”? Congratulations on your first grade reading level.
some of you guys just find a negative in everything. I think the press conference this morning and their appearance on wfan tell us that they are preparing for a big offseason as far as getting new players on the team.
I think the Mets did a good job in letting us fans now that they are dead serious about improving the team and that they are willing to spend the money. Now lets hope they do it, but at the moment, Im satisfied with what they said.
That being said, TRADE FOR DOC HALLADAY!!!
I get from the interview that the payroll will not be a set amount, but the team is committed to aggressively pursuing players that will improve the on-field product. Jeff Wilpon said “hey, Omar may save money”, but without suggesting that Omar has been mandated to do so. Again, we’re not privy to their bottom line, but I came away from today’s interview with the impression that the team can and will pursue high profile players. And if they are looking to upgrade 1B, which is something they don’t seem to have decided yet (it sounds like they know they need power but haven’t decided where on the diamond they will look to put it), they will need to upgrade 1B via trade… and I’m more skeptical about the Mets having the players necessary to trade for a Prince Fielder or Adrian Gonzalez than I am about their ability to sign free agents.
Some dumb columnist suggested that since Murphy can’t do the job at 1B (admittedly a distinct possibility), the Mets have to go and get a professional 1B, like “Adam LaRoche or Nick Johnson”. Does anyone really believe that either of those two guys are any more effective than Murphy? I’d rather have LaRoche than Nick “DL” Johnson, but I’d rather have Murphy and save the FA money to spend on Matt Holliday, bad defense be damned.
Of course, if they can sign LaRoche or trade for Fielder AND sign Matt Holliday, I’d be on board with that, too.
Im against signing a first basemen bc you will probably have to sink money into a guy who really wont out produce murphy by enough to justify the millions of dollars more in salary. Im also all for signing holliday for 2 reasons, 1 it doesnt cost prospects so if you do want to trade for halladay/fielder/gonzo (although i dont think we can) go for it. But more importantly bc it will NOT cost us a 1st round pick so take advantage and get a good type A in here. Lastly, anyone we go after this season can we not use the “bad defense” excuse we have plenty of good fielders on this team when you think of the 2004 Red Sox, 2008 Phillies, 2007 Red Sox, 2005 White Sox do you think of defense? yes they could all field the ball but come on; dominant pitching and clutch hitting. THAT is what wins baseball games/championships.
Agreed with everything you said. But the teams you did list had very good defense up the middle (SS, 2nd and CF, catcher) and overall very good defense overall in the infield.
Most of them didn’t have the best defense in the outfield (Manny, Dye, Burrell) for the teams you listed. Defense is a Major area of concern, but a Healthy mets team will have a pretty good defense, except 2b.
Their words may sound good and sugary now when there’s nowhere to go but up, but think about it Mets fans…they’re just words.
The Mets are always reactionary. They never take the initiative. They never make you feel like they have it all figured out and the Baseball Gods are finally with us…because they’re incompetent, ruddless and without vision.
They’re getting slaughtered on talk radio, in the papers and on the web. So, they throw us a few promises, remind us of the highlights of an otherwise clueless organization in the hopes that it will pacify us until March. By then we’ll be so starved for the blue and orange we’ll flock like sheep to follow them for another season.
I’m not believeing them this time. Same old Mets.
What really bugs me is all of this begging and pleading. Stop doing press conferences to tell people you aren’t happy with a losing season. We already know that. Jeff Wilpon just came across as weak and timid. Issue a press release or two with your action items and be done with it.
They owe us no explanation, and we want action, not words. The more they point out their own flaws, the more they amplify them for the fans that don’t think on their own to begin with. They save no face doing so.
Having Wilpon speak at all is a slap in the face to Minaya (or any GM). Owners should stay in the background and talk through press releases or in pre-edited print media interviews. They should avoid pretending to know anything about baseball, and defer to their GM.
It doesn’t help that Jeff Wilpon speaks like a sanitation worker either. I was waiting for him to say “Deez two yutes” (My cousin Vinny reference). Is he seriously a baseball franchise OWNER? He sounds like a Jersey snow plow driver. He should be banned from the podium.
The funny thing is I am actually fine with them retaining Minaya and Manuel, and agree with them that those guys deserve one more shot based on what they did when their players weren’t ravaged by fluke injury.
But just do it, stop cow-towing to the fans and the media. Apologize in a press conference and start making moves. Spend less time on the terrible P.R. and more time on action.
I wish Omar had all his facts ready. Because many championships had players at 1st base who weren’t superstars, weren’t even all stars and some that weren’t even your typical regulars… of the last 20 years here are the World Series teams and their first basemen:
2008 Howard 48 HR/ Pena 31HR
2007 Youkilis 16 HR GG/ Todd Helton 17HR
2006 Pujols 49HR GG/ Chris Shelton 16HR
2005 Konerko 40HR/Berkman 24HR
2004 Kevin Millar 18HR/ Pujols 46HR
2003 Derek lee 31HR GG/ Giambi 41HR
2002 Scott Spezio 12HR/ J.T. Snow 6HR
2001 Mark Grace 15HR/ Tino 34HR
2000 Tino 16HR/ Todd Zeile 22HR
1999 Tino 28HR/ Ryan Klesko 21HR
1998 Tino 28HR/ Wally Joyner 12HR
1997 Jeff Conine 17HR/Tino 24HR
1996 Tino 25HR/ McGriff 26HR
1995 McGriff 25HR/ Paul Sorrento 25HR
1994
1993 John Olerud 24HR/ John Kruk 14HR
1992 John Olerud 16HR/ Sid Bream 10HR
1991 Kent Hrbek 20HR/Sid Bream 11HR
1990 Todd Benzinger 9HR/ McGuire 39HR
1989 McGuire 33HR/Will Clark 23HR
So lets Recap Guys with 35+ hr at 1st in 20 years of world series teams 6 or 16%. Guys with 30-34HR 4 or 11%. 25-29HR 5 or 13%. 20-24HR 9 or 24%. guys with 15-19 7 or 18%. Guys with 14HR or less 7 is 18%.
So guys with less then 30 HR is 78%. 37% of teams had people at 1st who didn’t hit 20 HR. 44% of teams had guys with 20-30 HR.
4 teams in the last 20 years had a 1st baseman with more then 30 HR who won a world series. Pujols, Konerko, Howard and McGuire. 11 had more then 20. So its not uncommon to not have a Power hitter at 1st . And i won’t call all of those guys dynamic fielders
Like always Francesca gets on his horse and rides until it dies. He has no facts to back himself up. I mean Tino Martinez on his own Yankees wasn’t a superstar, and they won 2 world series in 1999 when he hit .263 with 28 HR, 27 2b’s and a .341 OBP and in 2000 when he hit .258 16 HR, 37 2b’s and a .328 OBP
those aren’t far off the .266 12HR 38 2b’s and a .331OBP that murphy put up this season. Tino also had 150 more AB’s each year. So as Omar said You don’t need a big bopper at 1st to win a world series. You need power, somewhere, doesn’t have to be at 1st.
I will concede that LaRoche and Johnson are not worth it, but still feel that Delgado is worth the risk if a trade is not possible. Of all the WS teams listed, the RBI totals for the first basemen are not, and I guarantee they drove in more than 63 (power #s do not just mean HRs). Holliday sounds nice, I am glad he consented to being interested in the Mets…
The point is, and I will be very honest, I have no idea what direction the Mets should take. The market doesn’t offer enough to fill their numerous holes, nor does their farm system in terms of trade bait. Even if they fill up bunch, the odds for them to be a contender are not overly favorable. They cannot trade players off of down years, but might need to blow up this mess, which should have been justified by a 2006 WS win (the only yr it all seemed to click). A lot of teams are a lot closer to contention (even in the NL East with the Marlins and Braves) than the Mets, and I do not expect both teams to take steps backwards. Can the Mets catch up? I do not want to overreact, but I do not want to minimize the strides the competition has made to improve.
RBI numbers aren’t listed because i didn’t want the post to go on forever. But if you go look up most of them, especially the under 20 HR guys, it’s in the 80 range or below.
Also RBI’s are a result of the team around you. Tino martinez in 1999 and 2000 typically hit 5th with Knoblock, Jeter and Bernie who had near or above .400 OBP’s.
But just to look up some of the lower ones Kevin Millar in 2004 had 71RBI for the redsox. 2002 J.T. Snow had 53RBI and Spiezio had 82. 2001 Marc Grace had 78, in 2000 tino had 91. in 1998 Wally Joyner had 80 and in 1997 Jeff Conine had 61..
I do say that the mets would be fine with Murphy at 1st, but i’m not against upgrading. If you can acquire Fielder or A-Gonzo somehow I’d take it in a heart beat. But i don’t want to go and waste money on any of the FA options. The only one who deserves to be starting is LaRoche and he’s going to look for a 2-3 year deal at at least 8 mil+. Murphy’s production will be enough if he doesn’t improve at all at 1st if you upgrade else where. Just like I have said if you get a Fielder or Gonzo at 1st you can live with a pagan in LF.
I do though want nothing to do with delgado I wanted him gone before this year, and posted it 100 times. I don’t think he is good for this team. I think he causes a ton of errors in the infield, he’s bad in the clubhouse, he’s a bad influence, and HE NEVER WANTED TO BE IN NY IN THE FIRST PLACE. His range is awful, and now coming off a hip injury and an additional injury it’s just time now even more to move on. He never made a play that made you say wow, he never saved any throws, he came off the bag and did that catch tag thing he did when it was unnecessary. Rarely did he dig a bad throw out of the dirt that was really a bad throw. Most were easy hops and he missed a ton of those. A good first baseman makes everyone on the infield better.
Not saying Murphy is better, but i think like others he’s better then every Free Agent, and would rather spend the money on LF, SP, 2B then on 1st and give murphy another year.
I also don’t want the Mets to lock into Franceour to a 2-3 year deal, because he looked good for 70 games. Let him play half or 3/4ths the year then if he’s still playing well offer him the extension.
I don’t understand this notion of giving Jerry and Omar the chance to “Right the Ship”. Why? When Willie was fired, everyone was saying that the focus would be on Omar. If I was to have told you back in June of 2008 that the Mets would again miss the playoffs by one game and subsequently go 70-92 in 2009, you would have responded with the phrase, “Omar will obviously be gone by then.”
I just have one question. We all want Bobby V. However, we know that the Wilpons will not hire him. As we’ve seen with Omar Minaya, the Wilpons care more about how well they get along with their managers/GMs than how they do on the field. Now, back to my question. Say, hypothetically, the option of hiring Willie Randolph existed. Would you rather Willie or Jerry coaching next year?
i want jerry 10 times out of 10
its too damn early to be talking about free agents and what to do.. we can talk until we are all blue in the face… the fact of the matter is omar is going to be omar..which means he is going to be patient and make this offseason painful–but i do believe he will get the job done in the end
I think the whole statement of the Mets “being one of the highest payroll’d teams in 2010″ is just another spin game. They already ARE one of the highest paid teams in the majors. Every team is looking to scale back this year with the current economy. The Mets don’t have to spend another dollar on high priced talent to remain one of the highest payrolls in baseball.
I don’t want to hear you say that you’re going to go out there and throw your money around. Spend wisely for once.
“I don’t want to hear you say that you’re going to go out there and throw your money around. Spend wisely for once.”
If you listened to the interview today, you’ll realize that’s exactly what the said. Francesca kept asking them if they would commit to spending money this offseason, and Wilpon kept responding that, yes, they COULD spend money, but they weren’t necessarily going to do that just for PR purposes. They said they will make the moves that they determine will best improve the club, regardless of how much or how little those moves cost in terms of dollars or prospects.
And every team gives out good contracts and bad contracts.
Ollie = Bad Contract
Johan = Good Contract
K-Rod = Good Contract
Wright = Good Contract
Schoenweis = Bad Contract
Reyes = Good Contract
Castillo = Bad Contract
Etc., etc…
I will again agree Murphy is equally as mediocre/bad as the FA options, but I vehemently am in support of Delgado. His defense is not as bad as some posters think, and is far better than Murphy’s. His bat is capable of carrying a team, as is proven by the 2nd half of 08 (and yes that is enough to prove he is not healthy enough for one year). I don’t care whether he loves NY or not. Everyone’s favorite mediocre hitter at 1b, Mex, did not like NY either.
As for this Bobby V nonsense, it has to stop. This process is about moving forward, not craving nostalgia. Compare it to hockey and Maniac Mike if you want (even though I loved Keenan). bobby Vs habits of irregular OFs, constanrly flipping around the order, and overusing the pen would not fly in today;s game. If he was that good, he would have found immediate emplyment in the bigs after he lost control of the admittedly overpriced, veteran Mets (this team has Vets too). Somehow I do not think his exile to Japan (and yes that is what it was) was self imposed… Showalter on the other hand is intriguing, although I can’t pinpoint the reason.
Anyhow, I agree Minaya should be axed, but even if he is not, do they establish themselves as buyers in the market? I do not think they are as close to being legit as many think, even if they come back healthy… It sounds really offbeat (although I have hit on this beat a dozen times), but maybe they do very little, eat a bad financial year (which would be offset if they explained to fans they want to retool/rebuild), and hope 2 or 3 players bounce back and become viable trade bait for youth…
K-Rod was 3-6, 3.71 ERA, 1.309 WHIP this year. I’m sorry, that is not worth $12 Million. Just as an FYI, Schoenweis last year was 2-6, 3.34 ERA, 1.376 WHIP and was making a lot less money.
I’m sorry, are you trying to argue that Scott Schoenweis is a better pitcher/contract than K-Rod?
Laugh. Out. Loud.
The K-Rod contract is excellent. His .ERA/.WHIP blew up when the wheels came completely off the cart at the end of the year. Schoenweis was unfairly lambasted by Mets fans, this is true… but he, along with the other bullpen all-stars of ‘07 and ‘08 had the Armando Bentiz-ish ability to give up big hits at the worst possible moment. K-Rod is clutch.
Seriously… if you think the K-Rod contract is bad, you just have no clue.
Agreed. There’s a world of difference between Schoeneweis and K-Rod and their ability to close. And it has nothing to do with skills but more with mentality. Anyone trying to compare the two either doesn’t pay attention to the games or doesn’t understand baseball.
If Wilpon is serious about this “putting the best possible product out there” thing, then Minaya, Manuel, and Warthen would all be canned. Minaya might be the only one with a little leeway, but Manuel and Warthen should be automatic casualties.
Manuel’s managerial style is from the 1930s and 40s; meanwhile we have ultra-prepared managers like Tony LaRussa, Mike Scioscia, Ron Gardenhire, and Jim Tracy getting the absolute maximum out of their talent levels. Manuel’s still playing his “gut” and saying things like “the big guy is a good pitcher for them” when he’s talking about Josh Johnson, one of the premier pitchers in the National League. He has no clue who anyone is. He could Prince Fielder, “that guy Felder” three times. This guy can’t be a major league manager in this day and age. Wilpon is a joke if he thinks Manuel is capable of getting the absolute most out of the team that’s handed to him.
*called Prince Fielder
“…His defense is not as bad as some posters think, and is far better than Murphy’s.”
Yes, Delgado’s defense IS as bad as some think. And this year it was worse than Murphy’s. (Using UZR/150.) Think … Murphy who played the position for the first time in his career, was better than Delgado with the glove. Given that, and given Delgado’s age and injuries, the most reasonable expectation is that the gulf would even widen next year in terms of defense … as Murphy would improve with experience and Delgado’s range and reaction times would be worse due to age and health issues.
You could accept Delgado’s poor fielding if he could reliably provide 100+ RBIs a year. But those days are over. Unless he becomes just a DH. If he tries to play the field anymore, expect him to have injury plagued seasons like Moises Alou for the rest of his career.
Murphy was actually an above league average defender at first base this year. Unfortunately, Wilpon-Omar-Howard didn’t educate Francessa on that fact yesterday and let him prattle on with his anti-Murphy propaganda.
I agree with you, and people don’t really pay attention to what matters when they watch players in the field.
The people who think Murphy is a poor defender at first base are hung on the fact that he made a handful of bad decisions (typical of a rookie playing a new position). What they failed to see was that his range and speed at the position was considerably above average, and his ability to field a ground ball was better than expected as well. In fact, Jerry Manuel was even quoted in an interview towards the end of the year as saying that Murphy had really impressed him defensively at first base.
I watched Murphy make a number of plays that a guy like Carlos Delgado doesn’t have the grace or speed to even consider. In particular, the number of times that Murphy picked a ground ball and went to second base, third base, or home, in situations where Delgado is settling for the out at first, was significant.
Delgado appears to be a better first baseman to the untrained eye simply because with 15 years of experience at the position, he looks the part. But in truth, the guy has zero range and is unable to bend down to make any plays on balls to his left or right that are low. He has a mediocre arm and a tentative approach at first base. All of this is fine, of course, because like so many first baseman in this league he is actually a converted DH. He is paid to hit homeruns, not to play defense.
With a full year of experience at first base behind him, look for Murphy to continue to improve defensively at first base, and actually impress a number of people with his hands, arm and quickness. Delgado, another year closer to permanent retirement, will only continue to decline defensively. In fact, Delgado is close to being ready for a full time DH role at this stage of his career, especially with the injuries.
Comments on this entry are closed.