First, let's catch the ball. Next, about those throws ...
There were a bunch of questions after last night's humiliating loss to the Nationals about meetings, who should speak, when will manager Willie Randolph address the team. Here's my take on that -- enough with the soapbox stuff. If the Mets can't get their act together, on an individual basis, then they don't deserve to be in the playoffs.
For a team that has been in first place longer than anyone else in baseball -- 317 days and counting over the past two seasons -- you would think the Mets have the mental toughness to stay there for another 13 games. They should, anyway.
"We've hit a bump and there's a couple of different options," David Wright said last night. "We can very easily play below what we're capable of and continue to coast. Or we can step it up. Guys in here understand this is a crucial time."
And here's the bottom line on team meetings, which I know you've heard before. Manager talks to players before game, team wins, manager=genius. Manager talks to players before game, team loses, manager=desperate schlub with the motivational skills of a resin bag. So it's a 50-50 bet, depending of course on the starting pitcher.
With that mind, maybe today is the right time. Tonight's starter, John Maine, has been iffy on occasion in the second half. But Maine also is 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two starts against the Nationals this season with 13 strikeouts in 12 innings.
Here's where Randolph blew it last night. Why on earth you would double-switch Paul Lo Duca out of the game in the sixth inning? Randolph calmly explained that it was merely a substitution after Lo Duca made the last out of the previous inning. But with the Mets needing some offense, pulling Lo Duca, who already had two hits in the game, did not seem like a good idea. Especially when Lo Duca spent the rest of the night fuming on the dugout bench.
This is not the time to be alienating your core players, even if the free-agent Lo Duca is a goner after this season. Remember, Lo Duca is one of David Wright's best friends on the team, and also works closely with the pitching staff, so this is not a guy Randolph wants to smack around. It's not good for his Q rating in the clubhouse, which already is on the decline. Not quite at Bush levels yet, but put it this way -- Randolph's lucky he shed his lame-duck status before this season began.
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Comments (11)
Last night's game was an embarassment. I hope Lo Duca went to Willie's office after the game and gave him an earful.
Come check out my blog and vote on the latest poll about Willie Randolph.
www.therantman888.blogspot.com
I love the Mets, i have been a fan for my entire life. And that might not say much because I am only 18 years old, but I know when we have a good enough team to go to the World Series. The biggest problem with the Mets, is the Manager. I am sorry for all you Randolph Lovers, but this guy needs TO GO NOW! Why do you see the Chicago White Sox in LAst Place? They have just about the same roster as when they were crowned World Champs? Why? Because Ozzie Guillen has lost his touch, but white Sox fans will deal with him 'til about 2011, with his new extension. I read that Fred Wilpon doesnt like paying a managers salary when the guy isnt managing. For example, paying the Last Year of Arte Howes contract when he was already gone. To me, I would love to see Joe Giraridi manage the Mets. It might be a long shot, but if not, we could always give Bobby Valentine a call.
263-210 win loss ratio.
6 world series rings...
.599 wining percentage last year
.557 so far this year.
i think wilie is doing an adequate job. all managers make mistakes. last night with paulie was a mistake.
but, in a whole ..any real met fan should count their bleesings.
anybody remember dallas green?
OK, maybe Willies makes some decisions that make you scratch your head. But, I'm not quite ready to place this on him...
Lets look at the guys on the field that are a BUST.
Reyes, need to pull his head out of his @ss, hit the ball steal bases and run.
Castillo, sorry but should be playing Gotay more. Gotay was solid at the beginning of the year off the bench and in the lineup. Now worth nothing because the "gold glover" Castillo and his bum Knee.
Delgado, enough said and the pick up and use of Conine again enough said.
Moises, great! You got a hitting streak. Now drive in a run when it counts. WE don't care about your old man records they do nothing for the fans or the mets team.
The errors? Broke a record the last two games.
How about batting with RISP and batting 2 out and RISP. Someone please get those stats and post them. HORRIBLE!!!!
This team won and won big last year. Remember all the comebacks? The Rallies? The walkoffs? Absent from this year!
So again i will say the HEART is gone this is not the team we watched last year and it starts on the field with this cocky team that thought they were dancing to a pennant again this year!
As much as it hurts to say this my hat goes off to the Phillies and I wish I could feel the way their fans do today. Happy with some pride! They are laying it all out there night after night. They don't want a wild card they want the division and if they can come and take it. I will root them through the playoffs!
NOW,
LETS GO METS!!!
THE REAL METS!!!
SHOW UP TONIGHT!!!
To What a team...
The cocky attitude starts with the manager. Willie should have sat them down at the beginning of the season and told them to cut it out. They haven't won a thing yet, they have nothing to celebrate. He should have been keeping them focused and he didn't. I don't want to see anymore dancing in the dugout until a world series is won. Reyes should work on his hitting as hard as he does working on his dances.
I can hear what you are saying but then again this is not the little league world series. The fun and games is great for the team and to watch when the winning is getting done.
I don't like his pitching choices and use of bench players but, the every day guys that are not producing should be looking at each other and in the mirror.
If the Philly sweep was not enough to motivate last night then what is?
The dancing and the fun this team has is part of the HEART I am talking about. But, the team is not rolling in a way where they can celebrate I agree 100%.
Lennon said: Here's my take on that -- enough with the soapbox stuff. If the Mets can't get their act together, on an individual basis, then they don't deserve to be in the playoffs.
Well said. For the first time, I'm genuinely concerned about the unlikely prospect of the Mets not even making the playoffs. After the first Philly sweep, we know how they bounced back in fine fashion against their former nemesis in the House of Horrors in Atlanta. To play so poorly against a AAA team called the Nationals is very disturbing and disheartening for someone like me who's had a "What, me worry?" mentality all season. All that being said, we're still in first, nobody's waving the white flag or throwing in the towel, SO LET'S GET IT TOGETHER, BOYS ... before it's too late!
As awful as not making the playoffs would be, maybe it shakes up the front office to the reality that:
1. they can't live by scooping up 39 and 40 year old former stars in hopes that they have another good year or two in them;
2. realize that they have to bite the bullet and overpay for a pitcher or two instead of trying to pretend that a bunch of #4, #5 and spot starters are really #1, #2 and #3
3. take a hard look at whether Willie really is the guy that can put them over the top - his pitching decisions over the last two years have been frequently questionable, he won't stand up for his team with the umps - he really should have been argued on behalf of his players (Alou, LoDuca, Wright, etc.) tossed from a few games on the strike zone inconsistencies.
4. Get to the bottom of what appears to be a situation developing in the locker room. You have to wonder if the hispanic guys have Minaya's ear like Franco, Leiter and Piazza had Junior's ear.
As I noted, it would be an awful, but potentially productive off season if the Wilpons do the right thing.
UGLY!!
Enough already, Casey, Gil and Davey...HELP!!
A little more fire tonight, especially in the 9th but another loss.... and why cant we see Humber or anyone else besides the same cast of characters...they are obviously exhausted and need a long long long break...hopefully they dont get months off soon...
Wake up Team....get it done already.
Omar - SAY SOMETHING!!
Mr. Met and I am ticked!
WWGD ---- What Would George Do!
OK, so that was another kick in the nads last night.
I like Willie as the manager. But, step it up and do something here. I like when a coach will defend his team but, after the game his press conference was horrible. Laughing? Making Jokes and all the family, champagne party BS? He should have been ripping the whole team!
Anon, I agree with you.
Mr. Met, I'm ticked too!