We've Got Stallions - Chillie Willie
Don't get me wrong - I love Willie Randolph as a manager. I think he could quite possibly go down in history as the best skipper the organization has ever had. I love how Randolph is respected by his players, gets the most of out of them, and demands professionalism across the board. Having said that, one thing that constantly irks me about Willie is that he never seems to get riled up. Take Tuesday night's game for example. Kelly Johnson clearly dropped the ball, LoDuca's called out, and Willie comes out to argue. At that point in the game, the Mets were down 5-to-zip. While Willie was quite adamant that LoDuca was safe (he was), I would've loved to see him get thrown out of the game. Sometimes nothing motivates a team more than to see their manager get up in an ump's face and get booted to the locker room. Down five runs, it would've been the perfect opportunity to liven up a team that seemed lifeless last night, and often times this season.
Willie's the man, but sometimes he gets into this Torre mode. I'm convinced Torre has his pants glued to the bench. On a related note, I think it's also time for Willie to bat Delgado sixth. Carlos is in quite a slump, and no disrespect to all that he's done in the past, he's killing the team this year. Sure, he's come up big in two key spots to win a game (one was a walk mind you) - but it's time for the sizzling Wright or the cooled-off Beltran to assume the duties of the team's clean-up hitter. Delgado has struggled all year. He's probably playing injured. If he is, he should say so. He's a quiet leader on the team, and his pride will take a hit, but he needs to take one for the team here. Come out of your slump, and work your way back to the clean-up spot. Better for Delgado's pride to take a hit, then for him to not actually actually get a hit in another key spot.
Comments
I agree with you on one thing. DelGado did end up batting sixth last night and did an exceptional job maybe that's where he needs to be but like he said it doesn't matter when he bats he needs to hit the ball. I think the pressure was on him and he just couldn't handle it this time around but I love that he tried. With regards to Willie... I've seen him get rattled up a couple of times this season even getting thrown out of the game once and I like it like that. If he shows his emotions on a regular basis it might encourage other team members to act out when they don't agree with a call so he practice what he preaches and that's why he has so much control over his team. I've enjoy the few moments when even Willie looses his cool. But the think I love most of the team it that they are humble and fun to watch even on games they have lost. I'm so PROUD of the team and of Willie's leadership... Forever a Mets fan!
Posted by: Tonza | May 24, 2007 10:48 AM
Actually, I'm kind of glad that he didn't get in the ump's face in game one, because last night there were a few questionable calls that went our way. I was furious during the first game. I kept thinking to myself that if I was the manager I would be saying all sorts of nasty stuff to the ump. But then I thought about it. Umpires are human, and this is an important series, better to not get the umps against you in the first game.
The best manager ejection in history was Bobby V getting thrown out and showing up in a bad disguise.
Posted by: Andrew | May 24, 2007 10:57 AM
Yeah delgado DID bat 6th last night for those of you out there who didn't watch the game and that was a long time coming. With Alou set to return somewhere in the upcoming week the mets have the rare opportunity to mix up their lineup pretty well with R/L's. think about this against right handed pitching- Reyes (L), Lo Duca/Wright (R), Beltran (L), Wright/Alou (R), Delgado (L), Alou/Lo Duca (R), Green (L), Easley (R). If there is anything we have learned from the yanks this season it is to keep a variety of bats scattered through our lineup. Yanks had 6 lefties when they lost to Tavarez of all pitchers from Boston on Tuesday. I mean i hated to see Cliffy go but you are seeing the results with a lineup batting over .300 (including the pitchers and bench) against left-handed pitching which is bonkers. Of course when delgado bats cleanup you have to stack ur lineup differently but it would give a great approach for the time being.
as for willie not being ejected, i had the same quip a couple years ago after an absolute debacle of a game in Florida. 1-run game and a terrible call and i insisted randolph had to get toseed and didn't. In time since then I have watched willie mature as a manager and emulate his mentor joe torre more and more (best example is the use of his closer when the team is rallying in the eigth- using wagner to intimidate like torre used rivera). but now more then ever you can see that randolph gets the most out of his A- group and challenges them to perform and instills confidence. hey, i would have pinch hit for gotay last thursday but instead he goes with an 0-2 slider the other way for a huge base hit. The valentins, the easley's, the chavez's, and julio franco's of the world will agree he gets his boys ready to play.
getting back to being ejected lest we forget that in our last road trip down to florida willie got tossed from a close game arguing balls and strikes if i remember correctly and what happened with 2-outs in the ninth? Easley went deep to tie the game. So as much as i agree with you, you must concede there will only be 2 or 3 games TOPS that your team comes back after the manager gets ejected and it's hard to anticipate that when your team is down 5 no matter how good your squad is.
PS- does anyone else think that Lee Mazzili sucks on SNY. I can't put my finger on it but there is something that i really just don't like. Gary apple has a funky lisp and steve berthuime (their best guy) puts emphasis on weird sylables i swear just pay attention on nissan post game live tonight!!
Posted by: Paul Romano | May 24, 2007 11:47 AM
Randolph always sems to take the less confrontational road when it comes to blown calls by the umps. I also wish he'd be more agressive in defending our players.
I don't have an opinion on Maz yet, but I really don't care for Brian Custer and Matt Yalouf! (pardon the spelling)
Posted by: Daniel | May 24, 2007 02:30 PM
I think Mazzili sucks too. He is too boring and has no emotion. Custer pisses me off because he always smiles even when he reports a Mets loss. Screw that noise!!!
As for Willie, I think he is so much better than what we had that I can't find it within me to finger point or second guess him. Like Jon said he might end up being the best manager the Mets ever had!
Posted by: Sal | May 24, 2007 05:04 PM
I understand that it can be frustrating watching a game and not having the manager jumping off the bench cursing and screaming at the ump just like you, as a fan, are cursing and screaming at the TV.
However I think that Willie Randolph picks his battles wisely. He may not be as excitable as some other managers, but I think that's an attribute rather than a fault.
If you are going to give Randolph credit for his professionalism and the respect his players have for him you can't pick and choose the moments when you think it's useful. Randolph clearly leads by example. The fact that he doesn't get riled when the team is down by five only shows he has THAT much faith that his team is going to get out of the situation, despite a bad call.
Bad calls are part of baseball. Bad calls are part of any game. He lets the umps do their job and he gets up and argues when he feels it's necessary. As far as I'm concerned that is the smartest possible way to play the game.
When it comes to the team needing an extra boost to get out of a rough spot, I think Willie's faith in the team and his calm demeanor has the same affect as if he were to freak out every time there was a call he (or Mets fans) didn't like. While it might be more entertaining for fans to see him ejected from the game, I don’t think it serves the players any better. Whatever Randolph does on and off the field works.
On the flip side, very rarely does Willie show a lot of emotion when the team is winning. It's just his style as a manager. He sits there with a look on his face like whatever happened was exactly what he expected to happen. I don't think you can hold it against him just because he has a different management style.
The bottom line is, he is a great manager and he gets the job done. It’s easy to criticize when things aren’t going perfectly, but you would think Mets fans would have learned by now, you have to take the good with the bad, which is exactly what Randolph does.
Posted by: Heather | May 24, 2007 08:44 PM