It’s a foregone conclusion that Jerry Manuel is on the “Flushing short term managerial plan”. It’s hard to not like Jerry. He came off as personable, insightful, and easygoing when he first stepped into his predecessor Willie Randolph’s shoes. His dubious exodus from New York sent a message to me that things were about to change and that nothing is what it appears.
Last year, many of the blogs were filled with “Fire Jerry” chants and mantras on practically every networking site out there, so expect this season to have the vultures perched on the mountaintops waiting for those last bodies to fall before picking the bones. I have to admit that I thought Jerry would bring that “championship” attitude to our Amazins but…
My, how things have changed. When Manuel stepped up from bench coach to interim manager, Carlos Delgado was quoted as saying, “I think it’s great.” Delgado said on Monday, ”He’s a great communicator. There’s no gray area with him. He’s very upbeat, and he’s able to keep it simple in a very effective way.”
Mets management absolutely raved about Manuel. They believe him to be a man of high character who presents the team to the public in a way of which they can feel proud. “He’s done an excellent job, in all ways, on and off the field,” team owner Fred Wilpon said before Sunday’s Super Bowl. “He’s a great gentleman.” A great gentleman? Okay. Not sure what to make of that. Learning from some of the best like Jim Leyland, Felipe Alou, and having gained the trust and respect of ChiSox owner, Jerry Reinsdorf was obviously a plus. It could be argued that Manuel built the White Sox team that won the World Series after his release from the team. In six seasons, he won over 500 games, a division title, and a Manager of the Year award so he has what it takes to coach. He is a teacher, a mentor, and keeps his training simple and basic.
Manuel is everything you’d want in a coach but he’s the wrong guy. I love his demeanor, wit, and ability to handle the tough questions the NY media throws at him after a tough Mets loss, but he is not going to survive in this setting through no fault of his own. The deck is heavily stacked against him due to his ties to Minaya and his tenuous position in the organization. Let’s face it. Minaya is a figurehead at this point so if anything goes south in 2010, Minaya goes and his “hires” do as well. Jerry is a quality guy, but I don’t see how he can survive this. That being said, who is capable of coming into this mess (preferably once it’s been cleaned up or cleaned out with only Fred and Jeff still standing)?
This team has long lacked the kind of gutsy, heads-up presence in the clubhouse and in the organization. This is a New York team and that speaks to me: guts, fighting spirit, never-say-die attitude, and an unwillingness to quit and a willingness to work hard, play hard, and do it together! When I look at the current squad, that attitude seems deficient to say the least. The days of “Nails” and bulldogs like the Kid and Doc K, for example, seem to be past.
So who steps in and restores this team to where it needs to be? One name that I’ve tossed around was Bobby Valentine. There’s something irreverent and nutty about someone that after getting tossed out of a game returns in a mustache and dark glasses. Not his best moment, but that kind of unpredictability can translate into the kind of team that won a World Series in 1986. Nobody thought they had the pedigree or the “stuff” to win it all and they looked like guys just thrown together, but even with all the drugs, infighting, and other daily dramas, they came together and took it all. Valentine knows talent and he understands the importance of the intangibles. He can build a team that can not only contend but win consistently as long as his head is in the game. He knows how to light a fire under his players too. Something sorely missed in our team as of late. Just him being there brings the kind of players to the table that the Mets need to restore their reputation as players in the championship picture.
How about Bob Melvin? He was just recently given the title of “professional scout” with the team. In his last seven years with Seattle and Arizona, he has coached his team to five winning seasons so he knows what he’s doing. Do you really believe that he is not a potential replacement for Jerry when the inevitable happens?
Eric Wedge’s name has been mentioned in some smaller circles but maybe not on the radar for the Mets. Larry Bowa? He’s the current Dodgers third base coach, but was a former Mets player and knows what it takes to win. When the fans cried out for heads to roll, Tony’s LaRussa’s name was mentioned on more than one occasion, but may not be the likely choice even if he could be pried away from St. Louis. Manny Acta has his name in the managerial pool practically every year since and before he left NY for the Nationals.
It’s a dirty job but somebody’s got to do it. Now the question is who? Unfortunately, I don’t believe it will be Jerry for much longer.
*Mets Merized Online Needs Your Help*
I’m guessing it’s Wally Backman.
Nobody thought they had the pedigree or the “stuff” to win it all and they looked like guys just thrown together, but even with all the drugs, infighting, and other daily dramas, they came together and took it all.
One of the more ridiculous lines ever. The Mets were prohibitive favorites entering the 1986 season.
W/ all due respect, “thrown together” and the ‘86 Mets make no sense.
Amen!
Isn’t this a bit premature? I think we need to stop with all the doomsday stuff as Mets fans and let the season play out! You’re speculating about who will replace the manager before the players have even reported for Spring Training! Isnt’t that a bit vulture like too? And agreed with the above two posters… there was nothing “thrown together” about the ‘86 Mets. I think a lot of the problem with the current Mets is that not everyone shares the same fire and passion to win. No manager can teach a guy to have fire and heart, that’s something you’re born with.
Jerry is an OK manager, not “great” or “good” but OK. I enjoy his sense of humor and presence at post-game interviews, and I can’t really comment on his repour with the team. But what I don’t like about Jerry Manuel is his ability to use the Bullpen. Much like Willy Randolph, I have cringed when our starters were cruising only to be lifted for Arron Heilman or Scott Schowenweis, who come in, get no one out, and blow our lead, or set it up so the next guy who comes in to relieve them blows the lead. The same holds true for when they would leave starters in when they clearly should be relieved. NOT to mention the B.S. situational Lefty replacements that almost never benefited the Mets. What a load of crap “Situational Lefties and Righties”. A starter can pitch 5+ innings to both lefties and righties and succeed, but when it comes to bullpen relief, a Righty who is dominating can’t throw to a left hander hitter, Bull Cr@p.
I loved Bobby Valentine, and would Petition to bring him back. He was a cunning manager in all facets of the game, and new when and when not to take risks. Jerry takes no risks at all, just plays it safe. I think bringing Bobby back would re-energize the fan base and give the team that Win at all costs attitude that hasn’t been around since 2006.
Davy Johnson as GM and Bobby V back as manager. It would be a great move – the fans would love it – the two most successful managers in the team’s history back again. It makes sense…
…which is why Freddie and Lil’ Wilpon won’t do it.
For the Mets to be amazing now and long term they need an amazing manager “Bobby Valentine”
Jerry Manuel has been put in a position to fail thanks to that inept bum Omar Miniya.
Jerry has won a Manager of the year award….what has Omar won?
I don’t Jerry really had a fair shot. He is being penalized for the injuries that took over the team last year. He can only manage what he has. It was not his fault that this team did not have depth in the minor league system when players were dropping like flies. I think its time for the PLAYERS to show up this year. They were the ones who stunk it up for the past 3 years…. I’m not a huge fan of Manaya but, he isn’t the one writing the checks.
With all due respect the entire premise of this post is ignoring the obvious cause for Met fan frustrations. Fred Wilpon really doesn’t give a flying crap what the fans want to see. He’s not wrong, it’s his money invested on the line. His vision is of pastoral excellence with minimum headlines & zero confrontations & embarassments, ergo, Valentine & Davey have no shot! Only now Fred’s willing to include those denizens of page 6, THE 86ers”, back under the umbrella.
It’s more & more evident that Jeff is the only Wilpon with hate for Omar; yet, even as COO, he is powerless to make any changes. Fred more than anyone “TOLERATES” his younger son’s ineptitude, hell he only hired Omar to keep control of the lad so he didn’t have to. My proof is that despite Jeff’s pronouncments that “HEADS SHOULD ROLL” after ‘07 collapse! Despite standing up to Jeff over Willie, Omar still received a 3Y contract extension that commences now from Fred. Obviously despite Omar’s reporting to Jeff, only Fred controls Omar’s job security and unless Omar scandalizes the Wilpon Familiy like Willie did in his “racial motivation” interview, that 3Y extension is all the job security Omar needs from Fred. since Fred abhores wasting money by paying 2 people to do one job.
Because Omar is safer than we’re told, Jerry is also safer than u think!
To clarity one or two of the above comments, because I’ve been a fan of the Amazins for earlier than 1986, I have made it a point to pay attention to their progression over the years plus what’s been printed about them. If discussing managerial changes speaks “gloom and doom” to you then that’s your opinion and you’re welcome to it. What the post is saying is that it has been discussed as was the 1986 Championship team being referred to as being “thrown together” or more specifically, being a band of misfits. I’m sure the drinking, drugs, and other vices that came out of that team didn’t help the perception. These were the thoughts and opinions of others that I just noted. There’s nothing “vulture” in posting what someone else says. In the same post, I noted how much I like Jerry, just didn’t think he fit with the “current” team makeup, whether it be the players or the organizational “issues”. I do value your opinions though just please quote what I actually said.
It’s a waste of time to begin this discussion now. ST hasn’t started. The mgr won’t get changed until such time as the time is in trouble and has bombed out. That may very well happen, but it’s too early to make it so. Let’s wait until the season is 3 months under way before kicking this story around the block any longer.