To watch Minaya’s comments, click here.

During today’s press conference, Minaya said:

“I made a decision after the investigation of Tony Bernazard… Human Resources started the investigation before reports were out in the newspapers… They presented the facts, I met with Tony yesterday, showed him the facts, and when it was all said and done I have to make the recommendation to ownership that we needed to let him go… I relayed the information to Tony this morning.”

Minaya said situations that have been published by Adam Rubin in the Daily News were ‘not exactly accurate,’ though Rubin’s report did help to expedite the human resource department’s investigation.

…jeez, only the Mets would have an on-air press conference to announce the firing of a guy with a position on the team that most fans of other teams have never heard of…

Minaya said Bernazard’s position will be filled internally.

Update, 3:24 pm:

To learn of two reasons why Bernazard was fired, check out Sherman’s follow up post to the New York Post.

In a on air report for SNY, Kevin Burkhardt said, ‘This clubhouse was really not to keen on Bernazard.”

Original Post:

“The Mets have fired Tony Bernazard,” reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

…so, i assume this is what the press conference is for…

…i never like smiling when a man loses his job, a man with a family, etc… that said, i think it was pretty clear the Mets had to pull the trigger on this, if for no other reason than fans were out for blood, some one was feeding the press with stories about the man, and until the situation was dealt with, it was going to keep causing trouble for the team… plus, in the last day or so, i have talked to a handfull of agents and people from other teams, some of which praised tony’s tough approach as assertive, but others who said he was no treat to deal with, he was starting to be viewed as a liar, as a spinster, and was giving the organization a bad name… so, public relations aside, this may be the start of a new, cleaner day for the Mets… since, i sense Omar Minaya was in favor of the dismissal, though we’ll probably never know that for certain…

…in the end, the way i understand it, bernazard may have been hired by omar to handle player-agent relations, but he ended up being Jeff Wilpon’s eyes and ears for all things on-field baseball operations, and he collected more power than omar, in the sense that, as one person put it to me, ‘If Jeff is the Boss, Tony is his Consigliere,’ for those who watch Sopranos or Godfather…

…i hope omar now leans more on Assistant GM John Ricco, who i hear lots of good things about from people in other organizations… he’s smart with money and contracts, stats, etc., and he and omar have a vision for this team… i have heard people say omar should be left to do talent evaluations and negotiating, based on the financial and statistical recommendations of ricco… hopefully, together, it’s a good start for a new direction… we’ll see…

However, today, Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus, on Twitter, writes, “Know that story about Tony Bernazard screaming at a scout?  The scout denies it, completely.”

…as The Dude points out in the comment section, “Story was never that Tony B screamed at a scout. Story was that Tony B screamed at his assistant in front of scouts. That scout confirmed the story in the News earlier this week.”…

This led to a day’s worth of blog posts, talk radio chatter, and a pre-game press conference from Omar Minaya, during which he said the team will simply investigate Bernazard’s behavior.

…in fact, omar said Investigate roughly 12 times, which led Tirico Suave to post this video clip, spoofing minaya as Inspector Gadget…

However, in a report for the Press & Sun Bulletin, Brian Moritz quotes Binghamton Mets coach Mako Oliveras as saying:

“I think it’s been blown out of proportion.  Tony was trying to pump the players up, he took his shirt off but he had a T-shirt on underneath.  To me, he never threatened anybody or asked anybody to fight.  Before he started the meeting, he took his shirt off.  I’m telling you, it’s been blown out of proportion.”

Moritz also quotes B-Mets C Josh Thole, as well as SS Jose Coronado, who says Bernazard never called him names or asked him to fight, as the Daily News report indicated.

That said, this morning on WFAN, host Craig Carton pointed out that if the Mets do not fire Bernazard today, they a) set up a stand-off between Bernazard and Minaya, b) it signals to the rest of the organization that this type of behavior is acceptable, and c) it signals to players, major league and minor league alike, that Bernazard is untouchable.

In the Daily News, Bill Madden writes, “There’s no need for any investigation here.  Fire the guy and fire him now… It very well may be that Minaya is out anyway at the end of the season. But if he doesn’t fire Bernazard now, doesn’t rid the organization of this punk, he’d better be watching his back.”

Yesterday, on 1050 ESPN Radio, former Mets GM Steve Phillips said, in his experience, yelling at minor league players is not a ‘fireable offense.’

…i don’t know… maybe it is… maybe it isn’t… i’m a writer, not an expert in management or human resources… what i do know is Mets fans are pissed, frustrated, and depressed about poor play, a lack of direction and high ticket prices, and basically we are looking for someone to pay for our anger, and, thanks to the Daily News, bernazard is the man of the moment… call it justified, dismiss it is a mob mentality, whatever… but, people are hot, and it is what it is…

…to me, all i keep thinking about from yesterday is how this was all handled in the media… it never stops amazing me how poor the Mets are at controlling a message… which would not be such a problem if they were not constantly in the position to do so… maybe it’s a chicken-and-an-egg thing… who knows… but, yesterday, minaya was not the man for that communications job… i sometimes think the Mets should have an official team spokesperson, like a press secretary, who can issue talking points and spin stories to the team’s favor, or at least act as a filter between reporters and the GM… for instance, because minaya is so inept at communicating to reporters, and because he looks like he’s lying to their face, and because he only gave to them what the team issues in a press release a few hours earlier, after making them wait for hours to speak with him, reporters had no choice but to flock to players before yesterday’s game, and get more information for their stories, which must irritate the players, and only fuels the story to go on…

Bart Hubbuch of the New York Post reports on another incident involving Bernazard, during which he exchanged words on the team bus last week in Atlanta with Francisco Rodriguez.

Hubbuch quotes an anonymous player as saying, “That guy is crazy.”

By the way, to see video of Minaya’s ‘statement,’ click here.

Update, 4:59 pm:

Omar Minaya talked to reporters and basically said the team will continue to investigate reports of Bernazard’s conduct.

In fact, he said the word ‘investigate’ 11 times in five minutes.

…that’s it… that’s all he said… the way i heard it is, had the report not surfaced, we most certainly never would have heard of this, and he certainly would not be investigating it… this, to me, is unacceptable… how does he not know what is going on in his own minor league system… and, if he did, and ignored this, what does that say… ugh… either way, this is not good… i suspect he’s on watch, along with everyone else in his administration…

He said his plan all along was to visit the team in DC today, followed by a trip through the minor league system next week.

Minaya said he would prefer to be working on improving the team, noting the Mets will not be sellers considering they are 6.5 games back of the Wild Card in the National League.

The Pope of Baseball, Peter Gammons, from ESPN.com, said earlier, “Everyone knows Tony Bernazard is Jeff Wilpon’s guy.  So what does that say?  Feeding fraud trade offer stories?  Embarrassment born, not made.”

Update, 3:39 pm:

According to Brian Costa of the Star-Ledger, Minaya will arrive to Nationals Park around 4:30 pm, after which he will speak with reporters and address the allegations against Tony Bernazard.

…hey, brian, do they sell peanuts at this circus…

…so, i’m guessing this means SNY will not be airing the press conference until around 5:15 pm…

Update, 2:53 pm:

David Lennon of Newsday explains why Minaya may be working to keep Bernazard from being fired.

…the worst part of lennon’s report is that he’s referred to as, ‘Shirtless Mets VP,’ which is sad and hilarious at the same time…

Update, 2:38 pm:

In a post to Twitter, Yankees reporter Peter Abraham of the Journal News jokingly writes, “If you don’t read my blog I’ll have Tony Bernazard kick all your asses.  And he can do it.”

…lovely… just lovely…

Omar Minaya will speak with reporters today at 3:30 pm.

Original Post, 2:00 pm:

The Mets issued the following statement, in regards to Adam Rubin’s report about Tony Bernazard in today’s Daily News:

“We take these reports seriously and are investigating the matter.”

…this is getting out of hand, it seems…

…here’s the thing, you’d think it would be Omar Minaya’s decision to fire bernazard, assuming he should go… however, from what people are saying, bernazard and Jeff Wilpon have a pretty strong relationship these days, or, that is, at least stronger than wilpon’s connection to minaya… the thing is, minaya is supposed to be the GM, he’s supposed to be the leader… i will be interested to see how this all plays out, as it should give a clue in to the future direction of this team…

…in the end, i don’t know who is undermining whom, or who has what motives and why, but i do know this is obnoxious… really, it is… if i wanted to watch a soap opera i’d put on Days of our Lives…

…come on, guys, get it together…and play better baseball, too…

According to Rubin, “alleged underage drinking on the team apparently was one motivation for the eruption,” all of which he confirmed through ‘multiples sources,’ and ‘insiders.’

Earlier this week, also in the Daily News, Rubin said Bernazard was recently seen in the stands going into a profanity-laced tirade directed at the team’s manager of baseball operations, “which left witnesses in the section behind home plate aghast.”

Meanwhile, also in the Daily News, columnist John Harper joins in, pointing out that Bernazard is notorious for his alleged influence in the firing of Willie Randolph and Rick Peterson, adding, “Scouts and executives from other organizations have whispered in recent years about Bernazard’s bullying style of leadership.”

…frankly, if i had a dime for every person who has told me the Mets currently have Three GMs, i could retire… i have heard from agents and other baseball people around the league that, basically, at this point, Jeff Wilpon and Bernazard have a closer relationship than Bernazard and minaya or minaya and wilpon… yet, minaya is supposed to be in charge of all baseball operations… so much for full autonomy, i guess… how did the Mets get to this point again… i mean, it seems like we keep having this same conversation every five to 10 years…

This morning on WFAN, morning host Craig Carton has been calling for Bernazard to be fired, repeatedly calling him a ‘tool,’ and a ‘clown.’

In a poll from Rubin’s report, 71 percent of voters said Bernazard should be fired for his antics in Binghamton.

That said, yesterday, on WFAN, Jon Heyman was asked about recent reports of Bernazard’s behavior, to which he said:

“Well, you know what, it seems to be all in one newspaper, though… You know, there are a lot of personalities that go around, the papers like one guy who’s helping them, they don’t like another guy for whatever reason… I mean, sides are taken and people are made to look bad.”

…basically, and i don’t mean to put words in his mouth, but, what i’m hearing in this statement from heyman is: the Daily News has an axe to grind with Bernazard, for whatever reason, and are using the power of the press to tarnish him and force him out… by the way, Bernazard oversees the Mets farm system, and the Daily News does an amazing and honest job of covering the farm system… and, from what i can tell, the Mets take public perception of their farm system very seriously…

For what it’s worth, the Mets Double-A and Triple-A teams are a combined 71-116, while the team’s farm system was ranked middle-of-the-pack in all of baseball heading in to this season.

…here’s the thing, though, in the middle of a baseball season, when the focus should be on field, why are we even discussing the team’s VP, a guy who is supposed to work below the GM…

…actually, how many fans even know who their team’s Assistant GM or VP is… yet, you and i do… why… i have written Bernazard in six posts this season… for pete’s sake, i have a whole category on this blog dedicated to him… why…

Last week, on Baseball Digest Live, Mark Healy spent an entire 90 minute radio show focused on Bernazard’s role on the Mets, during which much of what the Daily News is reporting had been discussed.

The Daily News headline was a scroll in Time’s Square for everyone to see, according to this photo from Robert K.

…all of this makes me very uncomfortable and concerned about the direction of this organization… i realize, now, in the wake of so many injuries, losing was likely, regardless of GMs, power-struggles and front-office chaos… one may have nothing to do with the other… then again, it might… in either case, be it fact or fiction, here we are again, five years later having the same conversation we had five years before that, talking about undermining authority, leadership, split autonomy, weak farm systems, and a general sense of disarray, all while the team across town is marching towards yet another post-season appearance…

…man, October 2006 seems like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it…

“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…

The Mariners interviewed seven people for the job and have narrowed their choices down to three other candidates.

For more on Bernazard, click here.

…hat tip to the Daily News for the link…

For more on Bernazard, click here.

“How come every time I look at an article or comment the past two weeks Tony Bernazard’s name is in it?”

Bernazard is the Vice President of Development for the Mets and serves under Omar Minaya. 

Minaya does not travel with the team on every trip.

In fact, the high-ranking official slot tends to rotate from trip to trip, sometimes it is Minaya, sometimes it is John Ricco, and other times, like in Philadelphia and Milwaukee, it is Bernazard.

Speaking of Bernazard, he had the following to say about the impressive second half from Carlos Delgado, as quoted by John Harper in the Daily News:

“The other thing is that, maybe it has something to do with the new people running the team…You have to have the pulse of the team.  You have to be prepared and you have to communicate with your players. Jerry does all of that…Delgado is such a student of the game.  If you’re running a good game, he knows. When you’re running a bad game, he knows.”

…way to be subtle, tony…

In the article, which is a ‘must read,’ Delgado insists that he did not have a problem with Willie Randolph, although, as Harper writes, ‘he did acknowledge that the post-firing atmosphere under Manuel has been good for everyone.’

…from what i can gather, delgado’s turn-around may have less to do with his opinion and emotional reaction to willie, and most everything to do with how Jerry Manuel communicates and challenges delgado, and solicited his help in the team’s fight…either way, it’s working…

In a fascinating, well-researched, story for Gotham Baseball Magazine, Mark Healy talks with a variety of credible sources and concludes:

“Bernazard was never really on board with the hire, but waited until he had consolidated his power to start sowing his seeds of discontent.  For nearly two seasons, Bernazard has been undermining the skipper in the clubhouse and in the front office.”

…though rather lengthy, healy’s report is a must-read…

In his report for Newsday, Davidoff writes:

“Take this for what it’s worth, but Wednesday, I received two phone calls from industry contacts – the first, a longtime friend of many Hispanic players, and the second, a scout from an American League team.  Both, unsolicited, brought up Bernazard, both professed to not know him and both offered the same sentiment: ‘I hear he’s a really bad guy.’”…Early Tuesday morning, when the hatchet fell on Randolph and the two coaches, Bernazard could be seen in the team hotel, giddy as a schoolgirl with a new dress.”

Meanwhile, according to WFAN, a beat writer approached Bernazard before yesterday’s game asking questions about his role in the decision to fire Randolph.  Bernazard refused to comment, and then had the reporter removed from the field, courtesy of the team’s public relations department.

What’s more, in a recent report for ESPN.com, Buster Olney wrote that a Mets front office member would often tell players about negative evaluations from Randolph, which were intended to be private.

According to Davidoff, “Bernazard is the natural suspect. The story is quite feasible.”

Meanwhile, according to Joel Sherman, at his blog for the New York Post, “Don’t be conned by the Met spin.  The owners and their pet p.r. man were totally involved in Randolph’s firing and how it was handled.”