Former pitching coach Rick Peterson left the hotel here a few minutes before fired manager Willie Randolph. He didn't take questions, but choked up a little bit as he offered this statement off the top of his head.
“I don’t really want to answer questions. I just want to say that I came here five years ago, and Fred and Jeff [Wilpon] gave me a wonderful opportunity. I left Oakland to come here to be with my kids on the East Coast and it’s been wonderful. I appreciated the opportunity and they welcomed me into their home and the home is going through renovation. Sometimes you have to make changes when things don’t go that well, and I’m part of that change. I totally undertstand that. I grew up in the baseball business, and I’m the hardwood floor that’s getting ripped out and they’re going to bring in the Tuscany tile (laughter).
“And it will be great. My heart and soul is with every pitcher that I’ve dealt with here. They’ll always be in my heart and soul. It’s that kind of relationship. I’m sad for that. But I’m also happy for them. There’s a lot of guys on the right track that I hope they stay on the right track. And there’s a lot of guys that are off the track that I hope Dan Warthen can get them back on track.
“This is a team that’s underachieved and I think it will get back on track.”
At that point, Peterson pointed to a bracelet that he wears with silver symbols from Eastern philosopy.
“I wear this bracelet because I’m very in tune with Eastern philosophy and universal law. This is faith. This is compassion, equanimity, and love. And in Eastern writing, they write in symbols and the symbol for problem and crisis they also use for opportunity. I’ve been given a great opportunity here, and once I walk out that door, I’ll seek my next opportunity. I walk out in peace and I wish everybody else here the best – Jerry Manuel, Omar Minaya, Fred and Jeff.
“And hopefully the Tuscany tile will do a lot better than the hardwood floor. Thank you so much.”
And what’s next for you, Rick?
“The car to the airport.”
Comments (19)
Wow he is out there. But so are lefty pitchers.
Now that is some quality advice.
He's a funny, peaceful man. He's probably thanking his lucky stars (or bracelets or something) that he can go home and meditate as much as he pleases.
Can you imagine Peterson talking to Ollie? Now imagine Pedro or El Duque as the interpreter...now thats some funny sh!t.
How does Omar keep his lil guy Tony Bernazard around??? This guy is the only one dumber and ruder than OMAR....FIRE THEM BOTH !!!
Absolutely Embarassing !
think Peterson sees himself as an artist.
You would he truly believes in the "art of pitching" by the way he talks. Deep thinker. Not crazy. Just deep. What he said is not all that deep either but I understand what he is saying for the Mets organization.
I hear some pretty far out stuff in my major so I am not foreign to his metaphors....I think the dude would be a great professor of arts or something like that.
The only thing that is strange is that I read that he looks at stats a lot. So I guess you also believes in the "Science of Pitching"
I While I think he might not have been a good fit with the younger guys, it's sad because I think he truly understands how to pitch well and what it takes to be a pitcher who pitches well. It is just as much mental as it is physical. He may have had trouble relaying the mental part. Ball players are not exactly deep thinkers. Also there might be pitchers on that team that might not be cut out for for the mental part. You can have all the mechanics in the world but if you don't have the mental part down, then your not going to last long.
Peterson knew knows this. However, conveying it to the younger crew may not have understood it or been able to use his knowledge of dealing with the mental toughness.
I had the chance to meet Rick Peterson this year down in St Lucie.
Class act.
Only wish those guys the best.
I did want them fired last week, but not executed.
Peterson is interesting if nothing else. I give him credit for taking the high road...leave it to us to bash this mickey mouse organization for him. I am still ticked off...not at what they did but how they did it. Classless.
http://www.myteamrivals.typepad.com/mr_mets_daily
I'm not sure how you interpret things David Lennon. Willie was not on the verge of tears as you described when he made his comments and Peterson did not choke up at all. I saw video of both. Are you just making this stuff up?
This team is a train wreck. Omar puts egg on our face again. First he puts together the oldest ~ worst team money can buy and now the whole franchise is in the media spot light as a BUSH LEAGUE TEAM !!!
FIRE OMAR TODAY !!!
***Funny how he kept Sandy Alomar huh ??? Hmmmmmmmmm has he done a good job waiving people in from third? Please explain!!! ***
Thanks for making the MEt fan look like a fool yet again OMAR....You are a LIAR and CLUELESS !!!
Rick Peterson: You are needed in San Francisco. Please come help Barry Zito find inner-peace (or at least a fastball above 82 mph and WHIP below 1.30).
Are you guys listening to this bobblehead??? My God, OMAR is worse than I thought. A 5th grader can do better public speaking!
My press secretary after my demise was instructed to address ALL Mets fans if this firing took place. To Mets Management..The firing of my good friend Mr Randolph is nothing short of a disgrace, ...A scapegoat tactic that wont be tolerated. As a patron of the Diamond Club, my company will now cease to support your organization monetarily. May FIRE OMAR one day take over the reighns of this once proud franchise, and "Redesign It".
After further, and careful review...Mr Lennon is definately an Ass.
WFAN killing Omar. Killing him....FIRE HIM TODAY!
You deserve each other Yankees Beat rules.
LABalltalk.com will have game six live with blogs and guests wow.
Wow, cosmic, man. Heavy duty.
Alright, for the past six months all the media and the fans can say is Fire Willie, fire Willie. Now that he has been fired you are all upset on the way he was fired. Was it a smart move by Minaya? Maybe not, but I think he did it this way to protect himself from the media. Afterall Minaya never had to fire a manager before. I am not even sure this is his doing. I am sure the Wilpons pressured Minaya into firing Willie. Minaya was going to fire only Petterson and Nieto, who I really do not know why or what he did wrong as a firstbase coach. Hey who knows maybe Willie will be asked to come back as manager after the season.. LOL... One thing is for sure... Can we push Delgado out the door??? Yes Johan pitched poorly last night but it would not have been much to ask for decent defense now would it?
It look nice. I like it very much.