First off for those of you who stayed up past the witching hour to see the Mets beat the Houston Astros 3-2 in fourteen innings I both salute and pity you ! I admit that I turned off the television after R.A Dickey’s knuckler was sent into the right field stands by the light hitting Geoff Blum to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. I figured that the end was near and hell I might as well save myself the aggravation of watching my team lose yet again in extra innings. Thankfully the bullpen was lights out for the next 5 2/3 innings but lets face it , unless this team starts running winning almost all of their remaining series, this team is at best a slightly better than .500 team.
If you were listening to WFAN yesterday afternoon, you more than likely heard what could quite possibly be considered the most uncomfortable and awkward Jerry Manuel interview ever, and I commend Evan Roberts and Joe Benigno for asking the tough question that the Mets fans want the answers to. Lets face it, it’s safe to say that Jerry Manuel will not be managing this team next year as it would be correct to say that the sun ( barring a cataclysmic super nova) will come out tomorrow ( take that Fred !!).I believe that Jerry knows that his tenure as Mets manager is at a end. You can hear the dejection is his voice now. The desperation to win has turned into apathy. Let us face the facts over here, when you freely admit – whether is was meant in jest or not , you don’t EVER say that you are thinking of filling out the roster card by pulling names out of a hat ! Another thing that was off putting was when he was questioned about knowing about Frankie Rodriguez’s thumb injury and he made some incoherent rambling about slipping. Uh Jerry I’m sure Omar as well as the front office is trying to make a case about voiding K-Rod”s contract – don’t give the defense any ammunition that could hurt the team that you are still at this moment employed with !
I do give Jerry credit for actually still doing these interviews. I know that he is bound to contractually but remember Bobby Valentine did when he couldn’t stand the condescending line of questioning by Mike Francesa and Chris ” The Angry Puppy” Russo. At least Jerry was being asked tough question by actual Mets fans ( Joe and Evan) , Francesa usually throws Jerry softballs and treats him like he’s the mentally disabled kid from down the street. In the middle of the ’08 season, Jerry Manuel was in the right place at the right time. He inherited a team that was playing way to tight while their then manager Willie Randolph had his feet to the coals and his job on the line. Jerry stepped in and turned a tense underachieving team into a team that barely missed the playoffs by one game. But ’09 we saw what Jerry really was – a nice guy who when given a offensive and defensively sound team can win ( as he did with the White Sox), but when it comes down to his in game managing – well he’s more Jeff Torborg than he is Joe Torre.
So lets face it Jerry’s time is almost up , but I hope that he is able to squeeze as many wins out of this team to finish .500 or better. Now that would be an Amazin’ feat !!
” They shoot soon to be ex managers don’t they?”
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Celebrating Birthdays today are:
Utility man from ’75-’77,Mike Phillips is 60 today (1950).
One of the best pitchers in Mets history, Ron Darling is damn can you believe it – 50 today (1960) ! Ron was the king of the no-decision during his tenure with the Mets. He is now a well respected color commenter/ studio analyst for the SNY Mets broadcasts.
One of the better utility-men in Mets history- Kurt Russell’s nephew, Matt Franco is 41 (1969) . Who could ever forget that big hit he had off of Mariano Rivera during the subway series !
Former spot starter/middle reliever, Jeff Tam is 40 (1970).
New York Mets sold middle reliever, Wayne Twitchell to the Seattle Mariners on August 19, 1979.
New York Mets signed free agent reliever,Mike Marshall on August 19, 1981.
Little known fact – Mo Vaughn was a founding member of the Fat Boys rap group !
5 comments
metsfan4decades
8/19/2010-7:57am at 7:57 am (UTC -4)
I was one of those Met fans that stayed up to watch that whole game last night. Actually, there were several of us in the Dugout still there by the end of the game. Nice to see as I thought the later it got, the more likely I’d be chatting with myself…
I don’t have the hate for Jerry that many do. I agree he’s gone after this year as there is no other choice in that matter, IMO. As far as I’m concerned Omar on down should be gone…
I didn’t hear Jerry’s interview on WFAN but I usually catch many on the pre and post game shows. I don’t find Jerry to be an idiot as many do. I really do think he’s an intelligent man who does speak well. He just throws out some incredibly stupid statements at times probably much like the comment Rusty mentions about pulling the lineup card out of a hat. Probably not the best way to get the point across that he knows what we all do: the offense sux, nothing being tried has made a difference and he, himself has no idea how to fix it. As a manager, probably not the best thing to admit to the media but I’ll take that honesty over Willie’s ‘I trust my guys’ comments night after night…
Also, often what he says on Monday night, he’s doing the exact opposite on Tuesday night. And if I never see a sac bunt again, it will be too soon….
I was especially impressed with all his interviews up to Tuesday on the KRod incident. I thought he handled it well w/o tripping himself up. Don’t know what was said on WFAN but from Rusty’s account, I get the impression he was in an impossible situation with knowing the inside scoop but knowing he couldn’t admit to it. Jerry knew it, Joe and Evan knew it, I’m sure the fans knew it.
All that being said, this team needs a complete management overhaul and I don’t expect to see many of the coaches back next year, if any.
rustyjr
8/19/2010-8:57am at 8:57 am (UTC -4)
i was kidding when I said i pitied anyone who stayed up to watch the game, I too think Jerry is a good guy and he might be a good motivator but lets face it I think it is safe to say that he is a poor in game manager -at least with the players who he has been given to work with. I understand he is between a rock and a hard place but in many respects he has put himself into this unenvious position. I agree major restructuring from the front office down to the coaches and some part the players need to be made . It is just so deflating because a month and a half ago there was a buzz about this team – this team was going ( in hearts anyway) all the way. Now we have to sit back and accept the harsh reality that to be better than .500 is the ultimate goal right now and hopefully next season won’t be yet another rehash of this one
Ceetar
8/19/2010-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
I listened to most of the interview with Jerry on my way to the gym. The guy annoys me. He’s a horrible manager, and while he may be ‘intelligent’, he’s not when it comes to baseball. He made plenty of ridiculous statements, and I know you can’t really believe what he says when he talks, but Evan pushed him a bit on the “how did Frankie hurt his hand” question and Manuel was just muttering jibberish, to the point that Evan asked “What does that mean?” in which Manuel basically responded with the same line.
Also, his ringtone is MLK’s I have a Dream speech. which to me fits with the faux-intelligent persona he puts on with the leadership books in his office and what not.
stickguy
8/19/2010-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
hey, I was at the Matt Franco game! last section of th eupper deck, and pretty high up, but damned, I was still inside the stadium.
stickguy
8/19/2010-9:40am at 9:40 am (UTC -4)
well, nothing more can really be said about Jerry. He has proven that he is marginally qualified at best. And while I suppose you can debate if he should be fired (with the club eating money to have another spare manager on the payroll), there is no way to justify bringing him back after his contract expires at seasons end.
Actually, he has an option for next year (1.5mill IIRC), so he isn’t even that cheap if they do want him back!
And I am fully on board with reassigning Omar too, and brooming out the FO deadwood also, along with the entire coaching staff. Just freaking start fresh.
Omar coming back as GM will be a tough enough sell, but Jerry or Hojo returning might cause the fanbase to go ballistic. And forget about the roasting in the press!
reevaluate the organization and the roles people have (looking at you jeffy), and just start clearing house. And I am warming to the option of Krivichy (maybe I will even learn how to spell it) if the Wilpons want to keep some kind of continuity. At least he has experience building a winning organization.