29
2009
Jerry Has A Chance To Stage A Coup d’etat
An article by 
Last week it was revealed that after the last game of the season (which cannot come soon enough for me) that Jerry Manuel will sit down with Omar Minaya along with Fred and Jeff Wilpon to discuss the future of the coach staff which consists of Howard Johnson (hitting coach), Dan Warthen (pitching coach), Luis Alicea (1B coach), Razor Shines (3B coach) and Sandy Alomar Sr. (bench coach). Word going around is that Howard Johnson’s job is safe which is not a surprise to me as the Wilpons love him and have kept him in the organization for many years since he has retired. Warthen’s job is also safe apparently. I can imagine that the coach most likely to get the axe would be Shines as he done a horrible job as the 3B coach.
When Omar Minaya signed onto to be the Mets General Manager the main condition was that he would have 100% autonomy on baseball decisions which has included hiring the coaches. He hired Willie Randolph’s coaches while he was manager and he had final word on Jerry’s coaches this season. However, since the ill-fated press conference in which he insulted the Daily News beat writer Adam Rubin it seems the Wilpons have lost faith in Omar Minaya and his ability to be a successful GM for this team. Since that press conference Omar has hardly been seen in public, hardly talking to the press, when he does have press conferences if questions start getting off topic Mets public relations guy Jay Horowitz abruptly steps in and ends the press conference. Last week the Mets released Ramon Pena and Luis Aguayo, two of Omar’s friends plus the firing of Tony B earlier this year shows that Omar does not have the autonomy he once had.
Jerry needs to step up in this meeting and tell the Wilpons that if he is going to have any success next season and beyond he needs to pick his own staff that he trusts who have no ties to the Wilpons or Omar only to Jerry. I personally believe that the entire staff including Jerry should be let go but that would only occur in a perfect world and as we know as Met fans we don’t live in a perfect world. Jerry will be back, we know that much. Howard Johnson has done a horrible job as the Mets hitting coach this season and since he took over as hitting coach in 2007. This isn’t me jumping on the bandwagon of firing Hojo, I wrote this piece earlier in the season that you can read here. I wrote that piece when it was “only April.” Howard Johnson advised David Wright earlier in the year to change his approach to the plate, I believe he is one of the reasons why David’s season at the plate has been so erratic and his power is done. Obviously by the end of May when he had 43 strikeout’s there was something wrong with David at the plate. He never once told Wright to go back to his old approach, he’s said it himself on interviews with SNY. He feels for David this new approach is the best. I never see HoJo after someone has a bad at bat talking to that guy in the dugout, going over the plate appearance, instead he sits in the dugout, chewing his gum or seeds or whatever nodding his head.
The pitchers have done a horrible job this season with Warthen as their coach. The walks are up, ERA’s are up as well. Pelfrey has regressed from the pitcher we saw towards the end of last year. Ollie was worse than ever. Clearly whatever Warthen is coaching is not working with this staff.
Razor Shines is a bad judge on sending guys home or keeping them on 3rd but he is reportedly Jerry’s friend, Jerry trusts him and I think he could make a good bench coach for Jerry next year. Bench coach is overlooked but I think he could actually help Jerry, especially at times when Jerry doesn’t play aggressively enough. Luis Alicea doesn’t seem to have any knocks on him, so we could keep him at first.
Jerry needs to realize the Wilpons are keeping Omar on because they refuse to pay him to stay home, he is the GM in name only right now in their eyes. Under Omar so far none of the 2 managers have had any chance to fully pick their staff, the guys who answer to them. This is Jerry’s chance to be the 1st manager under Omar to pick his staff. He needs to step up and say that this is his team, he has to work with these guys all season long, he needs to be able to trust that they will not have ulterior motives and that they are there to help him lead the Mets to a championship.
About the Author: Greg Pomes
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[...] This post was Twitted by metsmerized [...]
“Luis Alicea doesn’t seem to have any knocks on him, so we could keep him at first.”
Maybe Luis and Razor should switch positions — Luis at third and Razor at first. No?
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
GREG, GOOD POST; BUT I THINK JERRY HAD MORE INPUT INTO THIS STAFF THAN YOU SEEM AWARE OF AS HE ONCE SAID OF WARTHEN, HE WANTED HIM AS A COACH IN CHICAGO; BUT HE WAS ALREADY UNDER CONTRACT ELSEWHERE. I’M INCLINED TO BELIEVE COACHES ARE A TAD OVERRATED; BUT BELIEVE THIS TEAM NEEDS STABILITY OF MESSAGE MORE THAN CHANGE, I’D CERTAINLY THINK A FULL ST, SANS WBC, WOULD BE BENEFICIAL, I’M NOT CERTAIN HOJO EWAS IMPETUS FOR CHANGE IN WRIGHT APPROACH OR WAS DAVID MORE INTERESTED IN OUT HITTING JETER IN AVERAGE TO GARNER MORE CHARITY MONEY. SOMETIMES I THINK WRIGHT IS TRYING TO AIM HIS HITS NOT SWINGING AS HARD AT TIMES TO AVOID OFer CATCHING ON FLY LEADING TO MORE Ks. JUST MY GUESS BASED ON OBSERVATIONS. TOO AGGRESSIVE APPROACH BY 3B COACH COULD BE DUE TO PERCEPTION THE WEAK LINEUP NOT ABLE TO COME THROUGH & EXTRA CHANCES NEED TO BE TAKEN, IF THAT ISN’T THE CAUSE, HE’S FAILED, CERTAINLY. I KNOW SHINES WAS HELD IN HIGH REGARD AS AAA MNGR FOR KNIGHTS HERE IN CHARLOTTE,NC. DOERSN’T IMPLY HE’S A GOOD 3B COACH; BUT HE’S CERTAINLY MILES BETTER THAN HIS PREDECESSOR. PERHAPS SANDY, Sr NEEDS TO SWAP JOBS WITH RAZOR. ANY & ALL CHANGES SHOULD EMINATE FROM WHOMEVER IS THE FLD MGR AS IS CUSTOMARY.
This is silly. The Mets did not have a horrible year because of the coaching staff! Re-write this article and substitute “coaching staff” for “medical staff.”
Then you’ll actually have written a good relevant article instead of a simple “space filler.”
To suggest that David Wright did not hit 30 home runs because Howard Johnson changed his hitting stance is absurd! Wright is NOT a home run hitter! David Wright IS NOT a home rune hitter!
Warden is has been and is one of the most respected coaches in Major League baseball! Are you kidding me?! Get rid of him?! Do your friggin home work before you write simple ass knee jerk articles.
Regarding Shine, Shines has made some bad choices throughout the year. However, what 3rd base coach hasn’t? Shines works with infielders and is very well respected for his ability to teach infield play fundamentals. Again! Do your homework!
Sorry to jump all over you but geez come on your better than this!
Are you serious? is this a serious post? if so, what games have you been watching? You must allow the injury excuse for the coaching/management staff this year, which I disagree on. Regardless of what players have been on the field there has been un-deniable fundamental mistakes made consistantly all year long. That is the coaches responsibility to see and correct. That is simply not happening with this current staff. Your argument on Warthen is confusing, have you seen the pitching performance this year?
First off the guy’s name is “Warthen”, not “Warden”. Secondly, you say he’s a “highly regarded” coach….by whom?
You are right D Wright isn’t a “Home Rune” hitter, but he is a Home Run Hitter dumbass
Get a 1B who is middle of the ppack instead of last, get a LF who can hit 15-20 hrs., get a couple of solid #3 type starters. That will help a lot more than changing the coaches.
Greg nice, job, and in a perfect world, Jerry and his ENTIRE staff should be fired. As for the injuries, even if the Met bats were healthy, the pitching was horrible, that falls on Warthen & Omar. Razor Shines should never have been coach third. HOJO is a horrible batting coach. Of the “healthy” Mets I can’t think of one player HOJO has actually helped.
In a “perfect” world, Omar, Jerry and the coaches would all be gone, injuries or not.
SOrry I misspelled Warthen’s name. I stand by my comments that Warthen is an excellent coach. Unlike other people on this blog I take responsibility for what I write. Did you read that all you “Daniel Murphy is going to be great man! He’s our 2nd baseman!” and “Castillo sucks man! He’s done” Are you in that group? Did you make those comments about Murphy and Castillo last year and now are targeting the coaching staff?
Why is there no bashing of Daniel Murphy’s play this year? Or David Wright’s poor timely hitting and lethargic play? Your the same flks who wanted to trade Reyes and Delgado last year when they started slowly. Your the same group that called out Carlos Beltran for his “lack of leadership and whatever the hell you all wrote back then. Joe D… dig up and repost those would you please! I asked you a few days ago to do tht PLEASE> Lets expose these dopey posters for who they are….”Knee-jerkers” Hahahhhhh I have coined a perfect phrase for these poster; “knee-jerkers” who are just “knee-jerkingoff”
Warthen was in the Doger organization for years. Warthen is known for his ability to break down and adjust a pitchers mechanics. He is the opposite of Peterson. Where Peterson talks in new age Yimmothy Leary mumbo-jumbo Warthen talks in simple terms. “Perez your relase poinst is friggin inconssitnet lets work on that!” as opposed to Peterson “oh Ollie I understand your pain, the gravitational pull of the waxing moon is throwing off your blance thus changing your release point. Lets work on getting your chi centered. OUMmmmmmmmmmmm…” Warthen: “Perez your work ethic is for shit! Work on getting the release point right!”
There see what you have done! you have made me ramble on and I am late for a meeting! Bastards! Go sell your “knee-jerk scapecoat shit” elsewhere!
Dude, in case you haven’t noticed, your the only one defending Warthen….your making no sense, and using a conversation to Ollie that you made up in your head? Also, in case you haven’t noticed, there is a post within the past few days about David Wright. His performance is bashed there as well, and I agree with you there he has been lethargic even before he got hit. But if you have been watching the pitching at all this year you would be a fool to think warthen has done a fine job? Why did he not push for his ACE and biggest investment of the organization at this point, to have his arm checked out by an army of doctors back in spring training? Warthen is hot garbage.
In addition, if his methods were so great and successful, what does the rotation ahve to show for it? Warthen’s method did squat for Ollie, Pelfry, Maine, and the list goes on.
The results that Dan Warthen obtained from this pitching staff is totally unacceptable.
The Mets are among the league leaders in bases on balls, for goodness sake! Attacking the strike zone should be an organizational philosophy and it is not. Pitching has always been a Met mainstay, and this organization has mutilated that principal, which has coursed its way like a virus throughout the entire organization. The problem is systemic. Warthen should be the first, but not the last, pitching coach to go.
A lasting memory of HoJo is when he struck out to end the 1988 Championship Series and stood at home plate while a Dodgers fan skipped away with his batting helmut, stolen straight off his head. (Oddly, HoJo has more hair now than he did then).
Whether we keep Razor Shines or not is like moving chairs on the Titanic. I think we’ve seen enough base running and fielding blunders for one decade, let alone one year.
Either hire Wally Backman or bring back Bobby V. But please, PLEASE, get someone in there who knows what they’re doing.
Agree completely with your post. My vote would be for Bobby V to come back, but that will not happen.
I don’t believe that Jerry is capable of staging a Coup as you suggest. In my opinion, he is Omar’s puppy dog and will not stand up as you suggest. Moreover, why would we want him to? Is it as though Jerry is capable of picking a staff that will work? I have trouble believing that. They should all fall. Omar and Jerry should just GO! Let’s get some real baseball people in to run the Mets.
MASK, I’D RESPECT YOUR NEVER-ENDING COMPLAINTS & CALLS FOR CHANGE MORE IF YOU JUST ONCE SUGGESTED WHO YOU DEFINE AS THESE OFTEN REFERRED TO MYTHICAL “REAL BASEBALL PEOPLE” ARE. WHAT OUR TEAM NEEDS IS SOLUTIONS NOT COMPLAINTS. THERE’S MILLIONS OF COMPLAINTS, AT LEAST HALF MUST BELONG TO U & ACE. TRY SOME REALISTIC SOLUTIONS. PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE!
62, Knowledgeable baseball people are not mythical, they are real. Plenty of names have been offered on this site for GM and Field Manager. Just mixing some names in you an pick such as Ryne Sandberg, Tony LaRussa, Paul Podesta, Orel Hershiser or anybody out of the Red Sox organization. I’m not the authority on this or whether they are available or have better things to do, but you can be assured that they exist and they’re out there. But of course, this is beyond the Wilpons to figure out so they need to go first. I’ll throw this thing over to an alliance of Trump and Seinfeld to hire the right people!
jerry has nothing to say. he is hanging on by his fingernails and gratefull to have a job. they should all be fired, of course.
Good points 62 on all the cliches thrown around but no facts produced or debated just generalities thrown out there.
I agree that Warthen has not advanced the young pitchers on this staff. Niese got better in AAA w/o Warthen around, maybe a coincidence but worth noting. Pelfrey has regressed and all are walking more batters than ever before. Doesn’t the pitching coach have to address this? I don’t trust Warthen cause he has nothing to show since he replaced Peterson, not to say Peterson was the answer, and I am really concerned if he returns unless he comes up with something during off season or end of season to work on walks and “yips”
My only concern with Jerry is his penchant to put guys in “dog house” and then making excuses why they are not playing. Evans is the current example that unless he cursed out his mgr or insulted Mets team then he should be playing instead of Tatis or Sullivan, either find out if he fits in next year or send him to AAA or other team. Jerry is lacking in communication skills, IMO.
I don’t think it’s cliches that have been thrown around. The team is dismal and needs to be fixed. The first piece of the solution is to change management. There has been plenty of documented examples of Omar’s follies and also of Manuel’s poor game strategy and lack of enforcing poor fundies. As you have mentioned pitchers have regressed under Warthen and both Omar and Jerry own that. Jerry has also setback players with his selective doghouse. One blatant case was Church and the more current one, as you mentioned, is Evans. Why was he brought up if not to be used? How is a young player supposed to overcome that?
Its not platitudes were talking about but genuine poor performance that demands a change.
MASK, #1 EVANS WAS LIKELY BROUGHT UP AS A LAST RESORT TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING. CHOICE WAS SEND HIM HOME WITH REST OF MILB RIFF-RAFF OR BRING HIM UP AS FILLER-FODDER & POSSIBLE USE. MOST LIKELY IT’S ALREADY BEEN DETERMINED HE HAS NO FUTURE ON TEAM. HIS IMMATURE REACTION TO DEMOTION LIKELY DIDN’T HELP HIS CAUSE, REMEMBER THEY HAD TO SEND HIM ALL THE WAY BACK TO AA TO GET HIM STARTED & THAT TOOK AWHILE. SUDDENLY THIS KID IS “THE NATURAL” BECAUSE HE WAS IMPRESSIVE IN HIS FIRST FEW GAMES? I’D BE HARD PRESSED TO ARGUE ABOUT WHO SHOULD & SHOULDN’T PLAY AT THIS TIME, ONLY JERRY HAS ANY SKIN IN THE GAME & IT’S HIS RIGHT TO CHOOSE TO PLAY WHOMEVER HE BELIEVES GIVES HIM THE BEST CHANCE AT A ‘W’ ON ANY GIVEN DAY, HE’D CERTAINLY BE A TOTAL FAILURE AS A MGR IF HE FULLY EXPLAINED EVERY MOVE ORISSUE WITH EVERY PLAYER. ALL THIS “LOVE” FOR CHURCH? WHY? FOR STARTING 1 SEASON HOT? IF THAT WAS A CRITERIA MIKE VAIL WOULD BE IN COOPERSTOWN. CHURCH WAS THE “THROW-IN” FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS WE NEEDED A CATCHER NOT AN OUTFIELDER ESP WITH ENDY ON THE ROSTER AT THE TIME. GNATS THREW HIM IN TO GET RID OF HIS PART-TIME AVAILABILITY IN MY OPINION. HELL, THEY NEEDED COMPETANT OUTFIELDERS AT THE TIME WE NEED A CATCHER AFTER TOREALBA FELL THROUGH. DO THE MATH! LOOK AT HOW LITTLE ATL IS USING HIM. IS HE IN COX’ DOGHOUSE? LMAO! REALIZE THE PRESS SERVES THEMSELVES BY STIRRING/CREATING CONTROVERSY.
Sure, it’s Jerry’s option to use whomever he wishes in a geme just like any other manager. But this season is shot and denying Evans even 1 day on the field is shortsighted. But then who ever accused Jerry of being a visionary? There are better alternatives than Jerry to manage this team. That isn’t a platitude, but reality.
MASK, U MAY BE RIGHT THERE ARE BETTER ALTERNATIVES TO MNGING THE TEAM THAN JERRY; BUT ON WHAT ARE U BASING YOUR COMPLAINT THAT EVANS WAS A BETTER ALTERNATIVE THAN TATIS? U R ASSUMING EVANS IS VIABLE FOR THIS TEAM’S FUTURE. OTHER THAN HIS FIRST CALLUP SERIERS IN COL, HE’S BEEN FAIRLY MEDIOCRE FROM MY RECOLLECTION HIS 1B DEFENSE ALSO VERY SUSPECT I SEEM TO RECALL AT LEAST 1 E IN EVERY G HE’S PLAYED @ 1B; BUT I MAY BE WRONG.
RH 1B ARE SUITED TO AL NOT NL WHERE RUNNING GAME IS STILL VIABLE. PICKOFFS DON’T FAVOR RH 1B.
62, I said it makes no sense that Evans has gotten no playing time at all since coming up from the minors. I didn’t say anything about where he should play. Let him play the OF; let him PH. By the way, he has not made an E every game he played at 1st; you’re just inventing that. The point is he’s a young player and Tatis is just about finished. With the season shot, it’s reasonable that Evans should have gotten some learning experience.
MASK, U R 100% RIGHT, IF THEY HAVE ANY SENSE OF VALUE Re. EVANS. SINCE HE’S NOW BEING INSTRUCTED BY SANDY,Jr IN ART OF CATCHING, PERHAPS THAT EXPLAINS THE VALUE QUESTION.
BTW, I CAVIATED THE Es @ 1B SAYING “IT SEEMED TO ME AS…” I KNEW IT WAS HYPERBOLE BECAUSE I REMEMBER MY DISAPPOINTMENT AT HIS FIELDING INADEQUACY THERE COMPARATIVLY TATIS IS THE BETTER FIELDER @ ANYONE OF A NUMBER OF POSITIONS.
I’M CONFUSED AS TO HOW AFTER 79G,173 AB, .243 BA,.289 OBP,.382 SLG & .990 FLD GARNERS SO MUCH LOVE & DESIRE TO SEE ON FIELD? THOSE ARE BARELY AVG. MLB #s
I’LL GRANT U, I’D REPLACE TATIS W/MURPH IN ’10 AS B/U @ 1B & 3B(YOUNGER,CHEAPER, JUST AS PRODUCTIVE IF NOT MORE SO AB & BETTER PHer)
PERHAPS JERRY’S TRYING TO REPAY TATIS FOR HIS PAST PERFORMANCE BY GIVING HIM MORE OPPORETUNITIES TO ELEVATE HIS VALUE AS F/A? I THINK THAT’S REFERRED TO AS “LOYALTY”, A GOOD THING FOR PLAYERS TO SEE FROM THE MGR.
62, To keep it simple: 1. I think Evans can bee a better hitter than Murphy. 2. I also think an Evans experiment at 1B can be more productive than all the experimenting that has gone on with Murphy all year. 3. In a busted season, a little exposure should have been given to Evans. 4. “Loyalty” to Tatis is nice, but for the benefit of the future, more time should have been given to Evans.
Evans has the potential to supply the power bat that this team sorely needs and he should have been given a reasonable look. Otherwise, just let the Mets release him and allow another ML team develop him into a valuable player. Just another Mets fiasco in the making.
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
HEY, SARGE? WHAT DO THESE PITCHERS HAVE IN COMMOM? HUDSON,MULDER,ZITO,PELFREY,MAINE,PEREZ? THE FIRST 3 HAVE ALL COMPLAINED THAT PETERSON TRIED TO TAKE TOO MUCH CREDIT FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
ALL 6 STRUGGLED IN THE WAKE OF SVENGALI JACKET’S DISAPPEARANCE. PERHAPS BECAUSE THE FIRT 3 ARE ALL MORE TALENTED THAN THE LAST 3, THEY EVENTUALLY LEARNED IT WAS THEM, NOT RICK WHO EARNED THE Ws. THE “LACK OF SELF-CONFIDENCE” ISSUE IS TOO PREVELANT ON OUR YOUNGER STAFF NOT TO HAVE ONE COMMON SOURCE(PETERSON). THE PRESS LED US TO BELIEVE WE HAD AN EDGE IN ACQUIRING THE FORMER A’s PITCHERS DUE TO PETERSON BEING ON STAFF; BUT ALAS IT WAS LIKELY THE POISON THAT RUINED OUR ATTEMPTS.
THE PRESS ALSO IMPLIES JERRY’S “DOGHOUSE” IS A BAD THING; ON THE CONTRARY, I BELIEVE THAT’S SORT OF LIKE CONDEMNING SOMEONES PARENTING SKILLS BECAUSE THEIR KIDS ARE OFTEN ‘GROUNDED’ UNLESS U KNOW WHY THEY WERE GROUNDED IT MAKES NO SENSE. I, FOR ONE, AM GLAD JERRY HAS A “DOGHOUSE”. CHURCH’S PLAYING TIME WASN’T FULLTIME IN DC, NEITHER IS IT IN ATL. DOES THAT MEAN HE’S PERSECUTED EVERYWHERE? SINCE THE TRADE FRANCOEUR PLAYED IN 72G FOR NY, CHURCH 43G FOR ATL. DOES COX “HATE” HIM ALSO? PERHAPS JERRY’S GROUNDING HIM WAS DESERVED? WE’LL NEVER KNOW; BUT WHY WOULD JERRY DELIBERATELY SIT SOMEONE WHO MAY CONTRIBUTE, ESP WHEN HE’S JUDGED ON W-L? I DO KNOW THIS, BEFORE BEING DEALT TO NY, SINCE I’M FORCED TO WATCH NY-DC GAMES OFF MASN FEED, THE DC ANNOUNCERS WERE USUALLY DISCUSSING RYAN AS BEING UNAVAILABLE, IF NOT IN LINEUP, OR JUST RETURNING, IF IN LINEUP. PERSONALLY, I DO NOT BELIEVE HIS HEADACHES WERE EVER CONCUSSION RELATED, SINCE HE’D ALWAYS SUFFERED FROM A PRECONCUSSION ISSUE OF MIGRAINES. HEADACHES MAY HAVE CAUSED HIS MIA CONDITION IN DC. EITHER WAY, HE OWED IT TO THE TEAM TO BE MORE FORTHRIGHT & EMPHATIC WITH THE PRESS POST-CONCUSSION. ACCORDING TO REPORTS RYAN WAS VERY NON-COMMITTAL REGARDING HIS AVAILABILITY TO PLAY, POST CONCUSSION. AM I THE ONLY ONE WHO REMEMBERS THE FINAL BLOW FROM ESCOBAR’S KNEE WHILE SLIDING WAS THE 2nd CONSECUTIVE IDENTICAL KNEEING? AT SOME POINT SHOULD HE NOT HAVE REALIZED IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN IF HE FOOTED HIS SLIDE, AGAIN INSTEAD OF HEADFIRSTING? I THINK THAT’S CALLED CONTIBUTARY NEGLIGENCE
62, Stop fighting yesterday’s battles and get on with today’s. Peterson is gone and all you do is guess about the effects he’s had. It’s been a significant time that Warthen has been in charge of pitching. The current diffiulties are owned by the current staff, not the former one. Get over Peterson, and look at what Warthen has accomplished or not!
Pretty easy for you to put the blane on Church who suffered the injury, while you take the responsibility away from Manuel who owns it. How do you explain away the neglect of Evans by Jerry? Why was Evans brought up to the Mets to sit on the bench? How is he supposed to progress with that orchestrated neglect by Manuel? Why sit him in a busted season when he should have been getting some valuable exposure to big league playing conditions?
Interesting that your willing to blame Church for his situation but absolve Pelfrey, Perez, and Maine from theirs. Your approach is to let Manuel off the hook, but keep Peterson on his. How about looking at the state of the team and holding current management’s feet to the fire rather than the past coaching staff!
“but absolve Pelfrey, Perez, and Maine….” This is what I asked him yesterday, but of course the only response was insults and an epic novel…Really, if Warthen was such a great coach, and his methods are so successful how does one defend the performance of these pitchers? Was any improvement made at all? What about the mishandling of Santanna’s injury? Who owns that? Peterson? Didn’t peterson try to warn Omar about Johann?
It’s amazing because the litany of mistakes is huge. I guess blind eyes will just not see.
ACE, YOU CAN’T KEEP CHANGING THE FLD MNGT LEADERSHIP AFTER EVERY POTHOLE
BTW NO ONE IS DYING, THIS ISN’T LIFE SUSTAINING STUFF. CERTAINLY I BELIEVE IT TAKES MORE THAN ONE SEASON TO FUMUGATE OUT OF THE PETERSON METHODEX ZITO,MULDER,HUDSON). U ASKED ABOUT PELFREY, PEREZ, MAINE RE. WARTHEN
PELFREY: I BELIEVE IS UNDERGOING PAINS OF ALTERING HIS APPROACH BACK TO POWER PITCHING FROM CONTACT/GROUNDBALL PETERSONITE. HAVEN’T U NOTICED INCR IN Ks? THIS ISN’T A GRISLED VET TRYING TO ALTER HIS DELIVERY; BUT REALLY A ‘KID’ TRYING TO TOTALLY REVAMP HIS TOTAL APPROACH. LIKELY WILL BE A STEP BACK BEFORE FORWARD HOPFULLY SHORT TERM LOSS FOR LONGTERM GAIN
MAINE: LEAST EFFECTED BY WARTHEN DUE TO INJURY LAST YR & THIS.
PEREZ: WARTHEN CHANGES IN MECHANICS/APPROACH PAID DIVIDENDS LATE IN ’08
ALL EFFECTIVE WARTHEN ALTERATIONS DISCARDED BY PEREZ IN WBC. INJURED. NEW MECHANICS INITIATED, AWAITING RESULTS.
OF COURSE THERE ISN’T AN INSTANTANEOUS IMPROVEMENT DUE TO CHANGEOVER. OF COURSE IT’S STILL A PETERSON PROBLEM. DID IRAQ ISSUE BECOME OBAMA’S AT THE INNAUGURATTION OR WILL HISTORY ASSIGN IT TO BUSH? I CERTAINLY BELIEVE WARTHEN IS OVERWELMED BY THE ISSUES THROUGHOUT THE PITCHING STAFF & I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE A UNIQUE APPROACH TAKEN TO THE PITCHING STAFF JUST AS MLB TEAMS DO FOR OFFENSIVE ISSUES. SPECIAL GUEST INSTRUCTORS akin TO RICKEY’S HIRING AS SB INSTRUCTOR FOR SPEEDSTERS AS AN EXAMPLE. PEREZ’ IDOL WAS VALENZUELA, HIRE FEERNANDO TO WORK ESP WITH PEREZ ELIMINATING THE LANGUAGE BARRIER ISSUE. NIESE NEEDS A POWER CURVE ala KOOSMAN, INVITE JERRY WITH PAY TO WORK WITH JON IN ST OR OFFSEASON. I’D APPROACH EACH PITCHER’S INDIV ISSUE LIKE SELF-CONFIDENCE W/MAINE & PELFREY(SPORTS SHRINK) AS INDIVIDUALLY JUST AS THEY APPROACH THE OFFENSIVE TUTORING NEEDS OF POSITION PLAYERS. WARTHEN CAN OVERSEE/COORDINATE & REINFORCE IN-SEASON. THIS IS A PROBLEM U R LIKELY TO ENCOUNTER ON A TEAM ATTEMPTING TO CONTEND WITH MOSTLY A SUB-30 ROTATION ESP ONE THAT HAD BEEN MISLED PREVIOUSLY INTO PITCHING ONLY TO STRINGS. BULLPEN CONCERNS CAN FALL DIRECTLY TO WARTHEN.
CONYINUITY IS VERY IMPORTANT, CHANGE VERY DISRUPTIVE. THE CONCEPT OF AN ALL-POWERFUL PITCHING CZAR WAS UNIQUE & CREATIVE. UNFORTUNATLY THEY INSTITUTED THE POSITION WITH AN EGOMANIACAL THEORIST WITH NO ACTUAL PLAYING EXPERIENCE. I’D NOMINATE MIKE MARSHALL, Phd. FOR THE POSITION
MASK, IF PETERSON’S FIRING WAS AS EFFECT ENDING AS WILLIE’S WAS, I’D NEVER GIVE HIM ANOTHER THOUGHT. NAM WASN’T OVER WHEN KENNEDY DIED OR JOHNSON “MO MAS’D” NEITHER IS AFGANISTAN OR IRAQ OVER WITH OBAMA INNAUGURATION. PETERSON’S BRAINWASHING OF YOUNG PITCHERS MUST BE EXPUNGED. IF HIS METHODS WERE SO SUPERFICIAL WHY WOULD HE CAST OUT THOSE THAT DIDN’T DRINK HIS KOOLAIDE LIKE KAZMIR,LINDSTRUM,BANNISTER, BELL,RING, et.al. YOU CAN’T JUST WISH THE PAST AWAY. PETERSON WAS LIKE A CULT LEADER IN A STRANGE WAY. DEPROGRAMMING NEEDS DOING MAINE,PEREZ,PE;LFREY HAD ONLY EXPERIENCED A MODICUM OF MLB SUCCESS PETERSON’S WAY, CONVINCING THEM TO TRY OTHER MEANS IS DIFFICULT. SEE TREVAILS SUFFERED BY ZITO,MULDER, HUDSON IMMEDIATLY AFTER PETERSON DEPARTURE. EMPOWERING A THEORIST WITH NO MLB PLAYING EXPERIENCE WAS PROBABLY THE DUMBEST IDEA EVER FORCED UPON THIS FRANCHISE. A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHY I REFER TO JEFF AS THE “IDIOT SON”. INITIALLY I THOUGHT ITV WAS A BRILLIANTY MOVE; BUT RETHOUGHT MY POSITION AFTER SEEING RESULTS OF PITCHERS STRUGGLING TO OVERCOME/DISCARD THEIR STRENGTHS SUCH AS RISING FASTBALLS & KILLER CURVEBALLS. MAINE ARRIVED WITH A NATURALLY DECEPTIVE RISING FASTBALL. WHAT HAPPENS TO A GHIGH-RIDER AIMED AT THE KNEES? IT USUALLY TENDS TO RISE INTO THE WHEELHOUSE. PELFREY’S COLLEGE COACH DIDN’T RECOGNIZE THE STYLE HIS FORMER ‘ACE’ POWER PITCHER WAS EMPLOYING AND SAID SO TO BURKHARDT ON CAMERA. WHER’D THAT SINKER COME FROM? BEATING INTO YOUNG PITCHING MINDS A MANTRA OF GROUNDBALLS OVER STRIKEOUTS & KNEES OVER ALL ELSE CREATES THAT “CULT” ENVIRONMENT. ‘JACKET’ WAS WORSE COACH NYM EVER EMPLOYED & EMPOWERED. NO WONDER THEY CHOSE TO GO WITH THE “IMPORTED TILE”
Leo Mazzone!!
EMPLOYED BY BRAVES RADIO
I want LaRussa and Duncan!
Manuel will never manage the Mets to anything close to a championship. In his first full season, he couldn’t get them to field or run the bases with anything approaching MLB competence.
DUNCAN OK; BUT LaRUSSA CAN’T STAND ‘HOMER’ STL PRESS
Coaching suggestions:
Manager – Wally Backman, Bobby V.
Pitching Coach: Leo Mazzone, Rick Waits, Tom House, The Jacket
1st Base Coach: Lee Mazzilli
3rd Base Coach: Ken Oberkfell
Bench Coach: Scatman Carruthers (kidding) – Orel Hershiser
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
TOMMY2, MOSTLY GOOD SUGGESTIONS IN A VACUUM, #1 WILPONS WOULD NEVER HIRE BOBBY V. AGAIN, NOT AFTER LAST TIME & BACKMAN HAS WAY TOO MUCH BAGGAGE & SCANDAl RISK, MAZZ IS A GOOD CHOICE; BUT WHY WOULD JEFF HAVE REPLACED HIM FROM POST-GAME SHOW? OBIE ALREADY DECLINED A MLB COACHING (1st BASE FOR ’09)OFFER FROM NY TO GO BACK TO AAA MNGT. LEO MAZZONE IS A GOOD NAME; BUT HE HAS A BRAVES RADIO GIG THAT I DOUBT HE’D PASS UP DUE TO JOB SECURITY. WHERE U REALLY LOST ME WAS THE JACKET(PETERSON) SUGGESTION,PERSONALLY I BELIEVE HE’S THE WORST COACH WE’VE EVER EMPLOYED; IT WAS WHILE HE HAD PITCHING ‘AUTONOMY’/ CONTROL OVER PERSONNEL MAKEUP, THAT HE JETTISIONED KAZMIR,BELL,LINDSTRUM,OWEN,BABBISTER,RING. SURE IT WAS OMAR & DUQUETTE WHO MADE THE PHONECALLS & ARRAINGEMENTS; BUT PETERSON WHO BALACKBALLED THEM FOR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH HIS THEORIES. I ALSO BELIEVE HE IS THE “SVENGALI” WHO INFECTED THIS STAFF WITH, “NO SUICCESS UNLESS RICK LEADS U THERE” SYNDROME.
LET ME THROW OUT A NEW NAME: DR. MIKE MARSHALL(MLB OUTLAW & “OFF THE BOOKS” CONSULTANT, THE FORMER CY YOUNG WINNER HAS HIS DOCTORATE IN KINEASEOLOGY & WAS FEATURED BY MLB-TV THIS PRESEASON FOR HIS UNCONVENTIONAL METHODS FOR LIMITING ARM INJURIES WHILE BUILDING STAMINA. PETERSON WAS NEVER A PITCHER OR CATCHER; BUT A THEORIST WHO STRUCK IT BIG WITH 3 YOUNG PROTEGES(WHO HAVE ALL SINCE REJECTED HIM & HIS TAKING CREDIT FOR THEIR EXCELLENCE). I BELIEVE ANY MLB COACH(TEACHER
) NEEDS LIVE/ACTUAL MLB EXPERIENCE ON THE FIELD; BUT THAT’S JUST ME. AT LEAST MARSHALL HAS EXPERIENCE AS BOTH A SP & RP AS WELL AS CLOSER WHO’S RECORD FOE APPEARANCES STILL STANDS TODAY. BEWARE ON RETREADS SINCE WILPONS RARELY REHIRE; BUT LEAVE THAT TO THE BRONX. GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY DON’T FIRE AS QUICKLY. THEY MUST BE CONVINCED THE FIRING OFFENSE IS UNREPENTABLE.
GM – Paul Podesta
Manager – Ryne Sandberg
Pitching Coach – Dave Duncan or Orel Hershiser
Hitting Coach – Gary Carter
1B Coach – Lee Mazilli
3B Coach – Sandy Alomar
Bench Coach – Bud Harrelson
Those are great choices! I’d personally like to see Bobby V back as manager or GM. Orel for pitching coach would be a major improvement and boost to our rotation as he clearly knows how to get it done from the ground up. But the most interesting of your picks to me is Gary Carter! Is he actually an option? IMHO, he was a great leader on the field and also clearly knows how to get it done, especially when it counts. These two guys would bring a fresh look and input to this team.
The one change I would make after reading JoeD’s latest post is to replace Paul DePodesta (Podesta was my typo) with Pat Gillick. Gillick obviously has a wealth of experience over DePodesta, but I would keep DePodesta as my 2nd choice for GM.
MASK, COULDN’T LOCATE YOUR LATEST ADITION TO THIS THREAD WHERE U REFER TO THE TEAM AS VIRTUALLY A “LAST PLACE TEAM” OF ALL OUR DISAGREEMEBNTS THAT MUST BE THE ABSOLUTE SILLIEST COMMENT U’VE MADE. DO YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE THE ACTIVE ROSTER THAT BROKE CAMP WAS THAT OF A “LAST PLACE TEAM”? IF SO, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THEIR RECORD ON 5/13/09 JUST PRIOR TO WESTCOAST TRIP THAT LOST DELGADO & REYES? 18-13 FIRST PLACE BY 1G? I’VE NEVER SAID I’D THOUGHT THERE WASN’T MORE QUALIFIED PEOPLE OUT THERE. MY QUESTION Re. CHANGE. HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF HOW CAN U EXPECT BETTER UNDER IDENTICAL CONDITIONS/RESRICTIONS. ANYONE WHO DOESN’T ACCEPT THE REFUSAL TO INCUR LUXURY TAXES BY NYM OWNERSHIP IS A FOOL IN LIGHT OF PAST HISTORY & DIRECT STATEMENTS. IF U ACCEPT THAT PREMISE, THE PAYROLL WAS AT 149M ALL SEASON UNTIL DEALING WAGNER; WITH REMAINING 13-14M HOW DO U FIX LOSSES OF REYES,DELGADO,BELTRAN,SANTANA,MAINE,PEREZ,NIESE,NIEVE,
PUTZ FOR MOST OF THE SEASON? HOLIDAY WAS EARNING 14M PER, HALLADAY, THE SAME, LEE 5.75M, DeROSA 5.5M, HAIRSTON 2M. CONSIDERING ALL WE’D LOST 3 SS, 6 SP. WHILE THOSE PLAYING IN TONIGHT’S GAME ARE NUSEATING TO THINK OF AS REPRESENTING US. U MUST ASK YOUR SELF WHO’S GOT A BETTER FOURTH SS OR 7th THROUGH 12th SP? NO, THE METS DIDN’T HAVE A DEEP SYSTEM LOADED WITH YOUNG STUD PROSPECTS, WHO DOES TO THE EXTENT WE NEEDED? REMEMBER ALSO WE’RE ON OUR 4th CATCHER AS WELL & ONLY NEEDED TO GO OUTSIDE THE FRANCHISE FOR 2 PLAYERS, BOTH SS ONCE OUR FIRST 2 CHOICES MARTINEZ & CORA WENT DOWN. YOU MAY NOT LIKE THAT WILSON VALDEZ IS PLAYING SS; BUT AGAIN, WHO’S GOT BETTER AS THEIR FOURTH IN LINE? LET’S SEE WE ACCOMPLISHED ALL THAT & ONLY HAD TO GIVE UP AN UNKNOWN FROM MINORS. NO THIS SEASON ISN’T WHAT WE EXPECTED, NEITHER WERE THE PRIOR 2. FYI U HAVE TO BE IN FIRST PLACE LATE, TO BE ACCUSED OF COLLAPSING. A TEAM QUALIFIED TO BE IN FIRST LATE WAS PUT TOGETHER. HELL, WHAT TEAM LOSES 2 KEY SP(PEDRO,DUQUE) JUST PRIOR TO PLAYOFFS & STILL GETS WITHIN 1G OF WS?
PERSONALLY, I DON’T KNOW OF ANY OTHER GM TO HAVE SUCH A 5 YR RUN WITHOUT SPENDING 1 CENT IN LUXURY TAXES. GILLICK? DO U RECALL THAT PRIOR TO ’07 THEIR FANS WERE IN REVOLT AS THEY’D JUST MISSED THE POST TO ATL & WERE NEVER GOOD ENOUGH FOR WC? SPARE ME ALL THIS REVISIONIST BS & BLIND WISHING WITH NO REGARDS FOR REALITIES. CERTAINLY IF ALL U WANT TO DO IS LOOK AT THE DARKSIDE OF EVERY DECISION & EVERY MOVE YOU WILL NEVER, EVER BE SATISFIED. ANYONE WHO DISCARDS THE W-L RECORD & ONLY JUDGES BY TITLES & PENANTS SHOULD MOVE TO THE BRONX, THAT’S THE FASHIONABLE STYLE THERE.
GILLICK HAS CERTAINLY BEEN IMPRESSIVE IN LESSER MARKETS:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Gillick
SHOULD HE EVER EARN FRED’S TRUST, HE MAY ACTUALLY GET BETTER RESULTS; BUT CERTAINLY WON’T BE ABLE TO SPEND MUCH MORE. WHILE I REALIZE YOU’VE NO REGARD FOR OMAR, NOT EVEN YOU COULD EVER JUSTIFY CALLING HIM A PENNY-PINCHER. I SAY THAT AS PROOF HIS PAYROLL ALLOCATION HAD BEEN FROZEN FROM ON HIGH SINCE THE FRANCOEUR DEAL HINGED UPON ATL PICKING UP SALARY DIFFERENTIAL (2-3M). OUTOF CHARACTER FOR OMAR, U MUST AGREE.
MASK? A ROOKIE MLB MNGR WITH ZERO MLB MNGT EXPERIENCE? A MILB OWNER AS BEBNCH COACH? CARTER WANTS MLB MNGR JOB ONLY AS OF HIS TURNING DOWN MILB OFFER FROM NYM JUST LAST YR. OTHERWISE, I ASKED FOR YOUR DETAILS, THANKS! MOST LIKELY SHOULD/COULD HAPPEN IS ALOMAR RET’N TO 3B BOX, I’D CERTAINLY GREET THAT WITH ENTHUSIASM, DOESN’T SEEM TOO INFLUENTIAL ON BENCH.
Guess you never heard of Ryne Sandberg, Bud Harrelson, or Gary Carter! That’s too bad, you must have missed out on a lot.
Sandberg, Carter, Orel, they would all make great additions to the management staff.
MASK, I DO REMEMBER RABBITS OUT OF HATS. THE EQUIVILENT OF YOUR PULLING OUT NAMES AS ANSWERS WITH NO KNOWLEDGE AS TO THEIR AVAILABILITY OR INTEREST. EXPECTING A WS CHAMPIONSHIP FROM A TEAM MANAGED BY A MLB MNGT NOVICE IS A STRETCH BEYOND COMPREHENSION. OR THAT A FORMER MET MGR, NOW INDEPENDENT TEAM OWNER, WOULD CHOOSE TO RETURN TO THE RIGORS OF MLB SCHEDULE, JUST BECAUSE YU THINK IT’S A GRAND IDEA. IS A TAD CHILDISH. OR THAT A FORMER STAR PLAYER, HOFer AND MILB MNGR WHO’S ON RECORD AS STATING HE’S ONLY INTERESTED IN A MLB MGR GIG IN NY WOULD SUDDENLY ACQUIESCE TO BYPASSING THE OPEN MNGR JOB & ACCEPTING THE HITTING INSTRUCTOR GIG.
THAT ALL SEEMS REALISTIC TO YOU? TAHT’S PATENTLY AS ILL INFORMED AS CHOOSING CUTAIN #3 INSTEAD OF THE CASH IN YOUR HANDS. SOMETIMES CURTAIN 3 HIDES THE BOOBIE PRIZE LIKE A COACHING STAFF UNFAMILIAR WITH EACH OTHER & UNLIKELY TO GET ALONG TOGETHER BEHIND A ROOKIE MNGR THEY’VE NO ALLEGIANCE TO.
HEY, U INTERESTED IN ANY FL REAL ESTATE? HOW ‘BOUT AN ELEVATED RIVER CROSSING?
62, So not only do you want me to give names of qualified baseball people, you want me to verify that they are available and ready to report to work. I guess you are looking for me to come up with names of perfectly qualified people who are unemployed. Part of employing the individuals is to make an offer and work it out. I know the history with Carter. If an offer is made, perhaps he would accept even though it is not the Mgr’s job if he perceives it as a stepping stone to the eventual Mgr’s job. The same with Harrelson as Bench Coach. Who knows, perhaps he would like to get active again in the Majors and with his former club. The job of the GM is to make the offer to qualified people and then negotiate. You don’t know the answer until you ask the question. You are ASSUMING they would say no. That is not necessarily true. As far as the rookie Mgr, we are essentially a last place team. What better time to bring in a rookie Mgr? He would be a vast improvement over what we have today.
The point is you appear to be saying that what we already have is better than any alternative out there. You asked for some names and I gave them to you. They are better than what we have have. It is the GM who is responsible to make the offers and bring in the replacements. Work the deals to improve!
Would rather see Wally Backman as manager and Felix Millan at third base other guys would be great.
I’D LIKE BACKMAN ALSO; BUT HIS HISTORY OF ALCHOHOL & SPOUSAL ABUSE MAKES HIM A SCANDAL LIABILITY WILPONS LIKELY TO PASS ON AS THEY HAD IN THE PAST WHEN LOOKING AT WALLY FOR A MILB MNGT GIG.
Great post as always Greg.
A manager should have the ability to surround himself with coaches he can trust and confide in. How can the Mets be expected to play like a team, when the leadership is a rag-tag patchwork ensemble selected by the GM?
As for Bobby V, when are we going to stop looking in the past for the future?
Why does every GM, coach or manager candidate have to have some sort of Mets ties???
Shouldn’t we just look for the most capable and available talent without limiting ourselves to the silly notion of going after former Mets?
Go get Pat Gillick for GM, and make Ryne Sandberg the manager. Both are available.
When we won in 86, we looked outside the organization and got Cashen as GM and Johnson as manager. Guess what? It worked!
JOE, I LOVED DAVEY; BUT WHAT OF ’84,’85,’87,’88? BIGGEST DIFF WAS 2 SECOND PLACES PROCEEDED FIRST PLACE FINISH INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING LIKE ’06,’07,’08. LOL WAS THERE A BIGGER BUST/UPSET THAN ’88 IN TEAM HISTORY? I WAS THERE WHEN DOC WAS LEFT TO FACE SCIOSCIA. HEARTBREAK AKIN TO HEARTATTACK!
Leaving Doc in was his worst mistake ever that cost us the 1988 Pennant
especially we had Randy Myers throwing bombs in the bullpen.
I agree with everything you say. We need changes through the organization. Gillick and Sandberg are great choices. The Mets will certainly be better of on the road to recovery with them in place.
GEEZ, MORE I THINK OF EVERYONE’S SUGGESTIONS OF GOOD TO GREAT ALTERNATIVES. THE MORE I WONDER WHAT WOULD CHANGE? GIVEN ALL THE SAME CONDITIONS, WHAT MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE? COULD ANY OTHER GM,MGR,COACHES HAVE WEATHERED THE STORM OF INJURIES WELL ENOUGH TO GET INTO POSTSEASON. IF NOT, WHY IS A BETTER W-L WITHOUT A BERTH DO FOR U?
ALAS, I BELIEVE IT ACCOMPLISHES NO MORE THAN THE UNI CHANGE ON THE SAME PERSONNEL, THOUGH THE UNI CHANGE WILL GARNER MORE PESOS.