Once again it’s time to get your daily dose of TRDMB’s Mets in the Papers.
Ryan Colaianni, “Mets Fine With Evans, Despite Quiet Year”
“I just think we are in a situation where we are somewhat forced to bring people up probably quicker than we would have liked,” Mets manager Jerry Manuel said, “and he is probably one of those guys that we probably pushed a little too early, and then when you do that it appears that his stock has fallen, but it hasn’t.
Brian Costa, “Mets Manager Jerry Manuel Says He’s Not Worried About Losing Job”
“I know how this particular situation works,” Manuel said Monday. “I understand that. It’ll be important for us to hit the ground running playing good baseball and giving a feeling that there is a chance of a championship. That has to be established early. I understand that.
Bart Hubbuch, “90th Loss Adds To Manuel’s Misery”
“This is tough, my toughest season, no question,” Manuel said. “Just simply because of that — there was some expectations obviously we didn’t reach. There was some anticipation of people coming back [from injury] that never happened.
David Lennon, “Francoeur: It’s Great To Be Young And A Met” (updated)
“I’d love for that to happen,” Francoeur said. “I think there’s a lot to be said when you feel like you can pencil a guy in for 158 games and not have to worry about rightfield. It can help a manager, and it can help a GM when they’re putting a team together. Hopefully, that’s how they feel.”
Steve Popper, “Crunch Time For Manuel”
“The whole thing is about winning a championship, regardless of how long it takes,” Manuel said. “Sometimes you’ve got time to do that. Sometimes you don’t. The opportunity you have you’ve got to take advantage of it and put what you think is the best formula for winning. Obviously, now it has to be a lot quicker for me.”
Steve Popper, “Mets Notes”
While winning may make anything go down easier, when a team representative was asked about rumors that the team will drop its pinstriped uniform that it has used since 1962 and will adopt a crème-colored home uniform, there was only a vague confirmation that there could be changes.
Nelson Figueroa followed the gem by Pat Misch with another solid starting effort, pitching six innings of six-hit, two-run ball. But as usual, it wasn’t enough to get him off the hook. Figueroa fell to 2-8 — and the Mets are 1-8 in his nine starts. Five of those fit the qualifications for a quality start — but not good enough for a win as the Mets fell to the Washington Nationals, 2-1.
Nick Evans arrived with a bang — three doubles in his debut in 2008 — but 2009 has not gone according to plan. After a solid spring, he was sent to Class AAA Buffalo out of camp and promptly performed so poorly that he was shuffled all the way to Class A St. Lucie for physical and mental rehab. He made it back to the majors as a call-up Aug. 25, but has managed just 21 plate appearances and hasn’t started a game since Sept. 11 (and just three since the call-up).
Adam Rubin, “Mike Pelfrey Eyes Strong Finish To Disappointing 2009 Season For Mets”
“It’s a matter of execution,” Pelfrey said about his subpar year. “For whatever reason my fastball has been up this year more than it should have. It led to an increase in home runs. And I’ve walked too many guys. I’ve got to work on being more focused and bearing down with guys on base – eliminate that big inning that I’ve had a lot this year.”
Let’s Go Mets !
40 comments
trs86
9/29/2009-10:07am at 10:07 am (UTC -4)
Please fire Jerry and the entire coaching staff.
Also, in other Mets news, more guys fired in the minors.
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-10:14am at 10:14 am (UTC -4)
As Ricky used to say to Lucy: Wha happened?
trs86
9/29/2009-10:17am at 10:17 am (UTC -4)
Julio and Mako out.
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-10:24am at 10:24 am (UTC -4)
Julio Franco?
Do they really think the problem is the management of the GCL and Dominican league players? Perhaps it is the selection of the players that should be examined…
trs86
9/29/2009-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
I think it’s a clear turnover in the minors. I expect AAA changes as well.
stickguy
9/29/2009-10:13am at 10:13 am (UTC -4)
So, the are fine with Evans? Then why doesn’t Jerry ever use him?
They ned to stop talking to this guy. He really gets on my nerves.
make them all go away. I want all new coaches next year (then can keep the BP guy, since I don’t even know who it is!)
Nah, fire his sorry arse too.
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-10:16am at 10:16 am (UTC -4)
He’d use Nick Evans more but that might mean taking at bats away from Fernando Tatis or Jeremy Reed.
trs86
9/29/2009-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
I think they have no plans for Nick Evans with the Mets and don’t want his stock to fall any further because they think he sucks that bad. Maybe they are right.
trs86
9/29/2009-10:18am at 10:18 am (UTC -4)
Get a new guy who gets to choose his own damn coaches.
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-10:23am at 10:23 am (UTC -4)
Didn’t Jerry choose these coaches?
trs86
9/29/2009-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
Hojo? I don’t think so.
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-10:32am at 10:32 am (UTC -4)
I got the sense he approved the retention of Hojo and Sandy Alomar. Afterall, he was allowed to bring in Razor Shines (his buddy from the White Sox system and from their time as Expos players together), Warthen and Luis Alicea.
At the time Hojo was retained he was still being credited with being a major positive influence on David Wright. I don’t think one could blame Manuel for rolling over on that one or Omar for insisting on it.
trs86
9/29/2009-10:36am at 10:36 am (UTC -4)
That’s what I mean, it has been too hard to fire Hojo because of his Mets ties. He should have been fired long ago.
Also, I don’t know if he got to chose Warthen? I am assuming so?
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-10:42am at 10:42 am (UTC -4)
Well, we know for sure he hired Shines and Razor has been an abject failure.
CaseStreet
9/29/2009-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
“it has been too hard to fire Hojo”
what reason did the Mets have for firing Hojo?
I highly doubt Hojo gets the axe unless they just want to clean house.
trs86
9/29/2009-11:27am at 11:27 am (UTC -4)
What reason do the Mets have for keeping him?
The entire time he was here with a healthy core they could not hit for crap with RISP. He is part of the old guard that has had nothing but disaster bestow them.
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-10:48am at 10:48 am (UTC -4)
Looks like Warthen was promoted from New Orleans along with Obie and Luis Aguayo when Omar cleaned house last year. So it’s safe to say that Jerry probably didn’t have much of a say in that.
We can blame him for Razor and Alicea (not that the latter deserves any blame as far as I can tell) but probably for no one else.
trs86
9/29/2009-11:18am at 11:18 am (UTC -4)
I am not sure Razor was bad either. Coincidence that for 2 years we have had bad 3rd base coaches or maybe bad philosophy?
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-11:29am at 11:29 am (UTC -4)
There’s no coaching philosphy that says to waive players home recklessly or to ignore events on the field or to not tell a player to bust it around third base when there’s two outs and a play on another runner.
I even remember Manuel laying blame on Razor earlier in the season for having a bad week or something like that. I think the Mets had several guys caught at the plate by country miles in the same week.
trs86
9/29/2009-11:34am at 11:34 am (UTC -4)
I agree on the Wright thing but that’s one occasion. The other, just like the players being idiots on the bases always pushing for more when it’s not needed. I think it’s in the back of all of their minds they have to do these things to score. There is no team philosophy, it’s I gotta do this for us to score.
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
From the Star-Ledger:
Jerry Manuel defends NY Mets third-base coach Razor Shines
By Brian Costa
August 30, 2009, 3:28PM
Noah K. Murray/The Star-LedgerMets third-base coach Razor ShinesCHICAGO — Mets manager Jerry Manuel defended third-base coach Razor Shines on Sunday after Mets players were thrown out at home plate on Friday and Saturday at Wrigley Field.
Shines has come under scrutiny for his aggressiveness in waving players home all season. But Manuel said Shines, his longtime friend, has done an “OK” job this year. It wasn’t a ringing endorsement, but it wasn’t a public condemnation, either.
“I think he’s been aggressive, and for me, I like aggressiveness,” Manuel said. “I do think that as a third-base coach, you’re constantly learning. … He’s been OK, and I think he’ll get better.”
On Friday, Shines waved Daniel Murphy home as he tried to score from first on a double to left field by Fernando Tatis. But the relay throw from Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot easily beat Murphy, who awkwardly slid into the tag by catcher Geovany Soto. Tatis was thrown out at home on a similar play Saturday, although Manuel said Shines tried to stop Tatis and Tatis ignored him.
Still, Shines has given the green light on plays that ended with Mets players being thrown out enough times to draw attention.
“There have been times when maybe guys should have been held, and they’ll be some more times like that,” Manuel said. “And kind of the way we are now, sometimes those things become very visible, and they’re difficult to overcome. As he is growing, we’re growing.”
Shines is in his first season as a coach with the Mets, but has been a third-base coach before — in 2007 with the Chicago White Sox. Still, Manuel said it takes time to become familiar with ballparks in another league and how they play.
Also, going into this season, the Mets were a team that relied on speed more than power, especially as they began their first year at cavernous Citi Field. So Manuel wanted the Mets to be “attacking home plate,” he said.
The injury-battered Mets are utterly unrecognizable from the squad they left spring training with. But neither the team’s diminished speed nor Shines’ questionable decisions have prompted Manuel to tell Shines to be more conservative.
“When I think there is a difference of thought or opinion, we discuss it,” Manuel said. “What were you thinking? Why? What did it look like to you? Here’s what it looked like to me. Unless you’ve been over there, it’s a different world over there. It’s a different world over there.”
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-11:41am at 11:41 am (UTC -4)
From the Post — 1 every 8 games!!!
RAZOR NOT TOO SHARP AT 3RD BASEBy BART HUBBUCH
Last Updated: 2:40 PM, September 2, 2009
Posted: 2:40 PM, September 2, 2009
CHICAGO — Third-base coach Razor Shines’ itchy trigger arm has been a spectacular disaster for the Mets this season.
METS BLOGHUBBUCH ON TWITTERThey had two more runners thrown out at home plate in their series here with the Cubs to give Jerry Manuel’s team a whopping total of 16 home-plate victims in 131 games this season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
No comparisons were available yesterday, but that breaks down to one Met thrown out at home every eight games — a ratio that can’t be good for Shines’ shaky job security.
Shines, who is in his first season with the Mets and also coaches the team’s outfielders, was third-base coach for the White Sox in 2007 and is a long-time friend of Manuel’s. But Manuel offered only a tepid defense of Shines after yesterday’s 4-1 win over the Cubs.
“He’s been OK, and I think he’ll get better,” Manuel said of Shines, who is in his first season with the Mets. “There have been some times where maybe guys should have been held or what have you, and there will be some more times like that.”
Manuel tried to temper criticism of Shines by saying his coaches were given the mandate to be aggressive.
“I’ve always wanted my guy to be aggressive, because we came with a team of speed and I always wanted to be attacking home plate,” Manuel said. “Always wanted to be forcing the action.”
*
At 57 degrees, yesterday marked the coldest start for an August day game at Wrigley Field.
*
Carlos Beltran took another step in his comeback bid Saturday in Port St. Lucie by running the bases for the first time since going on the disabled list June 22 with a bone bruise in his right knee.
Beltran still has a significant hurdle to clear sometime in the next week — an MRI exam. That exam must show the Mets that the bone bruise has decreased significantly before they will allow him to play the final month of the season.
On the plus side, team officials say Beltran ran the bases without pain over the weekend.
*
David Wright said he plans to wear new, more protective batting helmet from Rawlings if the Mets can get one to him in time for his return from the disabled list tomorrow night in Denver.
Manuel said he plans to start Wright tomorrow night and Wednesday, then sit him for Thursday’s matinee. Wright likely will be a daily lineup fixture after that.
*
GM Omar Minaya said the Mets are likely to make just two or three September call-ups. They also probably won’t make those promotions until after their Triple-A and Double-A teams end their season Sept. 7 because those clubs are so short-handed.
Binghamton catcher Josh Thole has been confirmed as one of the call-ups.
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rss CHICAGO — Third-base coach Razor Shines’ itchy trigger arm has been a spectacular disaster for the Mets this season.
METS BLOG
HUBBUCH ON TWITTER
They had two more runners thrown out at home plate in their series here with the Cubs to give Jerry Manuel’s team a whopping total of 16 home-plate victims in 131 games this season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
No comparisons were available yesterday, but that breaks down to one Met thrown out at home every eight games — a ratio that can’t be good for Shines’ shaky job security.
Shines, who is in his first season with the Mets and also coaches the team’s outfielders, was third-base coach for the White Sox in 2007 and is a long-time friend of Manuel’s. But Manuel offered only a tepid defense of Shines after yesterday’s 4-1 win over the Cubs.
“He’s been OK, and I think he’ll get better,” Manuel said of Shines, who is in his first season with the Mets. “There have been some times where maybe guys should have been held or what have you, and there will be some more times like that.”
Manuel tried to temper criticism of Shines by saying his coaches were given the mandate to be aggressive.
“I’ve always wanted my guy to be aggressive, because we came with a team of speed and I always wanted to be attacking home plate,” Manuel said. “Always wanted to be forcing the action.”
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-11:44am at 11:44 am (UTC -4)
From Newsday:
Santana, Francoeur come up short as Mets lose again
July 25, 2009 By ANTHONY RIEBER anthony.rieber@newsday.com
HOUSTON – The Mets dug into their bag of “how do we lose this one?” tricks Friday night and pulled out a doozy in their 5-4 loss to the Astros.
Third-base coach Razor Shines decided to send Jeff Francoeur on a desperate and futile trip toward home plate on a single to rightfield by Daniel Murphy in the seventh inning.
The Mets were down 5-4, there were two outs, and Francoeur had as little chance of scoring as Tony Bernazard has of joining Knute Rockne as one of the greatest motivational speakers of all time.
Hunter Pence was able to play shallow because of Minute Maid Park’s short rightfield and Murphy’s lack of power. Pence also had the third-most assists in baseball in the past season and a half (23) before Shines decided to test him.
Francoeur chugged home and Pence gunned him down by a good 20 feet. Francoeur, who said he planned to bowl over catcher Ivan Rodriguez, did a half-roll, half-surrender move as Rodriguez blocked the plate and tagged out Francoeur to end the inning.
“I couldn’t get anything behind it,” Francoeur said. “Probably looked like a pansy compared to the football mentality, but I could never square him up. Pence did what he does. He’s got a great arm and he put a one-hopper right on the plate. I never had a shot.”
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-11:47am at 11:47 am (UTC -4)
From the NYDN on May 25th:
RAZOR’S EDGE: On Omir Santos’ game-deciding shot to the top of the Green Monster on Saturday, third base coach Razor Shines touched Gary Sheffield rounding third base while trying to stop him. That prompted Sox manager Terry Francona to complain to the umpiring crew. Had Santos’ shot not been ruled a homer after replay, Jerry Manuel acknowledged the umps would have been justified in ending the game with Sheffield being ruled the final out for illegal contact with a coach, although that would have been a gutsy call for a game’s final out.
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2009/05/25/2009-05-25_mets_may_call_up_top_prospect_fernando_martinez_with_ryan_church_hurt.html#ixzz0SVkCTbIL
trs86
9/29/2009-2:34pm at 2:34 pm (UTC -4)
I am confused as to why you needed to post 100 news reports of the same thing?
What does that have to do with if the philosophy for being over aggressive started with Jerry? If Jerry himself told Razor that if he thought they could make it send them?
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-2:48pm at 2:48 pm (UTC -4)
1. They are not the “same thing.” They are all different incidents displaying Shines’ poor judgment and I’m pretty sure you can see that without the disingenuous comment;
2. Third base coach is a position of judgment, not policy. Shines has poor judgment. A policy of aggression is one thing. But no one’s policy mandates sending multiple guys home without a chance to make it. And Shines has done that all season — as the series of articles above recall.
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
“If Jerry himself told Razor that if he thought they could make it send them?”
How many times does he have to be wrong before he is to blame and his judgment deemed questionable?
Once again you’re being an apologist (this time for inarguably poor 3rd base coach) and I can’t understand why despite the mounting evidence.
CaseStreet
9/29/2009-10:41am at 10:41 am (UTC -4)
I’d be fine buying out French’s two remaining arbitration years plus one free agent year as long as it is cheap. I’ve said it before, the Mets haven’t had a stable RFer since Strawberry.
trs86
9/29/2009-11:22am at 11:22 am (UTC -4)
Why not wait until next year though?
CaseStreet
9/29/2009-11:32am at 11:32 am (UTC -4)
I guess it depends on what you expect from Frenchy.
If you expect him to do much better w/ Beltran, Wright and LF or 1B acquision, then you want to sign him now because he’ll be more expensive to extend next year.
If you don’t expect him to do better or as good, then you don’t extend now or later.
I’d take the risk on a 3/15 deal. He made $3.375M this year in his first arb. year.
trs86
9/29/2009-11:36am at 11:36 am (UTC -4)
How much would he go up after one year though? It’s still arbitration.
Say he goes up to 4 this year, as I don’t expect much more. What would he go up to next year 5? Tops is 4.5 this year and 5.5 next. That’s the same as our new guaranteed deal would be. I really like Frenchy but I would hold off until most of next year. It just does not seem to make sense to press the issue. If he only had one more year left I could understand.
trs86
9/29/2009-11:37am at 11:37 am (UTC -4)
Now if he were willing to sign a contract that saved the Mets needed money for next year maybe? Something like 3/15 but next year being 2-3M?
darknova306
9/29/2009-11:42am at 11:42 am (UTC -4)
I’m still not buying him. If he comes into let’s say the first 50 games of the season hitting anywhere close to how well he has during his stint here this year, maybe I’ll jump on the badwagon. I just don’t trust his over-aggressive approach at the plate. Let the ‘change of scenery’ feeling wear off over the Winter and let’s see him come into next season hitting well enough to take a spot in the lineup. (Yes, I’m one of the few haters of Failcoeur, but he’s got a lot to prove to me)
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-11:50am at 11:50 am (UTC -4)
I’m with you. I like a lot of what he brings insofar as his hustle, attitude and power.
But I’m not sold he’s suddenly turned the corner after a couple of years as maybe the worst starting outfielder in the NL while playing under the best manager.
darknova306
9/29/2009-11:59am at 11:59 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I highly doubt a guy goes from 250/282/352 (2009 w/ATL) to 308/333/491 (2009 w/NYM) overnight and sustains it. Likely, he falls somewhere back near the middle of those, which is quite substandard.
wannybackstra
9/29/2009-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
Indeed. And 2008 was disgusting for him too:
.239 .294 .359
trs86
9/29/2009-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
I still don’t see the need to make up a name for him showing your displeasure with him? What is the point of it? Because he sucked for the Braves? Surely he will not continue to hit what he has but he has been a pleasant surprise and hopefully his positive attitude will rub off on a team that desperately needs it.
darknova306
9/29/2009-5:01pm at 5:01 pm (UTC -4)
Meh, there’s no need for it, but I do it anyway. It’s up to him to prove me wrong and have the nickname banished. And in the end, Failcoeur is more entertaining than that ridiculously stupid ‘Frenchy’ nickname. I can’t stand that one.
CaseStreet
9/29/2009-5:07pm at 5:07 pm (UTC -4)
I hope Failcoors proves you wrong like Delcrapo proved me wrong last year.
darknova306
9/29/2009-5:26pm at 5:26 pm (UTC -4)
Agreed.